TEXAS SCHOOL COMPUTER THEFTS COSTLY Star-Telegram | 02/20/2007 | School computer thefts costly

School computer thefts costly

FORT WORTH -- School is in, especially for burglars.

Thieves have stolen or damaged almost $350,000 in computers and other equipment in Fort Worth schools in the past year, according to records requested under open record laws.

The thefts have caused school officials to explore new security measures, including digital surveillance systems and software that would let police track a stolen computer's location.

"It's a big concern," Trustee Judy Needham said. "It's disgusting that people are stealing the tools our kids need to learn. The administration is working on the problem and, hopefully, we've seen the worst."

Overall, the losses would represent less than 5 percent of the district's $7.1 million budget for school technology in 2006-07. That money pays for computers, laptops and related items at the district's 144 schools.

But educators say the losses are immeasurable for students and teachers who rely on this equipment for projects and lessons, and to prepare for the high-stakes Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills, which begins today.

Some schools have been hit hard.

Among the larger heists last year were $45,000 worth of laptop computers from a cart at Meacham Middle School and $45,000 in similar equipment from North Side High School.

Last month, someone made off with more than $60,000 in property from J.P. Elder Middle School. The principal estimated that the total inventory loss could approach $100,000.

Fort Worth police say they don't know whether the number of school break-ins has risen in recent years, but the value of stolen property has.

"Technology has changed, and schools are using computers and projectors," said Lt. John Grady of the Fort Worth police School Security Initiative. "It's nice equipment that costs money."

School officials said they've increased security patrols and realigned some security cameras. The district will spend about $560,000 this year on security for facilities, according to the district's budget office.

"We know where our vulnerabilities are," said Cecelia Speer, assistant superintendent of safety, security and operations. "We hope that as we move forward, we'll have the funds to address those issues."

Creative thieves

Burglars have found all kinds of ways to get into buildings.

At J.P. Elder, they broke open a roof hatch and stole computers, projectors, a flat-screen monitor and walkie-talkies. They also broke cabinets and glass and cut wires.

At Meacham in November, they broke a small window next to a door, then used the same method to get inside classrooms. They took 37 laptop computers. This came two months after thieves stole six projectors from portable classrooms.

At North Side High, there was no sign of forced entry; police suspect they used a key.

Police later arrested a 17-year-old student in connection with the theft of a projector but haven't linked the student to other stolen items.

"It was indicated that a coach may have lost a set of keys, and they floated around a little," said police Sgt. E.J. Kraus, who investigates crimes in north Fort Worth. "It's unknown if copies were made."

The locks have since been changed.

Police suspect that more of the thieves could be students, Kraus said.

Game players use projectors to display their video games on the wall, as if on a big-screen television, Grady said. In the past, suspicious parents have even called police or school officials after their children came home with expensive equipment.

The projectors can cost $600 a piece.

"As I understand it, they're stolen for entertainment," Grady said.

The projectors aren't big; most would fit on a sheet of notebook paper, Speer said. Advances in technology have made it easier to stealcomputers and projectors because they are no longer "big and clunky," she said. "These days, you can fit a laptop into your purse."

Hurting students

Thieves aren't just stealing from taxpayers; they're ruining students' and teachers' work.

When 24 laptop computers were stolen from North Side High in October, students lost half-finished science projects, Principal Virginia Dean said. Instead of working oncomputers, they had to use poster board and construction paper.

The stolen projectors meant that teachers could no longer show students PowerPoint presentations they had spent hours creating.

"It directly hurt the students' ability to complete their assignments," Dean said. "There is a lot of anger when students get to school and find out the nice things they had are gone. They feel like their school is being violated."

Meacham Principal Manuel Cantu said thieves essentially cleaned out one of the school's two computer laboratories. Students had used the computers for English and social studies.

"We've basically doubled up our labs in the one we have left," Cantu said. "It slows thing down, and it's bothersome. We use the labs to practice writing for the TAKS test."

The district has assured the school that the computers will be replaced, he said.

But it's not a quick process. After a break-in, school officials must get police reports and file memos with the district business office. The business office has to verify that none of the items were personal property, move funds and place orders.

These items are not covered by the district's commercial insurance, but the district maintains a contingency fund to replace stolen or damaged items, spokeswoman Barbara Griffith said.

And not all school-owned items can be replaced. J.P. Elder lost equipment that was paid for with a grant.

"The replacement costs and the dead period between thefts and when things are replaced are a concern," Trustee Juan Rangel said. "The kids are the ones who suffer."

Solutions

In December, school officials increased security patrols. Police asked the district's security contractor, Smith Protective Services, to start notifying them before they respond to an alarm.

But more options are being considered.

There has been talk of imprinting the school district's name on laptops before putting them into service, Grady said. If someone tries to sell them, it would be clear that they were stolen property.

Officials also discussed activating software similar to Lojack equipment that helps police track stolen cars, he said. With the software, police could locate the IP address when someone connected a stolen computer to the Internet.

That would help police find stolen equipment. School officials are also looking into improved digital surveillance equipment to keep thieves out in the first place.

One such system has been installed at South Hills High School, where almost 90 cameras monitor the sprawling school.

When an alarm goes off at the school, workers at the district's security office will instantly see an image of the area, Speer said. They can then better decide how to respond.

Older surveillance systems just notify workers that an alarm is sounding.

But the digital systems can cost about $100,000 for large schools. South Hills' system was paid for in part by a federal grant.

To put that kind of system in would probably require bond funding, Speer said.

"The shame is that some people don't mind stealing from children," she said.

Diane Smith contributed to this report, which includes material from the Star-Telegram archives.

SCHOOL THEFTS

The Fort Worth school district has been plagued by break-ins in the last year. According to school district records, the following items were among thosestolen from schools:

83 laptop computers worth $110,040

37 desktop computers worth $41,649

72 projectors worth $44,715

13 rooftop units (copper wire theft) worth $53,368

Anyone with information about the burglaries is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 817-469-TIPS (8477) or school district night security at 817-871-3333.

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Alex Branch, 817-390-7689 abranch@star-telegram.com