January 19, 2012 Two men charged in string of burglaries at Arizona schools www.privateofficer.com
Police arrested Peoria residents Mark Villagomez, 20, and Douglas Tongen, 25, last month on suspicion of twice sawing off and stealing several exterior water valves and copper pipes at Desert Harbor and Lake Pleasant elementary schools and once at Sundance Elementary School.
The district said some of the damages caused large amounts of water to leak onto fields and playgrounds.
Last week, district staff informed the school board about the suspects’ arrests and board President Hal Borhauer asked whether they plan to work with police to press charges.
“Absolutely,” Chief Financial Officer Michael Finn responded.
Two other schools in the Peoria district were vandalized about the same time.
In late November, a few classroom laptops and some projection equipment were stolen during a break-in at Sky View Elementary School. The district is still waiting for the replacements to come in, officials said.
Several door locks were damaged beyond repair at Kachina Elementary School in mid-December. The locks have been replaced, officials said.
It is unknown whether Villagomez and Tongen were involved in the Sky View or Kachina incidents, police said.
Borhauer said vandalism and theft happens every now and then at schools, but this particular string of activity in such a short period was unusual. He hoped Peoria would get some restitution as it has in the past.
“The district suffers losses just like any other businesses do,” Borhauer said.
Villagomez and Tongen, who face multiple felony charges including theft, burglary, possession of burglary tools and possession of dangerous drugs, are accused of selling the stolen parts for about $100 each to buy heroin and methamphetamines, police said. The schools were left with roughly $1,100 each in replacement costs, police said.
Damages at Desert Harbor and Lake Pleasant schools from the first time thefts in November totaled $4,500 at each campus, district officials said.
A total figure for all damage, repair and replacement costs at all five schools was unknown because various items are still on order or still need to be ordered, officials said.
The district is not responsible for covering those expenses as it is fully covered by the Valley Schools Insurance Trust.
“We’ve gone in and put caging around the pipes,” which also have locks, at Desert Harbor, Lake Pleasant and Sundance, said district spokeswoman Danielle Airey.
Source:www.azcentral.com
Tags: 20, and Douglas Tongen, Mark Villagomez, Peoria Unified School District
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