Phones, Items Stolen from New Hyde Park Memorial Lockers Wednesday

Several gym lockers used by members of the New Hyde Park Memorial High School varsity and junior varsity football teams were broken into Wednesday afternoon during a practice session and had various items, including cell phones stolen, police and school district officials confirmed.

The incident occurred on Oct. 30 between the hours of 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. while the two teams were on the practice field. According to accounts, a total of nine lockers were broken into in the basement athletic locker room, with seven cellular and iPhones stolen as well as assorted jewelry and amounts of cash.

An early phone call to police confirmed that at least two reports were filed by parents, one on Oct. 30 and the other on Oct. 31. Other information obtained later Thursday afternoon indicated that there were a total nine reports filed to the Third Precinct by parents of students who were victims. Police also stated that one of the locks on the locker was not broken but items inside the locker were missing, indicating that the thief may have had the combination.

School officials stated that they would be reviewing surveillance tapes of the school and working with police to determine the identity of the party or parties responsible for the theft.

“We are working closely with the police,” New Hyde Park Memorial Principal Dr. Richard Faccio said, confirming that while the school does have cameras on the exterior of the building, they are not present in all areas, including the athletic changing rooms.

Dr. Faccio stated that the theft is the first such major incident that he can recall occurring at the school, saying that there has been “nothing like this since” he was named principal.

“It’s not something that we’ve really had to deal with,” he said, adding that administrators meet with each class to advise students not to place valuables in their gym locker but to keep them in their hallway lockers where there are more persons around.

Ideally, Dr. Faccio said, “valuables should not be brought into school.”

When such an incident occurs, “we do usually try to put something out to warn people,” Faccio said, typically sending a message home via phone and the ConnectED system to send an e-mail to parents.

Sewanhaka Central High School District Superintendent Dr. Ralph Ferrie stated that the school typically does not file a police report, leaving that to the parents but that “certainly we want to protect the belongings of the students.”

Dr. Ferrie also stated that this is first time he had been informed that there was a theft at New Hyde Park Memorial.

Both Dr. Ferrie and Dr. Faccio pointed to the upcoming facilities bond vote which would have security upgrades to the buildings asa way to prevent further incidents.

“We would have to aim that dollar amount to where it necessary,” Dr. Faccio said when asked if the money earmarked for security would specifically be used for camera placement in the athletic areas in the school building.

Dr. Faccio stated that the school is currently treating the incident as an internal investigation as a student or students may be responsible for the thefts. Outside parties are required to sign in at the main entrance when they first enter the building.

Dr. Ferrie stated that if a student or students were found to be responsible for the thefts, they would potentially face a lengthy suspension or possibly expulsion as punishment in addition to any criminal charges.

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