PENNSYLVANIA COMPUTER THEFT AT SCHOOL LINKED TO TEENAGERSSeneca Valley school thefts linked to two teensSeneca Valley school thefts linked to two teens
Loss of computers, components totaled $25,000
Tuesday, January 18, 2005

By Torsten Ove, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

After a four-week investigation, police in Butler County said they will charge two Seneca Valley School District students this morning with the theft of some $25,000 worth of school computers and computer components.

Jackson Township police said two boys, 14 and 15 years old, stole five computers, components for another 13 and some accessories from two buildings on the district's main campus and from Connoquenessing Valley Elementary School in Harmony.

Police Chief Len Keller said the boys will be charged today with conspiracy, theft, receiving stolen property and criminal mischief.

From early November to mid-December, Keller said the boys stole a laptop computer from the elementary school and another laptop from the middle school on the main campus.

The rest of the items were stolen from various locations in the intermediate high school and from the school's new computer lab.

Hardware components stolen from 13 computers in the lab rendered it useless, Keller said.

Police estimated the value of the computers and components at about $25,000. Officers have recovered more than $17,000 worth of items so far from the locker of one boy and from one of their homes. Other items were brought in voluntarily by the boys' parents.

District spokeswoman Linda Andreassi said yesterday she couldn't discuss any discipline the boys face. She also said she didn't know what grades the two are in.

Keller said police aren't sure of the motive, but the boys apparently wanted the items for themselves rather than to sell.

"I think it's safe to say both juveniles are extremely computer literate," the chief said.

Neither boy is talking to authorities, Keller said, and the 14-year-old's family has hired a lawyer.

The case is the second this month involving thefts of computers from a suburban school district.

On Jan. 10, vandals damaged Washington Elementary School in Mt. Lebanon and stole four laptop computers and four digital cameras.