Cops cuff crook for copping calculators from NYC schools
Police nabbed a Bronx teen for stealing calculators from a high school in his borough as they continued the hunt for other suspects in a string of burglaries.
Cops arrested Kayden Hamlet in the Bronx around 4 p.m. Wednesday. The 18-year-old, who lives in Morrisania, was charged with three counts of burglary.
On March 22, Hamlet and others, broke into Charter High School for Law and Social Justice on University Ave. near W. 179th St. through windows and side doors, police said. The thieves made off with a hefty sum of approximately $28,000 worth of calculators, according to cops.
On April 8, the crew allegedly broke into AECI Charter High School on East 169th St. near Walton Ave. They made their way inside after someone threw a brick, shattering the window on an entrance door, cops said. It was not clear if Hamlet threw the brick. The school told authorities it was unclear what, if anything, was stolen.
Police were still investigating nine similar incidents from Feb. 6 to March 7 in which a crew of teens stole over $40,000 in calculators and caused more than $15,000 in property damage.
A group of teens first struck on Feb. 6 at the New York City Charter High School for Architecture, Engineering and Construction Industries on Brook Ave. near Third Ave. in Melrose around 2:25 a.m., cops said.
Two of the teens climbed up the fire escape and broke into the school, ransacking the second and third floors. They made off with $6,900 worth of calculators.
On Feb. 19, with two added members, they broke into Bronx Regional High School on the corner of Stebbins Ave. and E. 170th St. in Longwood around 2:35 a.m. and stole $1,465 worth of calculators.
Morris High School in Morrisania was targeted two days in a row, on Feb. 24 and 25, cops said.
The crew then broke into Mott Haven Village Preparatory High School on March 1 about 1:20 a.m. before returning later that night around 10:30 p.m., cops said.
They made off with $28,120 worth of calculators at the South Bronx campus.
On March 5, they returned to Morris High School around 4:36 a.m. and sinflicted more than $15,000 in property damage.
The teens struck again on March 7, when they broke into Legacy College Prep High School on Cauldwell Ave. near E. 160th St. around 3 a.m., cops said. They stole about $6,000 worth of calculators.
Police are still looking for the teens and requested the public’s help in identifying them. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS.