Cross Creek High School is cracking down on book bags and large purses after last week's incident at Academy of Richmond County in which a sawed-off shotgun was found in a book bag near campus.

Students have long been required to leave book bags in their lockers at the south Augusta school, but the restriction will now be strongly enforced and expanded to large purses and drawstring bags, said Lynn Warr, Cross Creek principal and executive director for high schools.

Last week at the Academy of Richmond County, three students were arrested after a sawed-off shotgun was found in a book bag just off campus.

"Every time we get a warning sign it reminds us to be a little more careful," Ms. Warr said.

Some parents have griped about spending $5 to rent a locker, but safety remains the top concern, she said.

"That's really not a lot of money for 180 days of safety," Ms. Warr said. "We have to be as careful as we can be. Just think of what could happen."

The book bag ban increases safety, she said. Students are randomly selected to walk through metal detectors every morning; random locker searches are conducted throughout the day; and police dogs can search lockers but can't search classrooms with students.

"I think the real key in high school is to keep the kids guessing," Ms. Warr said.

Students are allowed to visit their lockers between classes, so there isn't a need for students to carry books around all day.

Richmond Academy has required book bags be stored in lockers since last year when the school installed enough lockers for every student to have one, Principal David Robbins said.

Several Richmond County schools have banned book bags, but there is no systemwide policy, said James Thompson, the executive director for special schools and programs.

Staff Writer Sarah Day Owen contributed to this story.