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Laptop computers stolen from school

Thieves took a locked cart containing a heavy load of electronics.

Contributed Photo Urbana High School

Urbana schools Superintendent Charles Thiel browses photos of the laptops stolen from the high school over the weekend. Vandals broke out a window at the school and stole a cart containing 23 Apple laptops.

Contributed Photo Urbana schools Superintendent Charles Thiel browses photos of the laptops stolen from the high school over the weekend. Vandals broke out a window at the school and stole a cart containing 23 Apple laptops.

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By Jessica Heffner, Staff Writer 10:23 PM Wednesday, February 8, 2012

URBANA — Police are seeking help after about $23,000 in computer equipment was reported stolen at Urbana High School over the weekend.

A teacher found a broken window and two classrooms broken into while at the school on Washington Avenue on Saturday morning, said Urbana police Lt. Seth King.

The burglars were likely familiar with the high school, since they only broke into classrooms known to have cart-loads worth of computers for several years, said Superintendent Charles Thiel.

“It was disappointing that somebody who knew where these carts were at targeted those classrooms in order to get those for whatever purpose,” Thiel said.

The thieves took a locked cart containing the computers — no small task due to its weight, Thiel said.

“When we move an empty cart, we usually get four of our (maintenance) staff to move it up and down the stairs,” he said. “With the computers inside, I would say it would take probably four people to move those.”

Another cart was found broken at the bottom of a flight of stairs. The computers inside were intact, police said.

The white Apple Macbooks are valued at about $1,000 each. They were used for research and to write papers in English classes. Thiel said they have “school property” stickers on them and are loaded with controls requiring administrative permission to access certain features and websites.

Authorities are checking pawn shops and online sites for the computers.

Residents said they wouldn’t be surprised if the thieves try to unload them.

“They’re probably going to try to sell them,” said Nicole Lockard, a lifelong resident of Urbana. “Just watch for them.”

Anyone with information about the thefts can contact Urbana police at (937) 652-4350.

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