If you thieves care - and that's a big if - this is how the hard-working parents of those Van Nuys elementary school kids raised money to buy computers for their children - the 61 laptops you stole last Friday night.

These kids are the sons and daughters of gardeners, janitors, factory workers and street vendors. Their parents didn't pay for the $467 computer by charging it to an American Express or VISA credit card.

They saved for it - penny by penny.

A two-day rummage sale held in the scorching heat on the playground of St.Elisabeth Catholic School raised a few thousand bucks. Pancake breakfasts and carne asada lunches raised a few hundred more.

One of their biggest events was family movie night, which netted more than $700 after these parents paid Fox Studios a licensing fee to show "Ice Age."

"We wanted everything to be perfectly legal," parent Kathy Harden told me.

Imagine that. Everything legal. They probably could have screened the movie without Fox ever finding out, but that wouldn't have been right. That would have been stealing - something you thieves know about.

Wednesday was the first day of school, and Principal Barbara Barreda had to share the bad news with the kids and parents who hadn't already heard about the burglary.

Video cameras at the school and neighbors' accounts show there were three of you. A parent driving by the school that night became suspicious when she saw you closing the gate, so she called 911.

By the time police arrived, it was too late. But they've got a few good leads, so with any luck you'll get caught.

"They were in and out in five minutes," Barreda said, trying to console some very disappointed parents, who realized that the burglars who stole the computers also robbed their children of a 21st century education.

This isn't a school for the well-to-do. Almost 65 percent of the 240 students qualify for free lunches because their parents are living at or below the poverty level.

Money for a laptop computer comes after food, rent, utilities, clothes and shoes - way after.

The students were going to get to keep their laptops after they graduated, to help them as they moved on to the next level, said teacher Luz De la Cruz.

"We want our students prepared and ready for Notre Dame, Loyola and other top Catholic high schools when they leave us," said the 17-year teacher.

"These parents worked hard to be able to provide their kids those laptops. They know they have to prepare them for a 21st century education. But they're not going to give up because of this."

No, they're not. You thieves may have buckled their knees but you didn't put them down. They're already organizing their next fundraiser, preparing to start all over again.

I asked a couple of the kids what they would say to the thieves if they had a chance.

"I would tell them it was wrong," said 9-year-old Giselle Vaca. "Our parents worked hard for that money."

Said Veronica Harden, 13: "We didn't deserve to have it taken away like this."

But maybe 9-year-old Roberto Castro put it best: "I'd tell them they deserve to go to jail."

If anyone has a connection to Bill Gates or wants to help these kids get back the chance at a 21st century education, call Barreda at 818-779-1766.