UK COMPUTERS STOLEN AGAIN FROM COLLEGE FOR THE THIRD TIME IN 6 WEEKS http://www.blackpoolonline.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=62&ArticleID=1547164

Not again!
POLICE were today hunting for computer thieves after a Blackpool college was raided for the third time in six weeks.
An organised gang has now netted £50,000 in stolen IT equipment in the series of break-ins at Blackpool Sixth Form College.
The latest came on Sunday morning when security staff at the Preston New Road campus found a padlock and chain on the front gate had been cut off.It was the same tactic used to gain entry as in the previous two raids.Getaway
A window in a computer lab had been forced open and seven computers – six Apple iMac G5s and one iBook – were missing.More machines lay in pieces around the room, destroyed by the thieves when they could not get them out of the college.
A car was driven on to the campus and right up to the building to allow the gang a quick get-away. One drove the vehicle away while the others fled on foot.
The gang first struck twice in 10 days – on April 21 and May 1 – taking 58 top-of-the-range Apple iMacs from the college's computer lab.A different classroom was targeted in the latest raid after police fitted alarms to the first crime scene.
Police say each time the gang was in and out within minutes.

Sgt Brian Stanley, of Blackpool Police, said: "This is the third incident in recent times where high-value computer equipment has been taken from the college.
"The method of entry and the specific targeting of computers in these classrooms leads us to believe we are looking for the same offenders as in the previous two incidents. The offenders, who made off with £32,000 of computers in the first raid, came back for a second go at the college and stole £17,000 of the same computers the next time."This time the value of the computers is around £7,000 but these were situated in a different classroom to the last lot."An organised gang has now netted £50,000 in stolen IT equipment in the series of break-ins at Blackpool Sixth Form College.The latest came on Sunday morning when security staff at the Preston New Road campus found a padlock and chain on the front gate had been cut off.It was the same tactic used to gain entry as in the previous two raids.GetawayA window in a computer lab had been forced open and seven computers – six Apple iMac G5s and one iBook – were missing.More machines lay in pieces around the room, destroyed by the thieves when they could not get them out of the college.A car was driven on to the campus and right up to the building to allow the gang a quick get-away. One drove the vehicle away while the others fled on foot.The gang first struck twice in 10 days – on April 21 and May 1 – taking 58 top-of-the-range Apple iMacs from the college's computer lab.A different classroom was targeted in the latest raid after police fitted alarms to the first crime scene.Police say each time the gang was in and out within minutes.Sgt Brian Stanley, of Blackpool Police, said: "This is the third incident in recent times where high-value computer equipment has been taken from the college."The method of entry and the specific targeting of computers in these classrooms leads us to believe we are looking for the same offenders as in the previous two incidents. The offenders, who made off with £32,000 of computers in the first raid, came back for a second go at the college and stole £17,000 of the same computers the next time."This time the value of the computers is around £7,000 but these were situated in a different classroom to the last lot."The CCTV footage taken from cameras around the college has been studied by detectives in Blackpool and in Penwortham, near Preston, where it is believed the gang had struck previously.Sgt Stanley added: "When the last theft occurred, we were alerted by colleagues in Preston to a similar incident at a college in Penwortham in March. Now, it transpires the college was also targeted twice in a short space of time. We believe the same offenders are responsible for all four thefts – and possibly more."The offenders – there are believed to be up to six – were white, 18 to 25 years old, wearing dark tracksuits, coats and trainers.A spokeswoman for Blackpool Sixth Form College said: "This time they were only able to get away with fifteen per cent of the number of computers they managed to get away with on the first occasion."That is a result of us introducing major additional security devices. We have put up additional barriers, improved digital imaging and upgraded our alarms."We are grateful to neighbours who alerted the police on Sunday morning. We have been able to ensure there is no adverse impact on students, who are using alternative computers."We are now looking at further methods to make it impossible for them to get away with anything if they should return again."Call police on (01253) 293933 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 with any information.
06 June 2006