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Social Media, Security Cameras Bust School VandalsBetween security cameras, social networking and word of mouth, it's becoming easier than ever to identify exactly who's behind a recent string of school vandalism.Related Content
Thursday morning didn't start out so well for Anchorage School District Superintendent Carol Comeau. "I was coming from a meeting downtown and I was told that West High had been broken into and there was substantial damage," Comeau said Sunday, walking through the back yard of her South Anchorage home. "It's just stupid to begin with, that they think they're going to get away with it." Students had overturned desks, destroyed supplies and sprayed a fire extinguisher throughout several classrooms, but the five teeneagers responsible were caught red-handed by school security cameras. "Before the day was very far gone, the students had been arrested and identified and we're moving to recommend to the school board that they be expelled," Comeau said. The district draws a hard line on property destruction, and Comeau said it's much more than an innocent prank. "We don't just say one size fits all, but there are some crimes that rise to a very high level very quickly," she said. Vandalism is one of those crimes. Several weeks ago, arsonists at Fairview Elementary School caused more than $200,000 worth of damage when they set fire to the playground, and Comeau said the district has already far surpassed its $300,000 annual budget for repairing and cleaning up vandalism. Just like the West High students arrested Thursday, the Fairview firebug was caught when the arson was recorded on school surveillance cameras, and it points to a growing trend. "The cameras caught the action," Comeau said. "We had students already talking about it." Between security cameras, social networking and word of mouth, it's becoming easier than ever to identify exactly who's behind the crimes. While the high school vandals wore clown masks to cover their identity from security cameras, they were found out when they bragged about their costumes the next day on Facebook. In 2003, three girls were arrested for vandalism at Dimond High School after they also bragged about their crimes on Facebook. "it's amazing to me," Comeau said, laughing. So while crime never paid in the first place, today's digital world is making sure it never will. |
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Fredddy said on Sunday, Sep 4 at 11:20 AM
How about some security camera's for West's parking lot that looks like a third world country with the trash spilled out of cars on the ground?
73374629West said on Sunday, Sep 4 at 11:24 AM
Mmmm you guys had like 90% of the information wrong
73374712Wes said on Sunday, Sep 4 at 2:46 PM
I wonder how come the miscreants didn't think about cameras in the first place? And if they did and wore clown masks, they were bright enough to talk about their prank to other high schoolers who are known gossipers. Must have been one or more of two types 1) stupid, or 2)double stupid.
73380299az said on Sunday, Sep 4 at 3:59 PM
Excuse me if I am wrong. But it DOES pay. If you research it...in all cases of vandalism never has a parent had to pay any restitution and never has the culprit done jail time. There is a law that a parent can not be held liable for more than 10 grand. When a bill was submitted to change this it died in judicial at the hands of Hollis French in a case of tit for tat. Judges merely slap wrists in all cases. I was told by an Anchorage teacher that in 25 years of teaching in every single case where they caught the culprits that there was not a dime collected or any time served.
73381929G said on Sunday, Sep 4 at 4:28 PM
"In 2003, three girls were arrested for vandalism at Dimond High School after they also bragged about their crimes on Facebook." This is amazing since Facebook didn't even exist in 2003. Regardless, I'm glad they caught these kids.
73382501GET NEW LAWS IN PLACE said on Tuesday, Sep 6 at 4:17 PM
There is NO EXCUSE for the courts not punishing the miserable brats, that have nothing better to do but destroy property that tax payers have to pay for. Any court, judge, lawyer that fails to prosecute the vandals are as bad as the perps.Go to your representives and raise cane. This is your right. The parents should make restitution if the courts just slap the brats wrist.
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