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School district acts on break-ins, vandalisms

CORONA-NORCO: Nine schools have been hit multiple times, forcing new security measures.

10:00 PM PST on Thursday, January 18, 2007

By SHIRIN PARSAVAND
The Press-Enterprise

A rash of burglaries and vandalism has hit nine schools in the Corona-Norco Unified School District, but school officials hope recent arrests and plans to upgrade security will prevent future incidents.

Late last month, police arrested three men in connection with 19 burglaries at nine schools since October. Police found at least 15 computers stolen from the schools, Corona police Sgt. Jerry Pawluczenko said.

The hardest hit was Corona High School, which was hit seven times between October and December, Pawluczenko said.

The arrests haven't completely stopped break-ins and vandalism at the schools, however. Police found three teenagers in the multipurpose room at Lincoln Alternative Elementary School after an alarm went off there Jan. 6, according to Principal Melinda Aldrian.

She said that in several break-ins over the winter vacation, $8,000 worth of computer equipment was stolen and fire extinguishers were sprayed throughout the school. Vandals also tagged the school with what appeared to be gang graffiti, she said.

"We're tired of it and we want our school back," Aldrian said. The district is installing a new alarm system at the school, Assistant Principal Carol Peardon said.

The district is planning other security improvements as part of a $250 million bond measure voters approved in November. The school board voted Tuesday to move up projects at Lincoln and Coronita elementary schools to address the security concerns there, board member Bill Hedrick said.

Police found one burglary suspect when an alarm went off at Corona High School on Dec. 26. Police arrested the man, John Ryan Avendano, 23, of Corona, and after searching various residences they arrested two other men believed to be working with him, Pawluczenko said.

Avendano is accused of burglary, possession of burglary tools and possession of methamphetamine. Adrian Mark Ortiz, 20, of Corona, who was arrested the same day, has pleaded guilty to possession ofstolen property.

Police arrested Mario Hernandez Lechuga, 30, of Corona, on Dec. 27. He is accused of possession of stolen property.

Since October, burglars have hit Vicentia, Jefferson, Garretson, Coronita and Adams elementary schools and Centennial and Santiago high schools, as well as Corona High and Lincoln, Pawluczenko said.

The district has installed security cameras at River Heights Intermediate and Norco, Centennial and Roosevelt high schools. It plans to install cameras at Corona and Santiago high schools, said Steve Ellis, the district's security coordinator.

District officials plan to have fencing installed around some of its schools, through bond-measure funding.

Hedrick said school break-ins do damage that can't be measured in dollars alone. A teacher in Rialto, Hedrick said vandals once hit his classroom and broke some of his materials. He describes the experience as infuriating and discouraging.

"Teachers consider their classroom like their homes," he said.

Reach Shirin Parsavand at 951-893-2109 or sparsavand@PE.com