NORTH CAROLINA COMPUTERS STOLEN The Laurinburg Exchange - 36 000 in equipment stolen from I E Johnson:

$36,000 in equipment stolen from I.E. Johnson
by Matthew Hensley

Officials at I. E. Johnson have reported more than $36,000 in computers, including a number of laptops, have been stolen.

Laurinburg police say the incident was reported on Tuesday.

Reported stolen were 37 Dell laptops worth a total of $35,747 and a Dell desktop and monitor worth $734.

Captain Kim Monroe said there was no evidence of forced entry at the school or at the room where the equipment was stored. But police said the two carts that contained the laptops were damaged.

"The school had contracted workers during the period they believe the computers were stolen... the door was open for contractors to come and go," Monroe said.

He said there are no suspects in the case.

Andy Cagle, community school coordinator, confirmed the incident.

"There were some laptops stolen and the police are investigating."

Principal Emma McNeill-Stone says she was last in the room on Aug. 5 and the computers were still there. The time between the incident and its discovery was six days.

Cagle declined to release further information, saying it could interfere with the police investigation.

He was unsure how quickly the computers will be replaced. Students return to I.E. Johnson on Aug. 25.

Det. Brian Gibson said this is not the first incident involving computers with the elementary school.

He said in August of 2008, officers caught several juveniles in the school who had entered the building through a window and attempted to remove several computers.

Gibson said on July 13, 2005, $3,000 in computer equipment was reported stolen through an unlocked window and other equipment was sitting by the window as though someone was trying to steal it.

He stressed that anyone caught with one of these computers, even if they bought it from a third party, could be charged with possession of stolen property.

Gibson said that individuals who bring computers they believe may have been stolen to the police station will likely avoid charges if they divulge the seller.

If you have information on this incident, call the Laurinburg Police Department at 276-3211 or anonymously report your tip to Scotland Crime Stoppers at 291-3333.