OHIO STUDENTS CONFESS TO STEALING COMPUTERS FROM SCHOOLThe Advertiser-Tribune: Pair confess to computer theft at H-L - - The Advertiser-TribunePair confess to computer theft at H-L

By Ryan Reiterman, rreiterman@advertiser-tribune.com


Two students have confessed to stealing more than $50,000 worth of laptop computers and other equipment from Hopewell-Loudon High School, 290 N. CR 7.

Seneca County Sheriff's Office Detective Kevin Reinbolt said one or both of the juveniles could be charged as adults due to the amount of items stolen and the total dollar amount. Reinbolt will submit the case to a prosecutor, who will then decide the charges.

On Aug. 15, the two students were at the high school for an activity during the day. While there, they placed a piece of paper between the lock on a back door.

Later that night, they entered through the back door and spent several hours stealing 35 laptops, an overhead projector, a defibrillator, personal digital assistants, a refrigerator, a printer and other computer equipment.

Reinbolt said the investigation took about two days and he was able to get a confession out of both juveniles Thursday. He said they kept the items at their homes without their parents knowing.

"They kept it where no one would have known, except the people who put it there," Reinbolt said.

Most of the items have been recovered, and Reinbolt said they have been returned to the school.

Hopewell-Loudon Local School Superintendent Geoff Palmer did not wish to comment Thursday.