On Tuesday, Feb. 9, a Palmdale High student was arrested for allegedly breaking in, damaging, and stealing school property in connection with three campus break-ins. According to Arturo Gonzales, head of security at PHS, three other PHS students allegedly played accessory roles in the crimes as well. The first of these break-ins occurred on the weekend of January 16th, with the thieves entering room 362 through a side window. The trespassers then continued on, breaking the security surveillance camera before stealing three laptops, two Xbox controllers, four other controllers, batteries, videogames and instruments.

   “Whoever broke in knew about the camera and knew where all the equipment was because everything
taken was very specific, so it was definitely an inside job.” said Moreno. He teaches classes in video game design, 3D design, architectural design, and has many students pass through his classroom each day, so at the time it was hard to come up with possible suspects. The culprits however, did not stop after breaking into Moreno’s classroom and shortly after broke into the security office and computer tech room two weekends later. In the second break in, Deputy Jeff Skelley reported that, “approximately 25 laptops were stolen in total along with two digital cameras.” The items taken from the security office however, were a laptop, a couple of cameras, and a memory card reader.

   The damage inflicted to the buildings during this robbery was three broken windows, along with a few cabinet doors as well. “Repair cost for the building’s damage is approximately $2,000.” Skelley reported.
After the second break in, the investigation heated up and finally an arrest was made. “The main suspect was
arrested here on campus while he was in class. What led us to the student was the great effort and expertise
of our very own Deputy, J. Skelley, and his Crime Scene Investigations Detectives.” Gonzalez said.
When asked how it was they were able to track down the alleged thief in the first place Gonzalez replied that it was their “video surveillance and alarm company that played a great role in the arrest.” Because the PHS student is still a minor, Skelley is not yet sure whether he will be tried as an adult or not.“That is a decision made by the District Attorney and presiding judge,” Skelley said. All but two of the the stolen items have been safely returned.