Police: School district employee stole iPads, laptops from Riverside school

Lamawr Palmer / photo from Riverside police

(RIVERSIDE) A school district employee is charged with stealing more than $5,000 worth of iPads, laptops and computers from two schools in west suburban Riverside.

Lamawr Palmer, 31, was charged with one felony count of theft of school property, according to a statement from Riverside police.

On Jan. 14, someone found that an Apple iPad was missing from a room at Blythe Park School in the 300 block of Blythe Road in Riverside, police said. Investigators determined that the theft took place over the school’s holiday break, between Dec. 19 and Jan. 8.

It was then discovered that a total of eight items, including three iPads, two MacBook Pros, one Apple TV and two other Apple computers were stolen from Blythe and also Central School in Riverside, police said.

Investigators worked with District 96’s IT department to track the devices, and checked through a software program for pawnshops. They were able to locate some of the items at pawnshops in Oak Park and Chicago, and discovered they were pawned by a school district employee.

Palmer, a contract IT employee of District 96, was arrested at his home in the 4600 block of West McLean Street in Chicago on Thursday evening, police said. He had no contact with students of the schools where he worked.

Riverside Police Chief Thomas Weitzel said in the statement that the investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be filed.