PENNSYLVANIA COMPUTERS STOLEN FROM SCHOOLPublic Opinion - www.publicopiniononline.com - Chambersburg, PASchool hit twice with computer thefts
By KEITH PARADISE
Staff writer

Someone broke into Grandview Elementary School and took computer equipment over the weekend. The burglary was the school's second in less than a month.

Pennsylvania State Police, Chambersburg, said the burglary occurred sometime overnight Friday. Principal Jeffrey Lucas said the burglar stole equipment valued at about $25,000, including 11 desktop computers from the children's computer lab, LCD projectors, a Palm Pilot and cash. This recent break-in, along with a November burglary, left the school at 5538 Cumberland Highway with a serious computer shortage.


"They have rendered it basically useless. Grandview is basically labless," Lucas said.

Burglars stole 27 laptop computers, three headsets, a Palm pilot and a transmitting monitor for the visually impaired in the November break-in.
In all, there have been five burglaries of Chambersburg schools in which computer equipment was taken in the past five months. Burglars struck Lurgan Elementary on back-to-back nights in August, which resulted in computers valued at a little more than $12,000 being taken. Lurgan was hit again in November, with electronic equipment valued at $11,000 going missing. Lucas said equipment valued at close to $85,000 has been stolen to this point.

Police are investigating the burglaries and were at the school looking for evidence on Monday.

Lucas said the recent burglary resulted in more damage to the building's windows and doors. Also, the culprits took other items as well.

"I think they're scavenging at this point. They even took my head teacher's trench coat," Lucas said.