OAKLAND COMPUTERS STOLEN FROM SCHOOL Argus Online - More Local NewsBurglars strike high school five times in seven days
Little equipment left;

By Alex Katz, STAFF WRITER

OAKLAND -- Burglars have hit a small high school in East Oakland five times in seven days, methodically taking everything from televisions to art supplies and leaving the school with almost no equipment, school officials said.

The School of Social Justice and Community Development has had several break-ins this year. But there were no major losses until last week, when burglars stole several TVs during a March 29 holiday, school director Kali Akuno said.

Thieves were back almost every night between the first break-in and Monday to steal computers, overhead projectors, DVD players and even cleaning supplies, Akuno said.

"We've been cleaned out," Akuno said. "We have no technology here."

There was apparently no sign of forced entry during the first few break-ins, and some speculate that the thefts were an inside job.

"It appeared at first it was somebody who had a key," Akuno said.

The school district changed the locks Thursday, but burglars forced the lock on one classroom and stole more equipment, he said.

There was still one computer bolted to a table in a classroom Wednesday. Another computer had been torn off the table, and a printer smashed on the floor.

The School of Social Justice, a small, alternative high school known for radical politics, recruits students who have dropped out or are on probation.

The Middle East Children's Alliance donated three computers to the school Wednesday, Akuno said.

Student "Buddha" Centers, 16, said he did not believe the break-ins were an inside job.

"I think it's just some random person who knows when the school is closed," he said, adding, "Whoever took (the equipment) affected this whole school."

Another student accused the school district of stealing the equipment in an attempt to sabotage the school.

The school has had a somewhat rocky relationship with the district. Even before the school opened in 2002, leaders fought with the district over where the campus would be and when it would open.

The school found a temporary home at the Allen Temple Baptist Church in East Oakland, but was evicted after clashes over student behavior and church rules.

Students are now in portable classrooms in back of Castlemont High School. The district is building a permanent campus on the site.

Oakland police Lt. Howard Jordan said investigators do not have any leads.

School break-ins are com-mon in Oakland. A number of break-ins occurred during the last month at campuses such as Fremont High School, Oakland Technical High School and Franklin Elementary School.

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

"We've caught a few people, but (school burglaries have been) fairly prevalent in the last month or so," he said.

Last year, one stolen computer was returned to the district by a woman who said she bought the machine from someone in San Francisco.