OFFICERS ARREST 4 IN THEFTS AT SCHOOLS.

Byline: Jesse Hiestand Daily News Staff Writer

A theft ring that preyed on 18 schools in Sylmar and Sunland since November, stealing an estimated $100,000 in computers and other electronics, was broken with the arrest of four people, police said Thursday.

Detectives say the suspects, three adults and a juvenile, aided in their own capture by being predictable - often striking the same schools repeatedly and taking only certain equipment.

``They were kind of telegraphing what was going on and it became a very distinct pattern after a few weeks'' following the first burglary Nov. 7, said Detective Andy Monsue of the Los Angeles Police Department's Foothill Division.

One of the suspects, Darren Wade Arment, 26, of Sylmar was arrested Thursday at 2 a.m. when detectives tracked him to a Motel 8 in Sylmar where they knew he often stayed in Room 150, Monsue said.

Three other suspects were arrested Tuesday. Monsue said one of them, Gene Steven Wilson, 36, of Sylmar was caught burglarizing Osceola Street Elementary in Sylmar, a school that had been hit four previous times, by officers from the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Foothill Division officers recovered stolen property and evidence from Wilson's car that led them to two other suspects - Ruben Contreras, 31, of San Fernando and a 16-year-old male from Sylmar.

All of the suspects have been arrested on suspicion of burglary and remain in custody on $15,000 bail. More arrests are possible, Monsue said.

Monsue said the thieves stole computers from classrooms and administration offices. About $12,000 worth of processors, monitors and other components have been recovered and will be returned to schools once the gear is sorted out.

All but three of the 48 burglaries took place at elementary schools, Monsue said. The most frequently burglarized schools were Osceola, Sunland Elementary and Apperson Street Elementary in Sunland and Herrick Avenue Elementary in Sylmar.

``We're extremely thankful to the Police Department for catching these people,'' said Alexandra Selna, Osceola's principal.

Thieves stole two computers from the school's office last month, leaving administrators with no way to electronically keep tabs on payroll, supplies or enrollment.

``It was our link to the district,'' she said. ``(The thieves) did a lot of damage to us.''

The theft ring allegedly broke into Sunland Elementary five times over a six-week period starting with the Christmas break, said administrative assistant Carol Moody.

In each case, the thieves took stereos, videotape machines and other electronics from classrooms, she said. The students were deprived of educational tools and traumatized by having someone break into their room, school officials said.

``We're just excited that it might be over,'' Moody said.