Computers and cash were taken when office blocks at Dunstan High School and Clyde School were broken into early yesterday.
Sergeant Ian Kerrisk said three Apple Mac laptop computers belonging to teachers were taken from Dunstan's administration block, as well as a small amount of cash.
Cash was also taken from Clyde School's administration block.
"Although it's too early in the investigation to link the two burglaries, and we're keeping an open mind, to have one burglary here is unusual, let alone two, both at schools, at much the same time," he said.
The computers contained vital information needed by the teachers and he appealed for the return of the property.
Anyone who had noticed suspicious activity around the schools, especially in the early hours of yesterday, or had information about the burglaries was asked to contact the police, Sgt Kerrisk said.
• A 5-year-old Cromwell boy reported missing yesterday afternoon was found by his parents 10 minutes later, heading to the dairy on his scooter.
"His mum and dad found him before we did. He'd whizzed along to the dairy on his blue scooter," Detective Gary Hyndman said.
"It's always nice when wee kiddies turn up like that - you don't like it when they're missing," he said.
The Jollys Rd Food Centre was about 900m from the boy's home and he could get there through the greenways, without crossing any roads.
The shop owner, Susan Thwaites, said the boy's mother had already been in looking for him yesterday afternoon so when he "poked his head in the door" shortly afterwards, the shop staff persuaded him to stay while they phoned his mother.
