UK COMPUTERS STOLEN http://www.cravenherald.co.uk/news/8830277.Spate_of_burglaries_in_West_Craven/

Salterforth school victim of £9,000 computer theft

9:42am Thursday 3rd February 2011

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West Craven area has been hit by a spate of burglaries, including one at Salterforth Primary School where £9,000 of computer equipment was stolen.

Police say that the offenders forced open a small window and searched the school before stealing 18 laptops from the IT suite and leaving through a fire door.

The theft occurred between 7.22pm and 11pm on Saturday.

Sgt Michelle Dixon, of the West Craven Neighbourhood Policing Team, deplored the thefts.

“These kind of crimes affect more than one person, they affect the whole community and especially the children who attend the school,” she said. “It’ll have a massive impact on the school.”

In what she believes could be a linked incident, offenders also targeted Earby Springfield Primary School between 5pm Friday (Jan 28) and 8am Saturday.

She said an offender tried to open an office window at the rear of the building. But the attempt failed and the offender was unable to enter the school.

A Barnoldswick business and two houses in the town were also targeted in the past week.

An offender gained access to Gissing and Lonsdale Ltd, Wellhouse Road, between 6.30pm and 6.40pm on Monday but left the premises without taking anything.

A house on Chapel Street was targeted between 8.30pm and 10.20pm Sunday and the thief fled with £716 in cash.

The other house was on King Street, There a thief entered through an unlocked door between 5.30pm and 8.30pm on Thursday and stole a Toshiba laptop worth £20.

Anyone with information should ring the West Craven Police on 0845 125 3545 or the confidential Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.