By AP/St. Louis Public Radio
St. Louis, IL – An East St. Louis school board member said the cash-strapped system lost more than $1 million over a year's time to burglars despite safeguards that include paying $1.2 million a year for private security.
The district's crime reports show that thefts dating to July 2009 were done while the system had access to state-of-the-art surveillance and alarm systems. The losses include computers and other equipment, as well as the damage the burglars caused.
In some cases, thieves had an easy time because some school doors were left unlocked at night and burglar alarms weren't properly set. Board member Kinnis Williams said he wants school administrators to account for the thefts.