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Posted on Tue, Apr 19, 2011 : 4:16 p.m.

Nearly 100 computers swiped from Ypsilanti school buildings

By Cindy Heflin

Students at Ypsilanti Middle School are making do with fewer computers after nearly 100 iMacs were stolen from the school and from another of the district's buildings.

Middle school teachers discovered the thefts of about 70 computers from about 10 classrooms when they reported for work Monday morning, Ypsilanti school district spokeswoman Emma Jackson said today.

Also, about two dozen computers were discovered stolen April 14 from the district's Return to Learn classroom for students who have dropped out and are trying to earn a diploma, Jackson said. The classroom is in the former George Elementary School building at 7076 Ecorse Road in Ypsilanti Township. The elementary school was closed several years ago.

iMac.jpg

An iMac computer similar to the ones that were stolen from Ypsilanti schools.

In both cases the thief or thieves forced their way into the building, said Derrick Jackson, Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office spokesman. Neither he nor the school district had a dollar value for the stolen computers.

The district is making arrangements for the Return to Learn students to continue their work, Emma Jackson said. The room was equipped with 26 computers, and she said she believes all were stolen.

In the middle school, located at 105 N. Mansfield St., teachers are working around the loss of the computers, Jackson said.

"Our students are continuing to learn and be educated, and we are looking at other resources to utilize in place of the computers," she said.

She said the computers will eventually be replaced either through insurance coverage or another means. "We want our students to have access to all tools that we expect to be in the classroom," she said.

Emma Jackson noted computers were also stolen from Erickson Elementary School during a break-in that occurred the first day of school last fall.

"We are probably going to have to talk about a different method of securing our computers," she said.

Anyone with information about the thefts can call the sheriff's department tip line at (734) 973-7711.

Comments

David

Thu, Apr 28, 2011 : 9:21 p.m.

Well we didn't do anything at Ypsilanti Middle School the day they were stolen... and they only have security cameras approx. every 200 feet on the ceilings, not in the rooms or labs. Why? Anyways, those computers are worth about $1,959.95 EACH! And no, they can't be pawned, there are pressure plates on them and permanent engraving to call the police. No wires were cut, so someone must have a key which only teachers have, so there definitely is a problem. You wonder why the schools are doing so bad.

RJA

Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 10:57 p.m.

Watch Craig's list and E-bay!

ela

Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 6:48 p.m.

I have a child with special needs who attends Ypsi Middle - a computer allows him to have a wider range of possibilities and applications for his education. Computers can be an important educational tool. Those who think otherwise are being ridiculously short-sighted. Limited access to a computer may unfortunately result in fewer educational activities that our kid wil be able to participate in.

amlive

Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 2:02 p.m.

At 100 computers, this is a heist in the range of $100,000. It seems at this level, investigation of the theft should earn the interest of state or federal investigators to aid local authorities. If this heist was perpetrated by some amateur thieves, then it should be easier to track computers and parts than it would be for car parts (assuming the school kept good records of serial numbers and whatnot). If it is part of a more advanced crime ring, then 100 computers could provide 100 opportunities to get some leads on a much larger problem that may be distributing stolen goods throughout the country. @AA.com - any idea if state or federal authorities are going to offer any assistance in this investigation?

amlive

Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 1:53 p.m.

I assume these computers have some sort of LoJack-style anti-theft tracking software on them, right? If not, they certainly should. Of course even then, I have to assume that the thieves here are not a small time operation planning to resell the computers as is on craigslist or ebay with a heist this size. More likely they will all be scrapped out for parts and never restarted in their current form. What a sad and disgusting event. I truly hope there is some sincere effort to track the stolen computers/parts and trace them back to the thieves, rather than just accepting it an writing it off as an insurance claim.

Meredith Schindler

Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 1:36 p.m.

Blaming the victim = classy. There were alarms and cameras, and the thieves apparently knew where they were. If you've been over to the middle school, you'll know that two sides of it are invisible to the street - they back up to woods, or the baseball fields for the high school. There would be plenty of time for thieves who knew what they were doing to get those computers out, and clearly that's what we're dealing with here. We hear a lot about the kids in Ypsi being at risk, and how this affects them, and that's true. But sometimes people forget that Ypsi has some of the brightest, highest achieving students in the county as well (often the same kids that are at risk, sometimes not), and this has impacted all of them. Think of the schoolwork, particularly the writing, that's been lost, and try to imagine the feeling of violation of space that has occurred. This is a crime, not a failure by the schools to protect equipment. As well to blame a mugging victim for leaving the house.

Moonmaiden

Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 5:49 p.m.

Really not trying to be argumentative - just a point: The alarms are on the exterior doors and a few on the inside (computer labs, office, etc.) The cameras are mostly in the hallways, although there are a few outside. The problem is that a truck could back into one of two courtyards, not be seen from the street, break out windows, climb into rooms and hand computers out the windows. There are no motion detectors in the rooms so they are safe as long as they don't go into the hallways. I'm sure the administration is looking at this, and hopefully they will solve the problem. Of course, it will be tough to find the $$$ unless there is money left in the bond that they can use.

AdmiralMoose

Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 4:56 p.m.

Thank you, Meredith.

Jizzy Jim

Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 1:28 p.m.

Another disgusting use of taxpayer money..... Why did the schools buy expensive IMacs???

Moonmaiden

Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 5:54 p.m.

Moose is correct. As I remember it, the deal they got on the Macs was comparable to getting IMBs (or clones). Apple is smart and is getting their product into the hands of future buyers. Oh, by the way, it is a much better product for schools!

AdmiralMoose

Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 4:53 p.m.

Because Apple gave them an amazingly good deal on the hardware, networking support, software and updates. And because it was the most efficient use of millage funds. It sounds like you weren't at the sessions where the administration sought public input, or when the issue was discussed at the board of education meetings.

roadsidedinerlover

Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 5:47 a.m.

WXYZ covered this story and they reported that there are security cameras. Hopefully they will catch these bums!

MikeyP

Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 4:21 a.m.

It's almost mind-boggling to consider how much leeway these criminals would have had to have had to pull this off... I mean, unless they made dozens of trips they had to have a pretty large vehicle to haul all these computers away quickly, or else a bunch of criminals in the crew or else a ton of time... at any rate SOMEONE had to have seen something and, what, opted not to call the cops? I mean, try to move 100 books without being noticed by anyone, and consider that these computers are much larger than books! Really, the cops can't be everywhere, you gotta call this stuff in when you see it people!

bummer

Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 3:04 a.m.

The computers are locked down with cable locks in locked rooms,. The computers are programed with built in passwords so they can't be longed into, where ever they go. In addition, there is alarms at the schools . Sounds like they were stolen by someone who has seen them? Just wondering who would be so low to steal from a child or a school. Hmmm.... security cameras and security guards,? Oh yeah the schools need to trim, reduce spending and consolidate where ever possible because the state is severely cutting the school's funds again for the next year, as they have been doing so for several years. A typical school receives the same amount per pupil as it did 10 years ago, without accommodating for inflation. Hmmmm....

Soothslayer

Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 1:02 p.m.

Funding is NOT the issue. We're doing it wrong: <a href="http://www.ncpa.org/sub/dpd/index.php?Article_ID=20378" rel='nofollow'>http://www.ncpa.org/sub/dpd/index.php?Article_ID=20378</a>

Salinemary

Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 1:44 a.m.

There's no doubt in my mind that someone knows who did this I hope they come forward.

Moonmaiden

Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 12:39 a.m.

Motion detectors and cameras would help. The desktops are locked down, but the locks are no match for someone with the right tools and in no rush due to the lack of security. Seems like better security could/should have been built in to the bond. Before any computers are replaced, I hope a plan to protect them is put in to place.

MB111

Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 12:14 a.m.

Check East Lansing, I hear they have experts in pc thefts from schools.

EyeHeartA2

Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 12:48 a.m.

I thought we just fired somebody from UM for this as well.....and wasn't his kid involved as well?

ViSHa

Tue, Apr 19, 2011 : 11:03 p.m.

keep an eye on ebay and craigslist!

Arboriginal

Tue, Apr 19, 2011 : 10:50 p.m.

iMacs are equipped with built-in anti-theft features. You can secure the computers with a cable and lock. It is unbelievable that this feature was not utilized. It was a preventable crime.

Moonmaiden

Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 5:51 p.m.

jjc is correct. The cable and locks (which are on all the computers) are useless against someone with simple tools and no one watching.

jjc155

Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 12:51 p.m.

or they were and the cable/lock was cut with bolt cutters. Locks and cables merely keep honest people honest.

Tom Joad

Tue, Apr 19, 2011 : 9:57 p.m.

Computers children, children computers...what will the children do without their computers?

Garden Goddess

Tue, Apr 19, 2011 : 9:45 p.m.

Somebody knows something. I remember visiting my child's school and noted that these were in a locked area. With all the expense spent on the computers I cannot believe cameras were not installed. 100 computers, this took a little time and thought. Speak up, this affects our communities children.

John of Saline

Tue, Apr 19, 2011 : 9:13 p.m.

No security cameras?

grye

Tue, Apr 19, 2011 : 8:21 p.m.

I am surprized the school is not alarmed to identify breakins. In addition, the computers should have been secured in a cabinet to make it more difficult to steal. Need a little more fore thought by the school administration.

Moonmaiden

Wed, Apr 20, 2011 : 5:56 p.m.

Cabinets don't work for desktops, only laptops. They certainly were locked down, but thieves with all the time in the world can bypass the locks and cables with the right tools.

lizard

Tue, Apr 19, 2011 : 8:52 p.m.

These were almost entirely desk-top computers. They would not be secured in cabinets. They were locked down.