Kobe Bryant memorabilia stolen from Lower Merion High School

LOWER MERION TWP., Pa. (WPVI) -- Authorities say thieves broke into Lower Merion High School and stole several items from Kobe Bryan's shrine outside the Bryant Gymnasium.

Now, school officials and police are searching through surveillance video to try the catch the suspects, as word is getting around to the Lower Merion community including Kobe Bryant himself.

The display case was damaged sometime Sunday evening.

Police say the thieves busted the locks and took everything - all the memorabilia from Bryant's high school career.

"They're material items, but for us they're important, they remind us of a really exciting and special time for the school community," school district spokesman Doug Young said.

The items stolen include the 1996 state championship trophy, the net from the game that was played in Hershey, a signed replica of Kobe's high school jersey, game programs, and Nike sneakers that he had donated to the boys' and girls' basketball programs.

It is certainly a shocking development, especially for those who played basketball at Lower Merion during that era.

"I played with Kobe and those of us who played during that era, we've been exchanging messages this morning and talking about this loss," Young said. "It's a wonderful high school, but someone decided that they wanted to do something that was quite upsetting and sad."

Authorities are perplexed by the burglary because the items stolen do not carry substantial monetary value.

Meanwhile, Lower Merion High's Aces Nation family is already coming together to address the matter.

"We've heard from alumni who want to donate another program or have a pair of sneakers to give back to us; we've heard from Kobe, too saying whatever can be done to help, certainly he'll do. So we'll replace the items as best we can, but no one's ever going to take away the memories and excitement that we shared from those great moments," Young said.

Authorities believe someone is looking to make quick cash by selling these items. So police are asking everyone to be on the lookout for the items.