CHICAGO COMPUTER THEFT AT HIGH SCHOOL MAY AFFECT EXAM RESULTSDaily Herald Precautions urged after exams stolen
By Chad Brooks Daily Herald Staff Writer
Posted February 04, 2004
Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 administrators have warned teachers and staff members to change e-mail and other electronic passwords after three Conant High School students were caught stealing exams from a school database, an official said Tuesday.

District 211 spokesman Tom Petersen said three students were caught in January with several tests stolen from an electronic database. The students accessed the tests through laptop computers that had been stolen during the 2002-2003 school year, he said.

Petersen said school officials were able to tell exactly which exams were stolen and have notified teachers to make sure they are not used again.

"This is something that we take very seriously," Petersen said. "Not only the theft of the school equipment, but also our school security. Measures have been taken to prevent this in the future."

Petersen said all three students have been disciplined by the district. He could not detail what measures have been taken.

In addition, the students face criminal charges in connection with the theft of the laptops and a digital camera, according to Hoffman Estates police.

Charged are Sean O'Keefe, 17, of 413 Langley Court in Schaumburg; Joseph Leong, 18, of 405 Woodcroft Lane in Schaumburg; and a juvenile from Schaumburg.

Hoffman Estates Sgt. Joe Peritano said the students have only been charged in the thefts of the computers and camera; they face no criminal charges in connection with the tests.

The school's police officer found the three in possession of the items, all of which had been reported missing or stolen from Conant during the 2002-2003 school year, police said.

O'Keefe and Leong are scheduled to appear in a Rolling Meadows courtroom on Feb. 27.