The Lincoln Log

Two thefts of electronics have occurred at Abraham Lincoln High School within the past month. History teacher and department head Valerie Ziegler and science teacher Andy Talarowski had their laptop computers stolen and students are most likely the possible suspects.

Ziegler’s laptop was stolen on Feb. 2 after lunch during passing period. She stepped out of the room to drop off papers in another teacher’s room, and students were passing in and out. Supposedly a student came into the room and took the laptop. There is no solid evidence or information on who actually stole the laptop. The administration thought they had a lead, but the case went cold. Ziegler filed a police report, but no new information has been reported back. The laptop was Ziegler’s personal computer; it contained all of her personal information as well as her lesson plans, tests, finals, and grades. She had to purchase a new laptop, which was $1,800 (“Retirement money!” she said).

“I know it wasn’t one of my students, so that makes me feel better, but at the same time it’s very violating and it makes me not want to spend money on anything in the classroom. I am very cautious about it and I don’t ever want to leave my classroom or anything in it,” Ziegler said.

There was a student who allegedly bragged that he stole Ziegler’s laptop, but there were no witnesses present to confirm it. The student’s parent was called in that afternoon by the deans and searched him when they got home, but there were no witnesses who reported that they saw him with the object.

Talarowski’s personal laptop was stolen on Feb. 14, about two weeks following the theft of Ziegler’s laptop. Talarowski has no information on who stole the laptop, but he believes it was one of his students. The computer was stolen during lunch, when he had left the room for 10 minutes to buy food. All the doors were locked; however, the rear door was broken so it wouldn’t close from the inside, leading him to assume it was one of his students who was inside the classroom and stole the laptop. Talarowski’s laptop has not been returned, so he has also filed a police report.

“The students I’ve trusted before, I still trust. I’m just more careful about leaving things [around],” Talarowski said. “I don’t leave the classroom without [my new laptop], it’s always by my side.”

Another group was allegedly overheard talking about stealing Talarowski’s laptop but there were no witnesses either. Their parents were also informed and claimed that the parents had searched the students when they returned home.

“The difficult thing with thefts, and the reason why we wish students wouldn’t bring cell phones to school is because of this that unless we actually have somebody who’s willing to say, ‘I saw someone steal that thing.’ It’s really, really hard for us to do much more than tell the parents,” ALHS dean Joel Balzer said.

The person who identified the alleged theft of Ziegler’s laptop refused to go on record and write a statement. If the student witness had been willing to go on record, the administrators could have gone to the police and possibly arrest the student, even if the laptop was not retrieved. The student could have been suspended or could have been referred for expulsion.

“There are so many things we could have done under state law. All we really have now is just a rumor,” Balzer said. “Stealing destroys the educational environment, and honestly, when people are caught I think there should be very serious penalties.”

English teacher Robert Owens had his iPod stolen in October of this school year. Similarly, the theft happened during passing period. A student of Owens grabbed the iPod and left the classroom with it. Others heard the student bragging about stealing the iPod and they informed Owens. More than one student came to him and described the student to him. With that information, Owens went to Balzer who talked to that student. The student refused to say anything. The student’s mother was called in, and he told her he gave it to another student. Balzer then found the other student and retrieved the iPod.

“It makes you more [aware] of where you place your belongings and who you can trust. It creates trust issues,” Owens said.