UK SCHOOLS TARGETED BY COMPUTER THIEVES

January 18, 2005, Tuesday

First Edition; NEWS; Pg. 9

364 words


SCHOOLCOMPUTERS INPOLICESTATIONS;
_ TEACHERS TRY TO STOP BURGLARIES DURING HOLIDAYS
JON TUNNEY


SCHOOLS are storing computer equipment at police stations to keep thieves at bay in school holidays.

Primaries and secondaries across the region have been beset by burglaries for a number of years.

Headteachers and police are determined to tackle the problem - and storing expensive equipment is just one of the weapons at their disposal.

Hi-tech protection measures such as smart water - used to identify stolen goods - and smoke cloak - a smoke screen obscuring school property during a burglary - helped to cut crime figures in the last summer break.

But a police spokeswoman confirmed many schools were still choosing to simply empty their classrooms over the holidays.

She said: "We would never advertise what stations were used, for obvious reasons.

"But this is just one of a whole range of things available and we are more than happy to advise schools on security if they contact us. "

Other schools in Merseyside have built special strong rooms to protect equipment when out of use.

Childwall Church of England primary, Woolton Road, was targeted by one of Liverpool's most profilic school burglars in 2003. Stuart Edgar sold stolen goods one Bay before Merseyside police picked him up.

Now the primary school has installed its own strong room to guard against future raids.

Headteacher Diane Shaw said: "The pupils are heartbroken every time there is a break-in.

"It is costing us tens of thousands of pounds to protect our school which should be being spent on the pupils' education. "

Leamington Community primary, in Leamington Road, Norris Green, has also sought security experts to protect its school after break-ins every two weeks.

Headteacher Marie Egerton Jones said: "Every time computers are lost, it sets us back at least a couple of weeks while we catch up with the work. Insurance premiums also rocket after every break-in. "

Liverpool firm 24/7 Roller Shutters is getting increasing calls for its services from desperate headteachers.

Manager Phil Caza said: "Schools were previously easy targets but now they are requesting tighter security such as strong rooms and smokescreens to deter thieves. "
January 18, 2005