PENNSYLVANIA STUDENTS ACCUSED OF STEALING COMPUTERS FROM SCHOOL http://www.dailyamerican.com/articles/2006/11/14/news/tuesday/news03.txt


Students at Rockwood Area Elementary School are using laptop computers stolen in September.

Police have arrested three people for stealing six laptops from the Rockwood elementary school in late September. Superintendent Vincent J. Capricci confirmed the three suspects are Rockwood students.

“(I was) surprised obviously and disappointed. These computers are paid for by members of the community,” he said. “When we have an incident like this, they are stealing from the entire community.”

Two of the students are 16 and 17 years old and are being charged as juveniles. Cody Allen Broderick, 18, Lower Sandy Run Road, Rockwood, is charged with burglary, conspiracy,theft and receiving stolen property.

Police said Broderick met with the two juveniles and talked about breaking into the elementary school complex. Sometime on Sept. 29 or 30, the trio parked Broderick's car near a wooded area close to the school, police said. The 16-year-old entered the building through an unlocked window, then unlocked a door for the 17-year-old, according to court documents.

The two juveniles broke another window to gain entry to the library, police said. Once inside, the pair placed several Dell laptops into bags and returned to Broderick's vehicle, according to a probable-cause affidavit. Broderick took one computer , valued at $2,100, which he later turned in to police after being interrogated for his involvement in the burglary, police said. The other computers were also recovered and returned to the school.

The students were reprimanded at the school as per the school board policy, Capricci said.

The school continues to look into different ways to improve security.

“We are looking for ways to improve security, that is an ongoing process,” Capricci said. “It is always very difficult to secure schools because they were not originally built with that concept in mind. It would be nearly impossible without putting bars on the doors and windows.”

Capricci commended state police for their role in the investigation

“State police did a wonderful job following up on the investigation,” he said. “They were very, very responsive and we certainly appreciate their efforts.”

A preliminary hearing for Broderick is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Nov. 17 before Sandra L Stevanus in Confluence.(Michelle Ganassi may be reached at michelleg@dailyamerican.com.)