Burglars Costing School District Tens of Thousands

A string of robberies at Redlands Unified School District campuses have district officials on alert and have so far cost tens of thousands of dollars.

There have been at least 13 burglaries at various schools that are within the district, Redlands Police officials said.

“The district office has been hit twice,” said Carl Baker, spokesman with Redlands Police. “Orangewood High School twice, Lugonia three times, Clement twice and McKinley three times.”

Bryn Mawr has also been broken into, school officials said.

Thieves have been targeting projectors with wireless remotes, DVD players, laptops, headsets, microphones, cell phones, VCRs and digital cameras.

Most of the break-ins occurred between Oct. 12 and Nov. 30. It has since slowed, said Detective Kelvin Bryant. But there was a break in during the New Year holiday at Moore Middle School.

It was not known if an individual or a group committed the break-ins or if it’s the same person or people who are committing the crimes, Bryant said.

“There’s no way to know that unless I had them on video,” Bryant said. “Then I could say, ‘That is the same person.’ ”

After forcing their way in, burglars are causing all sorts of damage, said Cameron Brown, coordinator of Facilities Planning Services for Redlands Unified School District.

The cost of repairing school property alone has cost them hundreds, Brown said.

“The District has stepped up efforts to combat theft and other vandalism,” Brown said. “We appreciate members of the community immediately calling 911 whenever vandalism of any kind is noticed, but especially when it is in progress.”

Anything is reportable, Bryant added.

“We need the community’s help identifying names and/or descriptions of subjects that anyone might know who park their vehicles on school campuses, walk or ride their bicycles during late hours on the campuses or the district office,” he saod.

Bryant asks any information on these burglaries to call him at (909) 798-7623.