Comments on: A heartbreaking essay on school break-ins

By: Nextset

Nextset — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 17:16:11 +0000

As usual it boils down to what kind of “school” we are running here. A real school deals with it’s problems in an effective if not ruthless way.

I’m familiar with a local Jr College that had stealing going on by an employee. The school set traps for the thief. Battery operated portable and concealable cameras were used, bait was left. The thief was caught on video. Arrested, convicted and fired.

In earlier times – when I was a student – my high school left bait dusted with powder that left purple stains on the hands of the thief. Stains that wouldn’t wash away for days.

In all cases the “bait” was placed where the thief had no business rummaging around. In private drawers overnight, in lockers, in a purse.

The point is the schools knew they had a rat and put rat traps together – the rat was killed.

They didn’t wait for the police to come and fix it or for the thief to get tired of stealing and go away. The principal or the administrator just dealt with the problem.

Maybe the difference now is that the local principal has no power and no responsibility to troubleshoot.

Anyway, we didn’t invent stealing in 2011. If I were the school board I’d tell administration to deal with it’s problems or we find new administration that will.

The other thing I remember is that the principals of the past maintained an effective networks of informants. Principals took their jobs seriously, there were not going to be any surprises on their watch. Should probable cause be developed a search warrant can be obtained very quickly for the cars and residences of suspected employees. That’s where police are needed – to serve those warrants. I’ve seen that done for public employees – cars, safe deposit boxes, residences, storage rentals. It happens, it’s not difficult at all to do.

And it doesn’t have to happen often. Word goes out as to who is not a good victim and who is. Maybe OUSD is just being a good victim.

By: Cranky Teacher

Cranky Teacher — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 18:38:33 +0000

I believe it is possible the value of good stolen from within the system dwarfs that of goods stolen through break-ins.

By: Livegreen

Livegreen — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 01:21:31 +0000

Re. comments 2-4, again there are not enough Investigators. Nothing you can do if you have about 30 people for an entire city, including murders. 2 investigators or something similar for ALL the burglaries in Oakland…

Again, does OUSD PD have it’s own Investigators, or rely on OPD?

Re. #4: Thieves are sometimes part of the community too…

By: Debora

Debora — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 22:50:31 +0000

I have long thought that the district should have a contract with Lo-Jack or a similar type company that puts anti-theft tracking devices on cars for all electronics in the district. The first year would be expensive. However, not only would the district find the missing items they would find the thieves. All unions must agree that thieves lose their jobs. No exceptions. There are district schools that lose (through theft) 10 – 12 electronic items per year. If the district claims they can not afford the theft protection on all items they should prioritize from the largest percentage of theft to the least percentage of theft. I believe the savings in loss of items and.salary and benefits of those that are walking off with items would pay for the program.

As a side note, I worked in a school in Livermore in which 85%+ of the students qualified for free and reduced price lunch. Students kept their backpacks hanging on hooks in an outdoor corridor. No backpacks were allowed in the classroom. Students left book fair money, lunch money and electronic items in their backpacks. Not once did I hear of missing items from backpacks.

By: wdcrachel

wdcrachel — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 15:52:11 +0000

I feel like this is a bigger issue around the relationship of schools to the community. How have schools become hostile spaces and targets of crime? Why are they not seen as oases for children and families?

By: Harold

Harold — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 14:17:54 +0000

The district gets ripped off all of the time. We need OPD and the media to help stop this from happening. Criminals are emboldened because they know that OUSD can’t protect our resources. We need to put these thieves on the cover of the newspaper. “Perp walks” into the City jail. Make it known that if you burglarize a school, we will throw the book at you!

By: Can't believe it

Can't believe it — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 04:21:25 +0000

I hesitate to mention this, but when I worked at an OUSD middle school, it was common knowledge that the janitors took the TVs and VCRs every summer- kind of like bonus pay. Schools aren’t hit randomly. it is based on inside info.

By: interested citizen

interested citizen — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 03:29:32 +0000

Why aren’t more of these crimes solved? My personal experience is that half the time the police did not show up to take a report (this was in the recent past when OUSD didn’t have its own police officers). When reports were taken, there was rarely an attempt to gather evidence. One officer told me that unless I could prove that the evidence left behind was directly related to the crime, they wouldn’t take it! What happened to the concept of investigation? Some break-ins did not set off an alarm because entry was gained by use of a district security code. Frankly, I would be surprised if the district actually keeps detailed records of break-ins. Does the district tabulate the annual cost of stolen materials and repairs needed? Or keep ongoing records on where, when, and how the crimes occurred? This is not a minor issue. Every year schools lose a huge amount of money due to theft and vandalism. No detailed records results in no oversight, no accountability, no comprehensive plan to prevent further crimes.

By: Livegreen

Livegreen — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 01:15:21 +0000

Why do they go unsolved? Because we have so few Police officers. I don’t know if Oakland Unified PD has their own investigators, or if OPD does that. But if it’s OPD they don’t have enough Investigators to cover burglaries.

So what’s the solution? Well, OPD & OFD are still the biggest parts of the budget, all other departments want those two to be cut the most.

When that happens, think more of these or any other crimes will get solved?

Of course, everybody loves libraries (and needs them too), and everybody hates the Police, so that will help makes things easier…