NORTH DAKOTA COMPUTERS STOLEN FROM SCHOOLS Break-ins at schools result in $30K loss

Break-ins at schools result in $30K loss
By Virginia Grantier Bismarck Tribune

Atotal of about $30,000 in electronic equipment was stolen and some window and door damage done during recent break-ins at two Bismarck elementary schools, according to Bismarck police.

A Bismarck Parks and Recreation District employee arrived at Highland Acres Elementary, 1200 Prairie Drive, on Saturday morning to prepare for a program and discovered that things had been thrown around, Bismarck Police Lt. Randy Ziegler said.

It was also discovered that 17 Apple laptops, valued at $20,400, had been taken, as well as three other computers. Two windows had been damaged, as well as two doors. The property loss and damage total was estimated at about $25,000.

Zieger said Sunday a window was smashed, but he didn't know at that point if that's how the burglar or burglars entered or exited the building. The break-in probably took place sometime between 5:30 p.m. Friday and 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Ziegler said.

Darrin Scherr, the school district's director of facilities and transportation, said that the witness' statement about things being thrown around referred to a recycling tub full of paper that had been tipped over in a hallway, leaving paper laying in the hallway.

"It could have been a lot worse. It was pretty minor," Scherr said.

At Northridge Elementary, 1727 N. Third St., a custodian was clearing snow Friday morning when he discovered a window partially open on one of the portable classrooms, Ziegler said.

Five computers, a television and a VCR had been taken sometime between 11 p.m. Thursday and 7 a.m. Friday, Ziegler said.

Lynn Wolf, Northridge's principal, said a window was "jimmied" and the screening material ripped off a window to gain access to the portable classroom - which is located near an alley. He said the room was left intact, "very few things disturbed,"and the stolen equipment removed carefully. He said a filing cabinet was even moved slightly to unplug the television set.

"They were very careful,"he said.

He said the classroom's east side is used for a preschool and handicapped student program, and the west side is a resource area where teachers have computers. He guessed the replacement cost of what was stolen will be about $5,000.

Ziegler said the two cases are under investigation and, so far, there are no suspects.

He said he thinks the two cases might be connected