[September 02, 2011] EPD investigating theft of iPads from Adams Elementary School Tweet ENID, Sep 01, 2011 (Enid News & Eagle - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Enid Police Department is investigating the theft of iPads worth more than $7,500 from an Enid elementary school last month. Fourteen first-generation iPads were reported stolen Aug. 20 from the Adams Elementary School computer lab, according to a report. The Apple iPads, which students use in conjunction with their lessons, were stolen sometime between Aug. 1 and 20. Amber Fitzgerald, Enid Public Schools director of school and community relations, said the iPads, and the cart they were stolen from, were purchased with federal money and often are used by the students. "Because the students love them and are so engaged in the iPads we want them to be available as much as possible to students because we know it is benefiting them when accompanied by the instruction of the teacher," she said, noting special applications are used in conjunction with lessons and curriculum. "It's a very engaging way to practice those skills and it's just second nature for those students. And they love them." Fitzgerald said the school district currently is in the process of getting all the stolen iPads replaced. According to an EPD report, an Adams employee who reported the theft told officers she had been checking in on the lab throughout August but did not notice anything missing until Aug. 20. She said the cart that held the iPads had been pried open on both sides and 14 iPads were missing. She said during construction, two kids were hired to remove glass from inside the building, but were fired because they were using crow bars to remove the windows, the report states. The stolen iPads have applications that allow them to be tracked, and police went to an area on Park Street, between Adams and Jefferson, but were unable to locate the iPads. According to the report a name on one of the stolen iPads had been changed, but the name it was changed to was redacted from the report. Enid Police Department Sgt. Dustin Albright said the case remains under investigation and has been assigned to the department's detectives division. Anyone having information that will lead to the arrest or prosecution of any crime is urged to call Crime Stoppers at (580) 233-6233. You also can text a tip from a cell phone by texting to 274637. Be sure to type "Enid" in the subject field. Tips also can be submitted via the Internet by going to www.tipsoft.com. Tipsters can earn a reward up to $1,000 and will not be required to testify or be identified. Callers also may contact the Enid Police Department with information at 242-7000. ___ (c)2011 the Enid News & Eagle (Enid, Okla.) Visit the Enid News & Eagle (Enid, Okla.) at www.enidnews.com Distributed by MCT Information Services [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]