NEW YORK (UPDATE) COMPUTERS STOLEN http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2011/06/06/2011-06-06_teen_arrested_in_breakins_at_bronxs_ps_73_caught_with_stolen_laptops.html

Teen arrested in break-ins at Bronx's PS 73, caught with stolen laptops

BY ROCCO PARASCANDOLA, RACHEL MONAHAN AND JOHN LAUINGER
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS

Originally Published:Monday, June 6th 2011, 1:26 PM
Updated: Monday, June 6th 2011, 3:02 PM

Harbus, Richard

PS 73 students are consoled May 31 after over 100 laptop computers were stolen in a second break-in at the school.

RELATED NEWS

• Robber is targeting Bronx churches
• Bronx church robbed by a new thief, crackhead
• School thanks donors after computer thefts
• Bronx churches 'violated' as break-ins increase
• Wanted in 13 downtown burglaries
• Scammers who target elderly eyed in burglary string

A 17-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with a pair of break-ins at a Bronx public school that netted nearly 100 laptops and other high-tech equipment, police said Monday.

Pedro De La Cruz was nabbed in the Bronx Sunday after cops tried to question him, police sources said. He ditched a backpack he was carrying, and took off running - but cops quickly corralled him, police sources said.

Inside the bag, cops found a few of the stolen laptops and burglary tools, the sources said.

When cops busted the teen, he also had a set of keys to the burglarized school -- P.S. 73 on Anderson Ave. in Highbridge, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said Monday.

"Some of the laptops have been recovered," Kelly said, adding that cops were "executing a warrant to see if more laptops can be recovered."

Jose Gonzalez, former PTA president for P.S. 73, said police found many of the stolen laptops and electronic equipment in a storage facility.

"We're really happy that the computers are going to come back to the school," said Gonzalez, who has two kids in the school. "The students desperately need these computers."

The school, where 97% of the students qualify for reduced-price lunch based on poverty, bought the equipment with grant money, school officials said.

It was not immediately clear how De La Cruz, who has a prior arrest for burglary, got his hands on keys to the school. He was charged with criminal possession of stolen property and criminal possession of burglary tools, police said.

The first theft happened sometime after the May 23 school day and before classes began on May 24. Officials said 27 laptops were taken, officials said.

The second break-in came over Memorial Day weekend and led to an even larger score. About 75 laptops, a digital scanner and sound equipment were taken from the school's auditorium, officials said.

jlauinger@nydailynews.com

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2011/06/06/2011-06-06_teen_arrested_in_breakins_at_bronxs_ps_73_caught_with_stolen_laptops.html#ixzz1OWbXhdWv