It’s been a tough week for the intrepid Griffin News reporters at Los Alamitos High School.
The students returned this week from spring break to discover that thieves had broken into their lab, stealing four Mac computers containing video footage, projects and all the editing tools they need to put on the school’s weekly Friday morning broadcasts.
Using their home computers, the crew of student journalists is battling to produce this week’s segment, but it remains to be seen if they’ll be able to meet their deadline.
“We’re hoping to air Friday, but, honestly, it looks bleak right now,” said Griffin News Lead Producer Chris Macias, a Los Alamitos High School senior. “We are trying to work at home, but it’s a challenge not being able to do it during the day because a lot of us have jobs after school. We are trying to find time in our personal lives to do it.”
Like his classmates, Macias found it hard to believe that anyone would steal from the students. He found out about the theft during spring break when a friend on the track and field team spotted a teacher filing the police report.
“I didn’t really believe him at first,” Macias said. “I thought he was joking with me.”
But on Monday, teacher Anthony Cobbs broke the news to the video production class.
“It was unbelievable that someone would do this,” said Brittany Bostick, an 11th grade Griffin News junior editor. “They shouldn’t have done that.”
Bostick said she and her classmates hope to prove something by battling to produce the broadcast against the odds.
“It shows we can still produce even though we don’t have equipment,” she said.
The news team is prepared for the hard work it’s going to take to produce the weekly segment for the rest of year without a computer lab, Bostick said.
“These are great kids. They work so hard, and I think it’s terrible that anyone would do this,” said Scott Durzo, a basketball coach at the school.
The burglary occurred sometime between April 10 and April 12, and there was no forced entry or vandalism to the room, according to Los Alamitos Police Department Captain Bruce McAlpine. Four Apple computers and their accessories were taken. At this point, police have no suspects in the case, McAlpine added.
Police ask anyone with information about the thefts to call the police department at (562) 431-2255. Anyone interested in helping replace the stolen equipment should contact Christy Ricks, LAHS career guidance specialist, at (562) 799-4780 x 82240.
