A THOUGHT- provoking flyer is being used to highlight how thefts from schools impact on the education of youngsters.
The double-sided leaflet has been delivered to thousands of homes in Ellesmere Port and Neston in a bid to encourage people to say no to goods stolen from schools such as laptops, data projectors, cameras, televisions and DVD players.
The colour pamphlet quotes a thief saying: 'It's a victimless crime, no-one gets hurt and the insurance will replace it.'
And someone affected by school burglary: 'Well tell that to my son, because it really upset him when his school was broken into and the insurance can't replace the work he saved onto the computer.'
Inspector Paul Davies, Cheshire Police burglary co-ordinator, said: 'Theft from school is not a victimless crime. If a school is burgled, it's the pupils who suffer.
'They lose work they have stored on computers. They can't progress their studies because the equipment they need to watch important learning programmes isn't available. Tools they need to produce coursework are missing.'
There are many techniques schools can use to help protect property including marking items with Smart Water, an invisible liquid.
Insp Davies added: 'Smart Water is already in place in many schools in and around Ellesmere Port and Neston. We as police have been pro-actively encouraging them to use these types of systems for some time.'
Smart Water can also help catch offenders thanks to equipment which sprays the fluid at a crucial time, marking criminals at the scene.
And because the Smart Water has its own code, police can easily tell where a marked thief has been.
* To find out more contact one of Cheshire Constabulary's crime reduction advisors on 0845 458 0000 during office hours.
