In late October and early November, there was a spike in the number of thefts at Ithaca High School, especially in locker rooms.

During that time period, several hundred dollars’ worth of electronic devices (iPods, digital cameras, cell phones) and money disappeared. Associate Principal Debra Rivera suspects that students were stealing for personal use, financial gain, or friends’ use. Still, it’s hard to use these devices after they are stolen: cell phone plans run out, and digital cameras and iPods need chargers.

To punish culprits legally, victims of theft must report the incident to police. The criminal charges for stealing depend on the amount stolen and the age of the thief. The school cannot press charges because its own property was not stolen. However, the school can provide information for a police investigation.

If a student is caught stealing, his or her AP can sign the student up with a local probation program called Persons In Need of Supervision (PINS). In PINS, a county probation officer supervises the student. The officer checks the student’s attendance and discipline issues during the officer’s weekly visit to the student at his/her school. Meanwhile, the student is required to attend meetings with a probation officer.

Internally, a student caught stealing or possessing a stolen item will have a superintendent’s hearing, with up to five days of out-of-school suspension.

According to Rivera, Principal Joe Wilson requested that the district help pay for a female staff person to be responsible for covering and locking the girls’ locker room, which was a former problem area, during each class. In addition to ensuring that nobody is in the locker room at the start of the period, female staff and administrators have been making and will continue to make random sweeps of the room. Anyone caught in the locker rooms unsupervised will face major consequences, such as out-of-school suspension and a ban from the locker room. Students were also reminded to lock up all personal items. Jeannette Palmer, Department Chair for Physical Education, has purchased locks to help with this effort.

Fortunately, thefts have decreased since the administration clamped down on stealing. There hasn’t been a reported theft in the girls’ locker room since the implementation of the new measures.