Two Barrington teenagers are facing felony charges after they allegedly broke into two elementary schools early Friday morning, Dec. 17.

Barrington Police charged a 15-year-old Barrington girl with two counts of breaking and entering (felony) and one count of willful trespass within school buildings-first offense. Police also charged a 15-year-old Barrington boy with one count of breaking and entering (felony) and one count of willful trespass within school buildings-first offense.

Barrington Police Chief Michael Correia said police responded to Sowams School at 1:51 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 17 after they were alerted to an alarm sounding at the elementary school. 

The alarm indicated someone in the boiler room and Room 14, according to the police dispatch log. It also stated that the alarm company could hear voices.

When the officers arrived at Sowams School they could see a male suspect standing inside the foyer of the school. Police also spotted a girl exiting the school. Police apprehended both teenagers; the girl told police she entered the school through an open window. 

Officers determined that the teens had also broken into Hampden Meadows School earlier that morning. Police said the teenagers stole various small items from the schools; a value amount for the items stolen was not available.

Police spoke with the teenagers’ parents; the teens have been petitioned to RI Family Court, as they have been charged with felonies. 

News of the break-ins added to an already tense day for Barrington parents, as a national TikTok trend regarding the possibility or threats of school violence had pinpointed the date of Friday, Dec. 17.

Chief Correia said police do not believe that either of the teenagers charged were involved in the threatening message written inside a Barrington High School bathroom last week. 

“The evidence we have so far doesn’t lead us to believe they (the 15-year-olds charged) are connected with the high school case,” Chief Correia said. 

School officials decided to move all BHS classes to virtual learning for Monday through Wednesday, Dec. 20 to 22, in an abundance of caution, since the threatening message indicated Dec. 21.