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Thieves target schools
SCHOOLS are becoming easy targets for hi-tech thieves who are breaking in and stealing the latest classroom accessories.
Figures obtained by the Evening Telegraph reveal that 92 schools across the county were broken into during 2005.
But since December 1 last year, 66 county schools have been hit, with multi-media projectors and laptop computers top of the burglars' list.
Police issued a warning to schools this month after one gang was believed to be responsible for a spate of burglaries since mid-November, taking more than 30,000 worth of school equipment.
The latest victim was Windmill Primary School in Raunds when thieves smashed their way in and stole three multi-media projectors worth 1,000 each on Sunday, January 29. It is the third break-in in as many months, with 6,000 of equipment stolen.
Just seven days earlier, on January 22, the school for four to 11-year-olds had a laptop computer and multimedia projector stolen, and three months ago another laptop was taken.
Headteacher Richard Briley said: "The disruption to the children's education is the worst thing. The children are really upset.
"These people who break in think it is covered by the council and it can afford it. They are not thinking about the human cost to the children."
A police spokesman said: "Unfortunately, schools are easy targets.
"Windmill Primary School has lost a number of projectors, which currently seem to be the target at schools across the area."
Mr Briley said: "We can't go on taking these sorts of losses. We are very much a community school and the children here are some of the nicest I have ever taught.
"We are putting other security measures into place but trying not to make it look like a prison."
Other schools in the area targeted by burglars include Meadowside Junior School in Burton Latimer, and St Mary's Primary School in Kettering, which both had laptop computers stolen in December.
Meadowside head teacher Pam Kirkland said: "It is the children who suffer. We have reminded all staff of security procedures."
St Mary's head teacher Jonathan Gardiner said: "It is a bit sickening that people are targeting schools because the ones who suffer are the children.
"Teachers use the laptops for lessons so it interfered straight away with the teaching."
Thieves took computer equipment worth thousands of pounds in a raid at Sir Christopher Hatton School, in Wellingborough, last March.
The haul included 60 17in Phillips flat screen monitors and two laptops.
Most schools in the county are covered through the county council's insurers.
Anyone who has been offered projectors or computers for sale in suspicious circumstances is asked to call the police.
The latest police figures show 12 burglaries took place in the Kettering and Corby areas, eight in the Wellingborough and Rushden areas, 23 in the Daventry and Towcester areas and 23 in Northampton.
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