A former Bloomfield School District teacher was arrested Jan. 15 on a felony theft charge following an investigation into the removal of school-owned property from an elementary classroom.

According to the Bloomfield School District Police Department, Sara Denise Graber, 29, of Elnora, was arrested at approximately 2 p.m. Jan. 15 on a preliminary charge of theft, a Level 6 felony, involving property valued at $750 or more but less than $50,000.

Court records indicate the investigation began in early December after Elementary Principal Jason Bradburn contacted school police regarding concerns over missing classroom materials. Graber had been employed with the school district since August 2021 before her employment ended on Dec. 4, 2025. She was permitted to retrieve her personal belongings from the school over the weekend of Dec. 5–7.

According to a probable cause affidavit filed by Bloomfield School District Police Chief Marvin Holt, Graber continued accessing the school building using her issued key fob over several days. Surveillance footage allegedly shows Graber and several unidentified individuals removing numerous items from the school and loading them into a white Chevrolet truck with an enclosed trailer, a white Ford Mustang and a small white SUV registered to Graber.

Police allege that over the course of multiple days, Graber removed furniture, filing cabinets, shelving, learning materials, books, and classroom equipment. School administrators later reported that an entire classroom had been cleared out and that many of the missing items had been purchased using school funds, grant money, or donations.

Investigators documented a large quantity of missing educational materials, including learning games, phonics tools, books, filing cabinets, whiteboards, easels, calculators, rugs, and classroom furniture. Officials estimate the replacement value of the items at approximately $32,000.

On Dec. 10, a search warrant was approved for Graber’s residence in Elnora. Police later recovered items believed to belong to the school from Graber’s residence and from a property in Odon owned by a family member. The recovered property was transported back to the Bloomfield School District, where administrators inventoried and confirmed ownership of the items.

During a recorded interview at the Greene County Sheriff’s Department, Graber acknowledged taking items from the school but stated some belonged to her personally or were obtained through approved educational resource programs. Police allege that Graber admitted several items removed were purchased through school programs, including Title I and grant-funded materials.

Graber’s initial hearing, scheduled for Jan. 22, was waived as a jury trial demand has been filed.