HOUSTON – The Alief Independent School District plans to replace band equipment after a thief stole nearly $200,000 worth of instruments from two different high schools.
Investigators told KPRC 2 News that the thief stole the equipment over a three to four week period, a few instruments at a time.
Alief ISD officials said they plan to replace all the instruments that were stolen before the Elsik and Hastings high school bands have to perform.
Elsik High School band director Brenda Smith said the man had racked up 29 instruments, totaling $148,000.
"He definitely picked out what he wanted and he picked out the most expensive things we had," Smith said.
Surveillance video shows the man walking through the front door of a building.
WATCH: this guy breaks into Elsik HS and steals band equipment, approximately 29 instruments. Vid is from last Friday. @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/7sX4v5Y8cs
— Jake Reiner (@Reiner_Jake) November 11, 2016
Brenda Smith said the man would come by when the band was loading up for a competition or a football game when the loading doors were open.
"Sometimes it seemed like maybe he was, maybe stalking a little bit, because we were always getting ready for something," Smith said.
Police said on Sept. 4, before school started, you see him rip open the doors to the band room.
"I'm sure he was once young and he played an instrument and he wouldn't like that to happen to him," Smith said.
Authorities said he stole approximately $40,000 worth of band equipment from Hastings High School and $148,000 from Elsik High School.
The district officials said Elsik has a competition in two weeks and will provide the funds to replace all the instruments by then.
The instruments are owned by the district.
Alief ISD police are investigating and asking for help in finding the person responsible. Anyone who recognizes the man or the vehicle in the picture, is asked to call police.