Social media trend linked to $283K burglary spree at former Valley school, teen suspects arrested

A former Valley school campus became the target of a social media-fueled burglary spree that left more than a quarter-million dollars in damage and stolen property, authorities said.

Police said suspects participating in an “urban exploration” trend repeatedly broke into the former Echo Canyon School campus, causing more than $283,000 in damage and theft.

Police identified only one of the four suspects: 18-year-old Blake Eldredge, who was booked into jail. Two of the other suspects are 16. Police said there could be a fourth suspect, whose name and age weren’t made public.

The juvenile suspects were released to their parents, and the Phoenix Police Department submitted the case to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office for review.

Young suspects taking part in ‘urban exploration’ trend accused of burglary

The trend encourages people online to share content of themselves entering properties they believe are abandoned, police said. However, the campus the four suspects entered is far from defunct.

Echo Canyon School, located on 62nd Street south of Camelback Road, had 264 students in grades K-8 when the Scottsdale Unified School District voted to close and repurpose it, along with Pima Elementary School, in December.

Although Echo Canyon School is no longer operating as a school, the campus is still used for community events and to store school district equipment.

Four suspects entered multiple campus buildings over several days, stealing and damaging computer equipment.

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