OKLAHOMA COMPUTERS STOLEN FROM SCHOOL http://www6.lexisnexis.com/publisher/EndUser?Action=UserDisplayFullDocument&orgId=563&topicId=13692&docId=l:554873404

School laptops taken: Crime: South Oklahoma City school is targeted repeatedly by thieves

Beth Gollob and Joe Wertz, The Daily Oklahoman

Jan. 6--A south Oklahoma City school has been broken into at least 12 times in the last year, three times since Christmas break, with thousands of dollars worth of computer equipment being stolen.

More than $24,000 of equipment stolen this week hadn't even been used by students.

"We've had so many break-ins over the last year, I really can't remember (how many)," said Coolidge Elementary School Principal Sue Greenfield. "They (thieves) know what they are after."

Most of the items stolen over the past year were bought with MAPS for Kids technology money. Added to other property and equipment losses since January 2006, thefts have cost the school nearly $43,000.

Police had no suspects in custody Friday evening. Workers were installing additional security equipment this week at the school, 5212 S Villa Ave.

Other schools also hit

While students and teachers were enjoying their Christmas break, burglars broke into the school three times. This week thieves pried open locked doors and broke windows to access the school's media center and administrative offices. That's where they stole laptopcomputers and flat screen monitors.

Coolidge isn't the only school that's been targeted, said Oklahoma City police Sgt. Gary Knight. Others recently burglarized include U.S. Grant High School, Arthur Elementary, and Van Buren Elementary, Greenfield said.

She said schools are attractive to thieves because they usually have the latest technology and learning tools for students.

According to police records, more crimes have been reported in the area surrounding Coolidge than nearly any other Oklahoma City elementary school. Between December 2004 and November 2005, more than 500 crimes were reported within a three-quarter mile radius of Coolidge, including one homicide, 214 assaults and 114 burglaries.

Other elementary schools with similar neighborhood crime numbers during that time were: Rancho Village Elementary, 1401 Johnston Drive., with 493 reported crimes; Gatewood Elementary, 1821 NW 21, with 471; and Stand Watie Elementary, 3517 S Linn Ave., with 468.

Oklahoma City Ward 4 Councilman Pete White, who represents the ward that includes Coolidge, said the area is not dangerous in general.

"If you'd drive through there you wouldn't feel unsafe. We don't think the burglary situation is widespread all over the neighborhood," White said.
Several parents and residents who live near the school were contacted for this story but declined to comment, citing fear of retaliation.

Officials Thursday and Friday were reviewing surveillance tapes to try to identify the thieves.
Earlier in the year, the security tapes werestolen in another break-in.

Oklahoma City Schools' spokesman Cordell Jordan declined to give details on the school's security measures, citing safety reasons, but said the school's alarm system was functioning during the break-ins.

Poor students hurt most

Many Coolidge students come from economically challenged families, with more than 90 percent qualifying for free- or reduced-price lunches. Nestled within a working-class south Oklahoma City neighborhood, the aging school is surrounded by homes valued mostly at $75,000 or less.

Most school windows have a thick metal grate or screen covering them. There is graffiti in the neighborhood and on the school's trash containers.

Voters five years ago passed the one-cent MAPS for Kids sales tax to improve Oklahoma City schools like Coolidge, which was built in the early 1950s. In addition to building updates, the initiative also has paid for buses and technology improvements.

Jordan said most of the equipment stolen from the school was bought with MAPS for Kids funds. Though the thefts were costly, they won't come close to meeting the district's property insurance deductible, which exceeds $500,000. That means district funds will have to be used to buy any replacements.

"It affects them (students) very severely, because a lot of these children don't have access to computers at home," Greenfield said. "When these items get stolen, a lot of these kids just have to do without."

"It affects them (students) very
severely, because a lot of these children don't have access to
computers at home. When these items get stolen, a lot of these kids just have to do without."

Sue Greenfield, the Principal at Coolidge Elementary

Copyright (c) 2007, The Daily Oklahoman Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News. For reprints, email , call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
January 7, 2007