OAKLAND COMPUTERS STOLEN FROM AREA SCHOOLSAlameda Times-Star Online - More Local NewsAnother school hit by thieves
Fruitvale elementary burglarized for thousands in computers, equipment

By Alex Katz, STAFF WRITER

OAKLAND -- Burglars have hit another Oakland school, stealing thousands of dollars' worth of computers and other equipment, following similar break-ins last week at a small high school.

Allendale Elementary School in the Fruitvale district had 10 computers, cables and a modem used by an adult education program stolen late last week at the end of spring break, Principal Jane Couch said. The burglars left older-model computers and printers.

Couch said burglars also forced their way into a classroom and took a stereo and other equipment.

"It really is disheartening, because Allendale really is a neat little community," he said. Still, "elements in our community do make things rough."

Police say break-ins are common in Oakland schools, especially in the last few months.

Thefts in schools tend to be isolated incidents, often crimes of opportunity or inside jobs, said Oakland police Lt. Howard Jordan.

Many break-ins, including one this week at Whittier Elementary School, appear to be the work of young vandals and do not result in thefts, officials say.

In recent months, police responding to alarms caught three burglars at different schools, Jordan said. A suspect caught at Hoover Elementary School was homeless and trying to steal food, he said.

One suspect told police that schools are known as easy targets among homeless people, Jordan said.

But in other cases, the crimes are premeditated, he said.

"To take 10 computers, you need to plan this stuff in advance," Jordan said. "A homeless person isn't going to show up and take 10 computers in a shopping cart."

East Oakland's School of Social Justice and Community Development, a small high school,

had five break-ins within seven days this month. School leaders said thieves came back almost every night for a week to take computers, overhead projectors, DVD players and art supplies.

The school district changed the locks, but did not post a guard on campus, a school official said.

Jordan said undercover officers have been assigned to stake out some campuses.

Jordan guessed that the school district loses at least $50,000 in computers and equipment to theft every year. District officials did not return calls asking for an estimate of losses.

Last year, there was a string of thefts at East Oakland schools. Thieves often took computer equipment and sometimes spray-painted motion sensors to prevent alarms from alerting police. Losses were in the tens of thousands of dollars.

In recent years, police have arrested school custodians and students for stealing computers.

In one case two years ago at Castlemont High School, three students were charged with stealing 40 laptop computers.

Police have returned stolen computers to schools. But many computers are sold on the street still bearing Oakland school district markings.

Anyone with information about break-ins or contraband computers is asked to call investigators at 637-0345.