MERRIMACK – Reeds Ferry School went on alert for about an hour Thursday morning after Merrimack police searched the area for a residential burglary suspect.

Merrimack business administrator Matt Shevenell said that between 11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. it was discovered that a house had been burglarized near Reeds Ferry School at 15 Lyons Road. According to Lt. Matt Tareleton, the burglary happened at a residence on Bedford Road and a school resource officer from the Merrimack Police Department went to the school to notify principal Kimberly Yarlott of the incident.

“They indeed went to Reeds Ferry School, just in case who ever burglarized the house was somewhere on our property. They did … (draw) the shades and the police (were) standing there lending their presence,” Shevenell said.

The building wasn’t in full lock down mode and the shades that were drawn for the windows that face the residences along Bedford Road, Tarleton said. During a complete lock down, students and teachers stay inside their classroom, lock the doors and pull down the blinds, Shevenell said. This is practiced throughout the school year.

The business administrator said the officers brought a police dog with them, which tracked the suspect to the Bedford Road Baptist Church parking lot at 67 Bedford Road before losing the scent.

“There was never any indication that that individual was on our property. At that point in time they surmised, I guess, that they got into vehicle and drove away,” Shevenell said. “This was precautionary, it wasn’t like anything we thought was threatening to the school. But really these days you better be safe than sorry.”

Yarlott recorded an Alert Now message to send to parents. Shevenell launched the voicemail alert to parents. Tareleton said that the drop off for preschoolers at the school was moved as a result of the incident.

School went on as regularly schedule roughly an hour after the officer arrived at Reeds Ferry.

Erin Place can be reached at 594-6589 or eplace@nashuatelegraph.com. Also, follow Place on Twitter (@Telegraph_ ErinP).

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