[News] Burglars take everything from School of Social Justice

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Oakland Tribune

http://www.oaklandtribune.com/Stories/0,1413,82%257E1726%257E2070694,00.html#
Thieves wipe out school's technical gear
Five burglaries leave small East Oakland campus without TVs,
By Alex Katz
STAFF WRITER

Thursday, April 08, 2004 - OAKLAND -- Burglars have hit a small high school 
in East Oakland five times in seven days, methodically taking everything 
from television sets to art supplies and leaving the school with almost no 
equipment, school officials said Wednesday.

The School of Social Justice and Community Development has had several 
break-ins this year. But there were no major losses until last week, when 
burglars stole several TVs during a March 29 holiday, school director Kali 
Akuno said.

Thieves were back almost every night between the first break-in and Monday 
to steal computers, overhead projectors, DVD players and even cleaning 
supplies, Akuno said.

"We've been cleaned out," Akuno said. "We have no technology here."

There was apparently no sign of forced entry during the first few 
break-ins, and some speculation that the thefts were an inside job.

"It appeared at first it was somebody who had a key," Akuno said.

The school district changed the locks Thursday, but burglars forced the 
lock on one classroom and stole more equipment, he said.

There was still one computer bolted to a table in a classroom Wednesday. 
Another computer had been torn off the table, and a printer smashed on the 
floor.

The School of Social Justice, a small, alternative high school known for 
radical politics, recruits students who have dropped out or are on probation.

The Middle East Children's Alliance donated three computers to the school 
Wednesday, Akuno said.

Student "Buddha" Centers, 16, said he did not believe the break-ins were an 
inside job.

"I think it's just some random person who knows when the school is closed," 
he said, adding, "Whoever took (the equipment) affected this whole school."

Another student accused the school district of stealing the equipment in an 
attempt to sabotage the school.

The school has had a somewhat rocky relationship with the district. Even 
before the school opened in 2002, leaders fought with the district over 
where the campus would be and when it would open.

The school found a temporary home at the Allen Temple Baptist Church in 
East Oakland, but was evicted after clashes over student behavior and 
church rules.

Students are now in portable classrooms in back of Castlemont High School. 
The district is building a permanent campus on the site.

Oakland Police Lt. Howard Jordan said investigators do not have any leads.

School break-ins are com-mon in Oakland. There were a number of break-ins 
last month at campuses such as Fremont High School, Oakland Technical High 
School and Franklin Elementary School.

Undercover officers have been assigned to stake out some campuses, Jordan 
said.

"We've caught a few people, but (school burglaries have been) fairly 
prevalent in the last month or so," he said.

Last year, one stolen computer was returned to the district by a woman who 
said she bought the machine from someone in San Francisco.



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