Pedro de la Cruz, 17, was charged with stealing dozens of laptops. He was taken into custody on Sunday and charged with criminal possession of stolen property.
De la Cruz is believed behind two burglaries at P.S. 73, where 77 laptops were stolen over the Memorial Day weekend. Detectives are also looking into his possible involvement in eight other burglaries, including of schools in Manhattan and Brooklyn.
PS 73 is located in one of the poorest districts in all of /*New York City*/, and all the equipment was brand new for the kids. It was purchased just last year with money received from a grant. Many of the students and teachers had an entire year's worth of work on the computers, from report cards to exams and grades.
Teachers and staff also had personal laptops stolen. It was equipment used to grade and monitor academic achievement.
The first incident happened on May 23.
