FLORIDA COMPUTERS STOLEN FROM SCHOOL FOR KIDS WITH DISABILITIES nbc6.net - News - Electronics, Cash Stolen From School For Kids With Disabilities

MIAMI -- Teachers at a school for children and teenagers with mental disabilities found their offices ransacked Tuesday morning.

Police said a thief or thieves entered The Learning Experience School, which prides itself on bringing joy and opportunity to children with mental disabilities, after forcing a barrier off the bottom of a back door.

Cristina Cartaya, who runs the school for mentally retarded and developmentally delayed children, said the thieves stole several things, including computers and a DVD player. Officials said the worst thing the thieves took was a child's medication.

"It's sad and it's sickening," Cartaya said. "What financial gain have you made from vandalizing and from taking stuff from our kids? TV, VCRs, laptops that our kids are using to learn?"

For students such as Joseph Paz, classes were canceled Tuesday because of the burglary.

"I come here to learn and have fun," Paz said.

Paz, a student at the school for more than 10 years, said the crime hurts him.

"It makes me really mad and angry," Paz said.

Staff members said they are also angry and unable to comprehend how anyone could rip off a nonprofit for children who need extra attention.

"You look at pictures of kids like these, and how could you take anything from them? How do you deprive them of anything, these wonderful little angels that are here with us?" said Daniel Cartaya, of The Learning Experience School.

The thieves came face-to-face with at least one student when they tore into an envelope with a picture attached to some money for the upcoming yearbook.

"They tore the envelopes. They took the money out. They ransacked file cabinets," Cristina Cartaya said.

The school, which has been open since 1977, said the losses are in the thousands of dollars.

"All of this stuff that we have to work very hard to get -- we'll just have to work hard and try again," Cristina Cartaya said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Miami-Dade County Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS.