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Uploaded: Thursday, June 25, 2009, 7:47 AM

Stolen Walter Hays school computer recovered
Suspect, 18, arrested as police search for other property taken in the early June burglary

Posted by Concerned, a resident of the Old Palo Alto neighborhood, on Jun 25, 2009 at 9:17 am

I am a teacher; I am definitely disappointed when people attempt to steal from schools, but I still question if this is this 'top of the column' news. And I know it says he is 18, but really is the KIDS picture necessary? I wonder if it was a newly graduated student from Paly, rich white and from Old PA, if this story would get the same treatment. Concerned...

Posted by To Concerned, a resident of East Palo Alto, on Jun 25, 2009 at 9:45 am

I agree w/you. As an EPA resident who has a lot of interaction with the youth here, they often get either a bad rap from the media, or a glowing "look how they are thriving after lifting themselves from the gutter" type of stories. In truth, many of them live in-between lives, sometimes up, sometimes down. They rarely commit suicide, but they often act out, to the detriment of society, individual victims, their families and of course, themselves.

As one who has had many dealing w/the youth in both cities, I do see a huge amount of denial and lying in PA about what youth get up to that adults don't want to know about. Not too long ago, the boys in PA would drunkenly head butt each other at parties, sometimes until unconsiousness. I've known them to be just as testosterone-poisoned as in EPA, but with the money, family and societal denial to hush things up.

I was struck also about the story this week of the stolen car recovered from the Edgewood parking lot. People were lauding that like Jack the Ripper was caught. Puhlease! The cops practically LIVE in that parking lot, recovering stolen cars doesn't take any genius - in truth, my dog once found a stolen car. The theif was also under the influence, so of course it's good to get him for that as well. But go to any bar or party and you have a god chance of getting under the influence drivers.

All this reporting continues to mythologize EPA and its residents for a lot of the PA residents. It's pretty weird. It's like EPA is collectively the dark unconscious, in a Jungian way, of PA. There is little true understanding, awareness or knowledge of what life in EPA is like. The bad here can be nastily or banally bad, the good quite sublime. There is a Southern gothic overtone w/a lot of EPA happenings, but this burglary isn't one of them!

Thank you for your concern, especially given your background.

Posted by More interesting story, a resident of East Palo Alto, on Jun 25, 2009 at 9:48 am

Not Palo Alto-centic, but still local and imo, darned interesting:

Web Link

Posted by Sarah, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Jun 25, 2009 at 10:07 am

Good job cops.

Palo Alto online is a local newspaper, most of the news are posted as headline(top of column) here. Please put aside the discrimination and focus on facts, can we.....

Posted by Matt, a resident of another community, on Jun 25, 2009 at 10:43 am

I'm just amazed that the elementary school had a $2,000 computer. Do you realize how much computer you can get for $2,000? Oh, unless you're inflating the value...

Posted by Sunshine, a resident of the Duveneck/St. Francis neighborhood, on Jun 25, 2009 at 11:28 am

I'm glad they showed his picture! He should be ashamed! Adds to his embarrassment and humiliation... just the way it should be.

Posted by citizen, a resident of the Fairmeadow neighborhood, on Jun 25, 2009 at 12:00 pm

The computer was most likely a mac used for some multimedia (hence the 2000) and it was probably the price at purchase and not the actual value of the computer.

Posted by mutti, a resident of the Adobe-Meadows neighborhood, on Jun 25, 2009 at 12:07 pm

I work in EPA. Why was the theft of a whole cart-full of laptop computers from Stanford School never reported at all? Thefts in EPA are "expected...." so not news Too bad.

Posted by Bannist, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Jun 25, 2009 at 1:06 pm

As for Concerned in EPA, may I suggest that you spend more time and energy seeking solutions to the problems occurring in your city, as opposed to being concerned with the perception that others may have. Every community has its own issues and problems, PA is no exception. And true, we all need to be reminded that EPA has many qualities, as well as a tremendous amount of productive, wonderful people. Unfortunately, unlike PA and most other cities on the peninsula, it also houses a disproportionate number and level of gangs, drug dealers, murders, weapons offenses, parolees, and street crime. It's all about personal responsibility, merit and actions. Until that changes, neither will the general perception.

Posted by why, a resident of the Leland Manor/Garland Drive neighborhood, on Jun 25, 2009 at 2:44 pm

[Post removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]

Posted by Comparison crime, a member of the Palo Alto High School community, on Jun 25, 2009 at 3:27 pm

Re the photo, I don't recall seeing a photo of the white boy who overturned a car at Palo Alto High a year or two ago. Maybe I just don't remember. But even his name only came out gradually.

He and his family were carefully protected. It was a much worse crime than stealing a computer.

Posted by To Bannist, a resident of East Palo Alto, on Jun 25, 2009 at 4:52 pm

Work on solutions? Are you kidding? It's what I do in my professional AND my personal time. I have lived for many years on both cities, and I have been involved in both cities.

A lot of the misperceptions are based on the media's reporting, and you know that. To pretend otherwise is to be dishonest. Most of you in PA don't know what EPA is really like, what its residents are really like; you just go w/what's reported in the media. Why don't YOU get involved in EPA so you can see how accurate or inaccurate your info is?

Posted by Bannist - facts, a resident of East Palo Alto, on Jun 25, 2009 at 4:54 pm

[Post removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]

Posted by Alice Schaffer Smith, a resident of the Green Acres neighborhood, on Jun 25, 2009 at 6:00 pm

Someone who is 18 needs support from the community, not his picture in the PA Weekly. I agree with the Concerned Teacher, above.

This might be a good place to look at Restorative Justice instead of starting this lad on the road to prison.

Wouldn't it be better to have him, assuming he is in fact the wrong-doer, which is not at all clear, do community service, have some of the students who are working on youth court in EPA seek solutions which might help him (a) move into academic or work place and (b) stay out of serious crime environment.

If my suggestion is too late, then I hope he has a good defence attorney.

Posted by Restorative Justice?, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Jun 25, 2009 at 6:36 pm

This ADULT stole a computer from an elementary school and you want to talk about restorative justice for him?

No thanks -- if guilty, i want him with this on his record and more consequences down the stream for his next heist.

Posted by VoxPop, a resident of the Old Palo Alto neighborhood, on Jun 25, 2009 at 8:06 pm

Restorative Justice aims to help prevent that "next heist," not facilitate it.

Posted by Outside Observer, a resident of another community, on Jun 25, 2009 at 8:34 pm

VoxPop,

"Restorative Justice" would return the victim to whole. I doubt that is possible here, or anywhere else for that matter.

Preventing the "next heist" is a simple matter logistically. 2 cents of lead at 1000fps will prevent an individual of repeat offenses.

Works in all cases.

Posted by Restorative Justice?, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Jun 25, 2009 at 9:06 pm

Restorative Justice would FAIL.

Posted by Concerned resident, a resident of East Palo Alto, on Jun 26, 2009 at 6:10 am

Folks, please lets look at the facts. An adult has been arrested as a suspect in a crime. I wonder if he was under 18 when this happened.

Regardless of anything else, I believe the reporting by the news media is fine. I live in EPA and know of some of the issues here.

Let us not compare with how things are handled in other cities and for affluent families as we do not know all the facts.

Please will someone tell me how we can get some help to fix our issues in EPA. I have been informed by Menlo and PA chiefs in the past that they will come to help, however, a sergeant, or higher ranking officer has to make the request. EPA has issues and we need help. Be supportive please.