Three contracted cleaners were charged Monday with stealing expensive electronics equipment while on the job at a local high school.

Police said the cleaners stole two Sharp projectors during overnight shifts at Lancaster Catholic High School between Oct. 29 and Dec. 1.

Manheim Township police Detective Cleon Berntheizel charged each of the suspects — Jasmine Burgos, 27, of 22 Church St., and William E. Costello Jr., 19, and Robert L. Davenport III, 20, both of 242 E. King St. — with two counts of theft and one count of conspiracy.

Davenport and Costello carried the projectors out of the school, police said, and Burgos provided transportation from the school to the East King Street address.

"They all worked at the same place. They all knew what was going on," so they were all charged the same, Manheim Township police spokesman Sgt. Tom Rudzinski said.

The projectors, valued at more than $1,300 apiece, were to be installed on classroom ceilings. The alleged thieves worked for a cleaning company that was contracted by the school.

According to officials, Costello has admitted to the thefts.

Police said Costello told them that the crew stole one projector and took it to the East King Street home. When the projector broke, the crew exchanged it, police said. The crew then allegedly returned the broken projector to the school and took a working projector back to the house.

Later, investigators were tipped off that the stolen projector might be at the East King Street home. Police went there and found the projector mounted to a wall. The working projector was recovered and returned to the school.

The trio will be informed of the charges by mail and summoned to court, police said.

E-mail: bhambright@lnpnews.com