Study centre's laptop stolen
14.06.2007
A LAPTOP has been stolen from a centre designed to boost children's learning through sport and media projects.
The Swindon Town Football Club Study Centre was targeted by thieves on Monday afternoon, and staff believe they came back for a second attempt the following day.
The Apple Mac laptop was taken on Monday afternoon after Martin Turnbull and colleagues had finished setting up for a media project session.
Then when about 50 pupils from primary and secondary schools across Swindon had left the centre on Tuesday, Mr Turnbull challenged an unknown teenage girl who entered the centre's base in the County Ground's Arkells Stand.
When approached, the girl claimed she thought it was a library and that the computers were set up for members of the public to use.
She then left with a man who appeared to be her boyfriend.
Centre manager Mr Turnbull said: "We are usually so safe with the equipment, but because the group on Tuesday was so big we set up the room on Monday afternoon.
"Our work experience people had left and we were in the office, but didn't lock the door after them.
"We are so vulnerable here, next to the road past the ground."
The centre, which although attached to the football club runs as an independent charity, has been hit by thieves in the past, when one of its video cameras was stolen.
Pupils from across Swindon attend the study centre to take part in multi-media projects, using hi-tech equipment and working in a sporting environment.
They regularly enjoy Lego robotics sessions, film projects, and school holiday events at the centre, which combines different ways of learning with the opportunity to meet professional footballers from the club.
Mr Turnbull said: "These laptops were bought with a DfES grant specifically for that kind of equipment as they recognise it's often hard for set-ups like ours to get grants for computer equipment.
"Luckily not much work has been lost as they were so new, only about three or four weeks old, but it will cost about £800 to replace."
