UK COMPUTERS STOLEN FROM HIGH SCHOOLEDP24 - Computers stolen during parents eveningComputers stolen during parents evening

LAURA DEVLIN

30 November 2005 09:19

Computers valued at more than ?20,000 were stolen from a high school during a parents' evening.

It is believed at least four offenders took the equipment from a locked store in a new block at Downham Market High at about 5.30pm on Monday. The haul was loaded into a vehicle in the main car park where parents were also parked.

Headteacher Ian Bloom fears pupils could lose out - but believes the culprits could face a tough job trying to sell on the 32 computers, which have individual security passwords and serial numbers.

The block, opened just two months ago, was raided while hundreds of parents and staff were in a separate part of the complex.

The stolen silver-coloured Acer TravelMate 2355LC computers were the school's most up-to-date IT equipment.

Mr Bloom said: "We are supposed to be having an ICT across-the-

curriculum day tomorrow and obviously we needed those computers. Youngsters are going to have to use computers between them rather than have one each. It is very, very disappointing for the students and for those doing their GCSEs."

The school is the second largest in the county and has some 650 computers for its staff and 1600 pupils.

Mr Bloom added that the stolen computers would probably be useless for anyone attempting to sell them on.

"They are not like computers you can just go and get, they have their own software which you would be unable to buy."

Anyone who saw suspicious acti-vity in the car park or with information on the computers is asked to contact PC Jason Carlyon-Smith at Downham via 0845 456 4567.