It was a proud day for a Mitcham school when it raised enough money to install a quiet space where students could go and relax.

It took months of fundraising by teachers, parents and students to get the £17,000 necessary to install artificial turf near the back of the St Thomas Canterbury Catholic Primary School in Commonside East.

So it came as a massive shock for assistant head teacher Sue Breen when she discovered this week that part of the turf had been ripped up and stolen.

"It is disappointing because everyone worked so hard to raise the money to have it installed and now our grass is gone," she said.

"It is a strange phenomena as the piece taken was very neatly cut, but not big enough to be garden sized."

Now Ms Breen thinks the thieves might try their luck again.

"That feeling of vulnerability just sinks in," she said.

"We're now stuck waiting to get it repaired in case they come back and take more.

"I've worked at this school for a long time and never though I would find myself reporting on stolen grass."

She doesn't know how much it will cost to replace the turf, but considering the amount it took to install it in the first place, she doesn't think it will be cheap.

As far as the hunt for the thieves go, he police are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.

"A report of theft was made to police on Thursday, April 26 regarding artificial grass that was stolen from a school’s play area in Commonside East, Mitcham," a Met spokeswoman said.

"The theft is believed to have taken place between 6pm on Wednesday, April 25 and midnight on Thursday, April 26.

"The thieves gained access by breaking the lock securing the gate to the play area where they have then cut and removed the artificial grass.

"No arrests have been made.

"Anyone with information should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."