PENNSYLVANIA 6 DELL COMPUTERS STOLEN FROM SCHOOL School thefts match others in 3 counties, police say

CARLISLE
School thefts match others in 3 counties, police say
Friday, December 30, 2005
BY MATT MILLEROf Our Carlisle Bureau
CARLISLE - Authorities believe thieves who have stolen more than $150,000 worth of computer gear from schools in three counties since July might have struck a Carlisle elementary school.
Six Dell computers and two projectors were taken from Hamilton Elementary School in the 700 block of Clay Street between Saturday and Monday, borough police said.
The method of the forced break-in at Hamilton is similar to a string of other school burglaries reported in Cumberland, Franklin and Huntingdon counties, Carlisle Police Chief Stephen Margeson said.

"There's got to be some connection," he said yesterday.
He said there are few leads in the cases. Carlisle police are working with state police, who are investigating many of the other burglaries, he said.
This week's burglary was the first for the Carlisle Area School District. Neighboring Big Spring School District has been hit five times.
The most recent Big Spring burglary occurred Dec. 14 at Mifflin Elementary School. Newville Elementary School was burglarized July 6 and thieves struck the high school July 7 and the middle school between July 13 and 20. A break-in occurred at Plainfield Elementary School on Nov. 9.
Other burglaries were reported Aug. 13, 14 and Nov. 10 at Lurgan Elementary School and Nov. 3 and Dec. 3 at Grandview Elementary School in the Chambersburg Area School District. Rockhill Elementary School in Huntingdon County was burglarized Dec. 7.
The Chambersburg district and Franklin County Crime Solvers are offering rewards for tips. Anyone with information may call Crime Solvers at 263-3000, state police at 264-5161 or 249-2121, Newville police at 776-5513 or Carlisle police at 243-5252.
MATT MILLER: 249-2006 or mmiller@patriot-news.com