More Than 120 iPads Stolen From School In Lawndale
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Burglars stole 123 iPads from a public school on the West Side on Monday.
CBS 2's Susanna Song reports someone smashed out windows at Charles Hughes Elementary School, 4247 W. 15th St., around 1 a.m. Monday, and stole the iPads from a computer lab. Police and school officials said the thieves made off with 123 iPads, valued at nearly $50,000 combined.
Hughes is the welcoming school for Henson Elementary School, one of the 50 schools closed by the Chicago Public Schools last year, and got the iPads as part of the district's pledge to provide new iPads for every welcoming school.
"What's the use of stealing iPads, and the kids got to come to school and miss out on computers and learning and everything? It's ridiculous," said Marsha Langston, who has a child at Hughes.
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Officers found a shattered window on the south side of the school, and another in a second-floor computer lab, where safes were strewn about when police arrived.
One Lawndale neighborhood resident said the burglary might have been thwarted if police arrived sooner.
"Something that our kids won't be able to use, but at the same time if you have an alarm going off for security for the school, then I think you should respond to that alarm. The alarm shouldn't be going off all weekend," Antwan Mathis said.
A police spokesperson said officers responded as soon as they received a 911 call about a suspicious person at the school. Police said they did not know about an alarm going off at the school.
Cindy Bynum, who has a 5th grader and a 7th grader at Hughes, said it's saddening someone would steal tools kids use for their education.
"It's disgusting. I mean, you can get iPad from the store. Who would steal kids iPads?" she said.
Police believe at least two people were responsible for the theft, but do not have a description of the offenders.
The principal said police are reviewing footage from surveillance cameras at the school. CPS officials said the district has GPS tracking technology and insurance to protect the iPads.
