By Charley Kassabian
Two burglars made off with about $3,000 in cash, cell phones, iPods and other valuables after they broke into the new girls’ portable locker room last month, police said.
School video footage shows that a male suspect kept watch in the back parking lot, while a female suspect ransacked the locker rooms, stealing anything she could find during first period on Feb. 16, said campus police Officer Rob Ransom.
Police believe the female suspect may be the girlfriend of the boy who served as lookout.
Ransom said 18 female students lost wallets, cash, iPods and cell phones.
“I’m upset that stuff was stolen, the security is not very good. The locker room should be a safe place,” said freshman Marissa Morris, who had lip gloss and perfume taken from her.
Sophomore Keshavi Mahesh was far luckier when the burglars only rummaged through her purse and left her schoolbooks strewn across the floor.
“I felt that it was ridiculous that someone had that low of morals to do that,” said freshman Katelin Martin, who had her phone, makeup, and money stolen. “Administration should have done something about it, like lock the windows.”
While police are unsure of the burglars’ identities, they have video footage of the suspects and fingerprints from the back window used to access the locker room.
\”(The male suspect) was wearing a gray hoodie sweatshirt and red shorts,\” said Ransom.
Police do not know if the suspects attend Cal High, but they consider it likely that the female is a student because she knew how to gain access to the locker rooms easily.
Ransom said it appears the back window of the girls’ locker room was left open, allowing the female suspect to enter.
“I feel like they should have shut the window and someone should have saw (the burglary),” said freshman Laura Simpson, who had her iPod, phone, and makeup stolen.
The girls’ locker room opened in January in a portable building in the school’s back parking lot while the old gymnasium is being remodeled. It is the first reported theft of this building, but one of many that have occurred of school locker rooms over the years.
Last school year police arrested five girls after they allegedly stole more than $1,000 worth of iPods, cell phones and cash from the old girls’ locker room.
The investigation of the February burglary is ongoing. A $100 reward is being offered for anyone who provides police or administrators with information leading to the apprehension of the suspects.
