HC lets Thieves of $10k Bell off Scott Free

[bob]

I just caught this on the Sun Site while I was voting on their online poll.


www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/230326,6_1_NA26_BELL_S1.article


These young adults should have been punished and not let go. I am seriously pissed that the SD decided not to press charges. Steal a $10,000 bell, have your parents pay for a replacement and get off scott free. Nice message to send the kids, Howie.

[wvhsparent]

Pranksters say they abandoned bell
By Sara Hooker
Daily Herald Staff Writer
Posted Friday, January 26, 2007

Neuqua Valley’s missing bell apparently spent time in three southwest Naperville garages before thieves abandoned it in a parkway near the high school earlier this month, authorities said Thursday.

Six recent Neuqua graduates, all ages 18 to 19, recently confessed to Indian Prairie Unit District 204 officials that they took the large bell during the first week of January from a cupola above the school’s entrance at 2360 95th St., authorities said.

The teens said they stole the bell — valued near $10,000 — as a prank.

But they said they abandoned the 60- to 70- pound decorative, brass-colored Fiberglas bell on the 3000 block of Caine Court in the middle of the night Jan. 6.

“Another person allegedly took it. It would have been lost or mislaid property at that point,” Naperville police Lt. Dave Hoffman said. “Of course, this is only what the subjects are saying. All we know is that the bell is still missing and we would still like to recover it.”

District 204 officials declined to press charges against the pranksters.

The thieves instead will compensate the district for the cost of the bell.

It’s the second time since the school opened 10 years ago that the 48-inch-diameter bell — manufactured by Verdin Bell Co. of Ohio — has gone missing.

“It’s out there somewhere, whether it’s in a garbage dump or someone’s basement or the bottom of a lake,” Hoffman said. “We’re still seeking information on the whereabouts of the bell.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Naperville police at [phone].

[wvhsparent]

bob said:

I just caught this on the Sun Site while I was voting on their online poll.


www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/230326,6_1_NA26_BELL_S1.article


These young adults should have been punished and not let let go. I am seriously pissed that the SD decided not to press charges. Steal a $10,000 bell, have your parents pay for a replacement and get off scott free. Nice message to send the kids, Howie.

It's probably more that they really don't have enough to get a conviction. ( confessions only are now considered very weak when that is all you have)
Next best thing....make them pay up. They can always be charged later if and when there is more solid evidence.

[bob]

What consequences are these young adults face? Nothing. They even skate on being embarrassed publicly by not having their names published. I guess a little cash washes away a crime and responsibility.

[lacy]

bob said:

I just caught this on the Sun Site while I was voting on their online poll.


www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/230326,6_1_NA26_BELL_S1.article


These young adults should have been punished and not let go. I am seriously pissed that the SD decided not to press charges. Steal a $10,000 bell, have your parents pay for a replacement and get off scott free. Nice message to send the kids, Howie.

Just now voting Bob? Or trying to "taint" the outcome? ;D

[bob]

lacy said:

Just now voting Bob? Or trying to "taint" the outcome? ;D

I have been up all night voting. ;D

[lacy]

bob said:

lacy said:

Just now voting Bob? Or trying to "taint" the outcome? ;D

I have been up all night voting. ;D

So that explains the 1491 no votes since last evening!

[bob]

I clicked more than 1491 times.

[bob]

Back to subject.

What about the parents of these kids? How did they not see a huge bell in their garage? Where is the responsibility?

So who are they protecting?

[jenrik2714]

If it was a Waubonsie kid, it would be all over the papers and they would have the book thrown at them.

[wvhsparent]

bob said:

What consequences are these young adults face? Nothing. They even skate on being embarrass publicly by not having their names published. I guess a little cash washes away a crime and responsibility.

Now that is a very good point.
Maybe someone should file a FOI request for the names and/or write to the papers to disclose the names of these miscreants

[wvhsparent]

bob said:

Back to subject.

What about the parents of these kids? How did they not see a huge bell in their garage? Where is the responsibility?

So who are they protecting?

Bad parenting IMHO.

Heck if there was a bell in my garage....my kid would be going down...and I would make sure any accomplices would be too.

[bob]

I guess a FOI should also be made on the $10,000 check the SD received.

[cantretirehere]

I know of some minors that committed much less serious infractions and did not get off as easily as this bunch. One of them even got named in the paper!

Oh, but wait, the kids I know of don't live in the 'southwestern' (as put in the Naperville Sun) portion of Naperville.

Hmmmm. Could money have bought more than a new bell?

[macy]

bob said:

I just caught this on the Sun Site while I was voting on their online poll.


www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/230326,6_1_NA26_BELL_S1.article


These young adults should have been punished and not let go. I am seriously pissed that the SD decided not to press charges. Steal a $10,000 bell, have your parents pay for a replacement and get off scott free. Nice message to send the kids, Howie.

I agree. Why would you not prosecute these kids? Bad decision that sends a wrong message. If they steal a $10,000 car and lose it, would they not be prosecuted if they admitted it and offered to pay for it?