FLORIDA COMPUTERS STOLEN Computers stolen from North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts | news-press.com | The News-Press:

Computers stolen from North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts

BY RACHEL MYERS • RMYERS@news-press.com • November 10, 2008

Lee County Sheriff’s deputies are searching for a person or persons involved in ransacking the North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts over the weekend.

Principal Douglas Santini reported to deputy Vallie Arvin that he arrived at the school with his young nephew around 7:30 a.m. Saturday to find the front door unlocked, the reception area in disarray, glass broken and computers missing.

He immediately called for deputies, though at that time, he did recall seeing a tall, thin male jumping a fence nearby as he arrived. Deputies set a K-9 track, but were unable to locate the suspect.

Arvin reported it appeared whoever it was gained access by smashing a locked rear door window near the cafeteria and crawling in through the space between the broken glass and the door molding.

The suspect or suspects smashed their way into several offices in the reception area, and several classrooms, where computers were also stolen. A total of five Gateway computers, valued at more than $1,000 each, were taken.

Fingerprints were collected, and the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 477-1000 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS.