Gerald Delboccio, a school superintendent in Leetonia, Ohio, was arrested after attempting to steal electronics from East Palestine High School.

EAST PALESTINE, Ohio (WKBN) — The recently hired superintendent of the Leetonia School District is facing theft charges after police say he stole more than $4,300 worth of electronics from East Palestine High School.

According to East Palestine Police, Gerald Delboccio is charged with theft after authorities say he attempted to steal electronic equipment from the school district.

Delboccio is the current principal of East Palestine High School and was recently hired as superintendent of Leetonia schools after failing to be hired as superintendent of East Palestine schools. His resignation as high school principal is set to take effect on July 31.

The police report states that East Palestine School District officials reported several electronic devices missing from the principal’s office on June 7. School district officials told police that they had noticed problems with Delboccio prior to the investigation, which is why they contacted police.

During the investigation, police found that the closet in the principal’s office – which normally contains laptops, televisions, tablets and other electronic devices – had been cleared out.

Surveillance footage showed Delboccio entering his office at East Palestine High School on June 5 with a backpack and an empty bag, the police report said. Later that day, surveillance footage showed Delboccio carrying the bags — which appeared to be full at the time — as well as two boxes of laptops out of the building, the police report said.

During the investigation, police officers contacted Delboccio and found the electronics in the back seat of his car. The 29 items seized included video game controllers, laptops, tablets, televisions and more – some of which were still sealed. The value of the items is estimated at approximately $4,382.

Delboccio was charged with theft, a fifth-degree felony, and taken to the Columbiana County Jail to await arraignment.