11 Laptops Return to CJ Morris After May 5 Burglary

Eleven of 47 MacBook computers and one LCD projector stolen from C.J. Morris Elementary were returned to the school Thursday after an investigation by Sheriff's detectives that led to the arrest of four burglary suspects in Moreno Valley.

Investigators are still following leads on the 36 remaining computers and 10 LCD projectors that were .

Three of the suspects in the burglary — Winston Burt, 19; Trajon Thomas, 19; and Ibrahim Brown, 28 — were apprehended on the afternoon of May 5 by Riverside County Sheriff's deputies during a traffic stop in Moreno Valley, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Captain David Halm of the Walnut/Diamond Bar Station said.

Deputies from the Walnut station recovered nine of the computers during that traffic stop and collected an LCD projector and two more computers after an investigation leading to a fourth suspect — Jovan Hughes, 27 — that Halm said was on parole at the time.

The exact cities of residence of the suspects were not available Wednesday, but district and city officials said the discovery that the suspects did not live in the area may change the way the school promotes initiatives like the one-to-one laptop program that began this year at the school.

"This was clearly someone outside of the area that probably read about this program in the papers," Walnut Mayor Pro Tem Nancy Tragarz said.

Tragarz said the loss was particularly difficult since parent groups and students had raised the funds for the laptop program.

"With all of the parent groups now, mum's the word," Tragarz said.

School Board President Cindy Ruiz said the district will now have to make more careful decisions about how and if to publicize such programs at the district's schools.

Capt. Halm asked any members of the public with any possible leads or information in the case to call Detective Christine Wargo at (909) 595-2264, ext. 3014.

Halm said Detective Wargo is also seeking any information about stolen violins that were discovered as part of the laptop investigation. 

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