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At least 10 iPads stolen from elementary school in Congress Heights At least 10 iPads stolen from elementary school in Congress Heights
(about 3 hours later)
The burglars looked determined as they raced through two brightly colored classrooms at a public charter school in Congress Heights, rummaging through toys and darting around small tables.The burglars looked determined as they raced through two brightly colored classrooms at a public charter school in Congress Heights, rummaging through toys and darting around small tables.
They stole more than 10 iPads, according to the security director of Eagle Academy Public Charter, computers used by children in pre-kindergarten through third grade who come from some of the most depressed neighborhoods in Southeast Washington. They stole more than 10 iPads, according to the security director of Eagle Academy Public Charter, computers used by children in pre-kindergarten through third grade who come from some of the most economically depressed neighborhoods in Southeast Washington.
“Very disturbing,” said the top security official, John R. Johnson, a lifelong District resident who spent 16 year in the Army. “Very disturbing,” said the top security official, John R. Johnson, a lifelong District resident who spent 16 years in the Army.
But what disturbed Johnson more was what happened to the $700 iPads after they were taken in the noon burglary on Feb. 28. Some, he said, were sold on the Internet for as little as $100. At least one, according to Johnson, was sold at a Metro station in Suitland, Md., for $40. But what disturbed Johnson more was what happened to the $700 iPads after they were taken in the burglary, which happened at noon Feb. 28. Some, he said, were sold on the Internet for as little as $100. At least one, according to Johnson, was sold at a Metro station in Suitland for $40.
[Watch video of burglary at Eagle Academy Public Charter] [Watch video of the burglary at Eagle Academy Public Charter]
Authorities know this because the iPads were equipped with a security program that, when activated after they were noticed missing, prevents users from logging on. Instead, a message flashes across the screen warning the tablet is stolen, that it belongs to Eagle Academy, and that police should be called. Authorities know this because the iPads were equipped with a security program that, when activated after their absence is noticed, prevents users from logging on. Instead, a message flashes across the screen warning that the tablet is stolen, that it belongs to Eagle Academy and that police should be called.
Johnson said four people contacted authorities.Johnson said four people contacted authorities.
“They were very educated people who were purchasing them,” Johnson said. “But come on. Someone selling that computer on the street for so little. You know that it’s hot. “ “They were very educated people who were purchasing them,” Johnson said. “But come on — someone selling that computer on the street for so little? You know that it’s hot.”
Three years ago, D.C. police blamed the ease of black-market sales of smartphones and computers for driving the city’s high robbery and burglary rate and fought for laws to make reselling the items more difficult and less profitable.Three years ago, D.C. police blamed the ease of black-market sales of smartphones and computers for driving the city’s high robbery and burglary rate and fought for laws to make reselling the items more difficult and less profitable.
The swift pipeline for stolen goods was illustrated in 2013 when a Louisiana pastor used the Internet to buy his wife a Christmas gift, only to discover after she had unwrapped her present that her laptop had been stolen from a D.C. school, resold to an electronics store and then sold again online. The swift pipeline for stolen goods was illustrated in 2013 when a Louisiana pastor used the Internet to buy his wife a Christmas gift only to discover — after she unwrapped it — that the item, a laptop, had been stolen from a D.C. school, sold to an electronics store and then resold online.
Such markets have been curbed in recent years, police say, though they’re not entirely shut down. Such markets have been curbed in recent years, police say, although they’re not entirely shut down.
[Laptop stolen from D.C. school becomes Christmas gift in Louisiana][Laptop stolen from D.C. school becomes Christmas gift in Louisiana]
D.C. police this week posted video of February’s burglary at Eagle Academy on its Internet site, hoping for help from the public to identify the two young men seen in the school, which has about 780 students and is in the 3400 block of Wheeler Avenue SE. No arrests have been made. Police said the young men smashed a window to get inside. This week, D.C. police posted video of the burglary on its website, hoping for help from the public to identify the two young men seen in Eagle Academy, which has about 780 students and is in the 3400 block of Wheeler Avenue SE. No arrests have been made. Police said the men smashed a window to get inside.
The surveillance video shows the men moving quickly through two classrooms. One is dressed in a gray or burgundy sweatshirt and is wearing a dark ski mask. The other man is in a blue and gray sweatshirt, which he pulls up to partially cover his face. Both young men can be seen going through items stacked or piled on the floor near tables designed in different geometric shapes; one man throws out a ball and two hoops from a toy pile, The surveillance video shows the men moving quickly through two classrooms. One is dressed in a gray or burgundy sweatshirt and is wearing a dark ski mask. The other is in a blue and gray sweatshirt, which he pulls up to partially cover his face. Both men can be seen going through items stacked or piled on the floor near tables designed in geometric shapes; one man throws out a ball and two hoops from a toy pile.
Johnson said he thinks the men were looking for electronic equipment and found the iPads in a case that had been left unlocked. One man can be seen on the surveillance video holding a computer tablet. They put the items in bags and left. Johnson said he thinks that the men were looking for electronic equipment and found the iPads in a case that had been left unlocked. One man can be seen on the surveillance video holding a computer tablet. They put the items in bags and leave.
The security officer said he discovered the break-in the following day when he arrived for his early-morning patrol and felt an unusual breeze inside. He said he found the broken window — which was double-pane glass — and then discovered the stolen computers. The security officer said he discovered the break-in the next day when he arrived for his early-morning patrol and felt an unusual breeze inside. He said he found a double-pane glass window broken and then realized that the tablets had been stolen.
“The iPads were for the students to learn on,” Johnson said.“The iPads were for the students to learn on,” Johnson said.
He said that the school had backups so the children never knew anything was amiss and that insurance covered the costs of the stolen tablets. He said that the school had backups so the children never knew anything was amiss. Insurance covered the costs of the stolen tablets.
Anyone with information about this case is urged to call D.C. police at 202-727-9099. A reward up to $1,000 is being offered for anyone with tips that lead to an arrest or indictment. Anyone with information about this case is urged to call D.C. police at 202-727-9099. A reward of up to $1,000 is being offered for anyone with tips that lead to an arrest or indictment.