Burglars Hit School Twice In One Week

Burglars broke into another Spokane Valley school twice last week, ripping off video cassette players, two-way radios and a computer printer from South Pines Elementary.

A custodian discovered the first burglary when he showed up for work last Thursday at the school, 12021 E. 24th. The principal reported the second on Saturday.

In both incidents, burglars pried open windows on the south side of the school’s east wing to get inside, said David Reagan, Sheriff’s Department spokesman. Deputies believe the same person or persons are responsible for both break-ins.

There have been nine burglaries at Valley schools in the past two months, but last week’s break-ins were the first reported since Memorial Day weekend.

Other schools that have been hit include Pratt Elementary, Spokane Valley High School, the Joy Bell Christian School, McDonald Elementary and Arthur B. Ness Elementary. Pratt and McDonald both have been burgled twice.

Things taken during those break-ins have included computer equipment, power tools, two-way radios and stereo equipment.

At South Pines, seven video cassette recorders and six portable, two-way radios were taken during the first burglary, which occurred sometime during the 12 hours prior to discovery of the crime at 5:30 a.m. last Thursday.

Several VCR and television remote controls also were stolen. The televisions were screwed down and not taken, Reagan said.

Most of the stolen items were being stored in the school’s hallway because carpet in the classrooms is being replaced.

The burglars apparently came back between 7 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. Saturday to steal more VCRs, again forcing open a window on the south side of the school’s east wing. Inside the school, the burglars tried unsuccessfully to pry open three locked classroom doors in the school’s west wing, Reagan said.

“In each room the VCRs were visible through windows in the door,” said Reagan, who added that the school’s principal locked all of the interior classroom doors after the first burglary.

This time, a Hewlett-Packard ink-jet printer was the only thing taken.

Principal Ralph Larson said the stolen VCRs, radios, stereo and printer were valued at about $3,500. Damages to the windows and doors has not yet been tallied, he said.

The burglars apparently wore cotton and rubber gloves, Reagan said. Deputies investigatng the burglaries did not find any fingerprints.

VCRs are frequently taken during burglaries because they can be easily pawned, Reagan said.

“VCRs are always a popular item,” he said. “That’s why we strongly encourage people to record the serial numbers and or mark them with their driver’s license number. It’s very difficult for us to track them down once they’ve been pawned if we don’t have the serial number.”

, DataTimes