COMPUTERS TAKEN FROM A.V. SCHOOL.

Byline: KAREN MAESHIRO Staff Writer

LANCASTER -- Park View Middle School officials are seeking the public's help in finding burglars who broke into five classrooms over the weekend and stole seven computers.

The intruders damaged the doors and locks to enter the rooms and broke open locked file cabinets, officials said.

``Clearly the students are not going to have computers to work with,'' Principal Eric George said. ``If we are able to replace them, it's going to take a good deal of time. Those are educational minutes on using technology that can't be recouped.''

No monetary loss was available and no arrests had been made.

George said it would be difficult to replace some of the computers because they were purchased with grant money.

``Once a grant is complete we get to keep the computers,'' George said.

George encouraged anyone with information about the incident to call a crime tip hotline that can result in a monetary reward.

``We are letting the community know that there are WeTip numbers that offer a reward if the thieves are found,'' George said.

The WeTip Hotline is 1-800-78-CRIME, or 1-800-782-7463. The hotline was set up through the district's property and liability insurance carrier.

Rewards of up to $1,000 are offered if a tip leads to an arrest and conviction.

District officials in August asked for the public's help, promoted use of the WeTip hotline and beefed up school security to combat a growing problem of vandalism and theft.

The steps came after vandals trashed 11 rooms and caused more than $20,000 in damage at Piute Middle School in July.

The district's campuses last school year suffered 90 break-ins and vandalism incidents that cost the district more than $200,000.

Three former Piute students -- two 14-year-olds and one 13-year-old -- have been charged in Juvenile Court with breaking into and vandalizing Piute, which is in the 400 block of East Avenue H-11.

karen.maeshiro(at)dailynews.com

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