Teens Caught Taking Thousands In School Computers

Teens Caught Taking Thousands In School Computers

Mike Hooker

Reporting

Jan 10, 2007 8:49 pm US/Mountain

(CBS4) FORT COLLINS, Colo. Police said two high school students in Fort Collins methodically stole computers and other electronics from two schools and tried to sell the items on eBay.

One of the 17-year-old boys accused in the burglaries is a student at Poudre High School and the other attends Fort Collins High School.

Last week, security cameras recorded the burglars taking 32 computers at Fossil Ridge High School. The two masked boys in the video didn't take monitors or keyboards but focused on taking the CPU boxes, which are the most valuable part.

"They stacked the computers outside the door and then, from the video, it looks like they drove the car around and loaded up their car," said Norm Bastian, Poudre Schools security manager.

In all, there were three burglaries at Fossil Ridge and two at Fort Collins High.

The school district said the duo took a total of 47 computers, 7 GPS units and a projector, along with other small items that were valued at about $44,000.

Security photos published in last month's Fossil Ridge student newspaper showed the two burglars wearing hoods and face masks in a November burglary.

Bastian wouldn't say how the burglars got into the school but said they were quickly scared off in all, but the most recent

incident. In that case, during winter break, a staff member mistakenly thought custodians would arm the security system.

"When that individual left, she didn't arm the security system and that's why, in that particular case, they were able to be in the building for so long," Bastian said.

According to the video surveillance tape, the burglars were in the school for an hour and 8 minutes in the last burglary.

When the computers showed up on eBay, police tracked and arrested the two suspects and now almost all the computers are back in the schools.

The school district said about $5,500 worth of stolen items hasn't been recovered and it appears that those items were sold on eBay.

Fort Collins police said the two suspects were cooperating with investigators and have been released to their parents.

Charges against them may include burglary and felony theft. Police said the suspects are cooperating with investigators and have been released to their parents.

(LEADSONLINE CLIENT – FORT COLLINS, CO POLICE DEPARTMENT)