By SANDY McGEE

BELLINGHAM — Police have uncovered the identities of two masked bandits who were recently caught on Bellingham High School’s video surveillance system allegedly breaking into the school and stealing fundraiser money from a locked classroom.

Police recently arrested Zachary J. Lorett, 17, of 30 Farm St., Bellingham, in connection to the high school breaking and entering that took place on Feb. 6. Lorett, a Bellingham High School student, has been charged as an adult, according to police.
Police are also charging two 16-year-old Franklin males in connection with the robbery. According to Bellingham Police Lt. Kevin Ranieri, the two Franklin youths voluntarily contacted police and turned themselves in.
Lorett is facing a host of charges, including three counts of vandalizing personal property; breaking and entering, a felony charge; larceny from a building; larceny over $250; two counts, vandalizing a school; conspiracy; use of a motor vehicle in a felony; and misleading a police officer where the intent is to obstruct or delay an investigation.
The pending combined charges for the two Franklin boys include vandalism of personal property, three counts; breaking and entering, a felony; larceny from a building; larceny over $250; conspiracy; and the use of a motor vehicle in a felony.
The Franklin teenagers will receive a summons to appear in Milford District Court at a later date.
Two masked males, believed by police to be Lorett and a Franklin teenager, were apparently recorded on film by the school’s surveillance system when they allegedly entered the high school, located at 60 Blackstone St., on Feb. 6 around 9:20 p.m., said Ranieri.
The two trespassers gained access to the high school through a rear door at the back of the building, according to police. The two burglars then ran to a “particular classroom,” where money obtained from a recent fundraiser was stored in a safe for upcoming school events, said Ranieri.
Police said they believe the two men intentionally headed for the classroom with the fundraiser money.
“They knew what they were looking for,” Ranieri said.
Police have recovered about $500 of the fundraiser money, said Ranieri. The remaining fundraiser money, about $300 to $400 more, will be requested as part of restitution sought in court, said the lieutenant.
Also recovered from the suspects were masks, which are believed by police to be the ones used in the robbery, as well as other items, according to Ranieri.
“It appears that they used a blowtorch to get into the safe and used a screwdriver to get into the classroom. Those items were recovered,” Ranieri said. “They (the officers) did a nice job tracking those leads down.” 
The investigation was under the direction of Bellingham Police Officer John McLaughlin, who was assisted by Officer Timothy Joyce.