MICHIGAN COMPUTERS STOLEN TWICE LAST MONTH FROM HEALTH CLINIC Thieves hit Portage Street clinic twice

Thieves hit Portage Street clinic twice

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

By Rex Hall Jr.

rhall@kalamazoogazette.com 388-7784

A free health clinic on Portage Street was hit twice last month by thieves who made off with six laptop computers and an LCD projector.

The break-ins occurred Oct. 1 and Oct. 20 at the First Presbyterian Church Health Clinic, 2918 Portage St., said Detective Sgt. Karianne Thomas of the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety.

Jane Zwiers, a nurse and executive director for the clinic, said in the first break-in someone threw a brick through a window and stole one laptop. During the second incident, she said, a brick was thrown through a glass door and five laptop computers and a projector were taken.

Zwiers said the clinic had no alarm system, but lights are on around the clock. She said the clinic won't buy new laptops as replacements, since the small, portable computers seem to have been targeted.

Zwiers said no patient and volunteer information was stolen.

``I think it was hard for the volunteers to experience and see,'' Zwiers said of the two break-ins. ``The community has really worked hard to support the clinic and do the work of the clinic.''

Thomas said detectives continue to investigate the thefts.