ILLINOIS COMPUTERS STOLEN FROM HIGH SCHOOL http://www.pjstar.com/stories/031607/TRI_BCLM4QQ0.047.php

Trio arrested in theft at school

Teens allegedly stole computers from Peoria Heights High School
Friday, March 16, 2007

PEORIA HEIGHTS - Three teens were arrested Thursday for allegedly stealing computers from a Peoria Heights High School classroom earlier in the day.

Laveret L. Fuller, 18, of 727 E. Toledo Ave.; Jeremy S. Robinson, 18, of 920 W. Smith St., Peoria; and a 16-year-old Peoria Heights boy were booked on charges of theft, burglary, criminal damage to state-supported property and criminal trespass to state-supported property.
Fuller and the 16-year-old both attend the 508 E. Glen Ave. school.

The three allegedly entered the school through an unlocked door sometime between 6 and 6:15 a.m. It's routine for the janitor, who gets to work about 6 a.m., to start unlocking entry doors shortly after his arrival, police said.

The employee told police that as he went about his duties on the second floor, he heard strange noises coming from a first-floor classroom. He looked over a ledge to where the noise was coming from and saw someone on the floor, fiddling with electronic equipment located on a cart, police reports said.

He called out to the person - later identified as the juvenile arrested in this case - and startled him. Covering his face, the teen left the building.

In his haste, he left behind a backpack labeled with his last name and stuffed with a keyboard and computer wiring, police reports said. A computer tower was found in a spot where it wasn't supposed to be in a later search of the building.

The youth, who matched the description the janitor gave police, said he lost the backpack a week ago.

School staff determined three computer monitors were missing from the classroom, along with three computer towers and three keyboards. The equipment, worth an estimated $3,000, has since been recovered.

All three teens were inside the building that morning, police said.

Fuller and Robinson remained at the Peoria County Jail on Thursday night, pending a court appearance. The juvenile was ordered into the custody of his parents until his court appearance.

Leslie Fark can be reached at 686-3188 or lfark@pjstar.com