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Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009

Teens largely to blame for Bibb school burglaries

Computers, band instruments and even ice cream bars have disappeared from Bibb County schools in the last six months.

The school system has had a string of school burglaries: 10 of them in eight different schools since May 26. A couple of schools have been hit twice.

“This is mostly kids and mostly vandalism,” Superintendent Sharon Patterson said of the cases.

As a result, thieves took more than $5,000 worth of school items, and some schools were damaged.

This month, Morgan Elementary School was broken into and vandalized after someone broke in through a side door.

Bloomfield Middle School was broken into twice this month and $500 was taken, as well as snacks from a coaches area.

“Students were after money specifically,” interim campus Police Chief Stephanie Prater said. Three teens were arrested in that case, and two more arrests are pending.

If there is a common thread, it’s that most of the burglaries have come over a weekend or during school breaks when students think there is opportunity. Most of the crimes have hit south Macon schools, she said.

“During the holiday (breaks), you always see a spike,” Prater said. “With the economy and it being close to Christmas, they get items and sell items. Its all part of it.”

In October, Rice Elementary School was broken into and only one item was taken: ice cream.

Someone threw a brick through a locked cooler in the cafeteria, then took several ice cream bars.

“That clues you in that these are kids, very familiar with the school and where things are placed,” Prater said.

Last month, someone also broke in through a ceiling at Barden Elementary. Pipes broke and water got into the school, setting off an alarm.

Other recent burglaries, according to school officials, include:

— July 29, band instruments and equipment were stolen from the old Southwest High School building. Two men were caught in the act and arrested.

— July 8, two projectors estimated at $1,632 were stolen from Bruce Elementary school.

— June 29, a computer, Palm Treo and three Kenwood radios estimated at $3,600 were taken from Hartley Elementary School. A male juvenile was arrested.

— May 26, two computers, a basketball and air pump were taken from Burghard Elementary School. A male juvenile was arrested.

Security cameras inside the schools and tips from Student CrimeStoppers led to seven arrests in the cases. Investigations continue in the other cases.

As schools prepare to close for the Thanksgiving and winter holiday breaks, campus officers will continue to monitor schools to try to prevent further break-ins.

“We have security seven days a week, 24 hours a day,” Patterson said. “Just because school is out, they will continue to patrol.”

School officials also are making sure school doors and windows are properly secured.

“Anytime you have a break-in, you are concerned about property loss,” Patterson said. “Any of it is too much.”

Anyone with information about any of the recent burglaries can call the Bibb County campus police department at 779-2040.

To contact writer Julie Hubbard, call 744-4331.