Laura
04-21-2010, 05:09 PM
from SiLive.com:
http://www.silive.com/northshore/index.ssf/2010/04/cops_make_arrest_in_break-in_a.html
Cops make arrest in break-in at Elm Park's Eden II School for autistic children
By John M. Annese
April 21, 2010, 3:42PM
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A self-proclaimed video game fan from Elm Park had no problem taking part in stealing video games, cherished toys and a pet hamster from autistic children last month, authorities allege.
Emil Sorensen, in a photo posted to his MySpace.com profile.Police say Emil Sorensen, 21, served as the lookout in a March break-in at the Eden II School that shook a group of children who couldn’t understand someone stealing their possessions.
Sorensen, who lives on the 300 block of Pulaski Avenue, within walking distance of the school, admitted to his role, and that he sold some of the stolen goods— a Nintendo Wii, a laptop and jewelry, authorities allege.
Sorensen told investigators the break-in happened sometime between 4 and 5 a.m., between March 5 and March 8, police allege.
He told police he stood underneath a nearby bridge, a law enforcement source said, while his accomplices broke into the Granite Avenue school.
Once inside, the thieves stole electronics, toys and a pet hamster named Star, cage and all, authorities and school officials said.
A tip led police to Sorensen, the source said, and the investigation into the other accomplices remains ongoing.
The theft prompted some of the students to put up missing posters for some of the toys, including "Skippy the sock puppet" and a set of plastic ducks.
Sorensen was arrested early this morning and charged with third-degree burglary, grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property, as well as fourth-degree grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property, said William J. Smith, a spokesman for District Attorney Daniel Donovan.
On his MySpace.com page, which was last checked this month, he lists as his interests "videogames," "weed" and "making money."
The page is littered with photos of marijuana posted by friends, and pictures of characters from the 1997 PlayStation game, "Final Fantasy VII."
The Elm Park school consists of a pre-school, a school program, a vocational center, two adult programs, and three residential group homes.
The school’s executive director, Joanne Gerenser, did not return a message seeking comment today. In the days following the theft, she said the school’s students were left devastated by the crime.
"They’ve never experienced anything like this," Ms. Gerenser told the Advance in March, adding that some students were grappling with the question, "What does that mean?"
"One of the students told us that she didn’t sleep the night before because she was afraid," she said.
After the theft made headlines, Best Buy donated several Wii consoles, games and a camcorder to the school, spurred on by a group of concerned citizens who formed the group Staten Island for Eden II.
The school also received several pet hamsters as gifts, and $100 from a freshman at Manhattan’s Xavier High School who’d been saving the money for video games of his own.
http://www.silive.com/northshore/index.ssf/2010/04/cops_make_arrest_in_break-in_a.html
Cops make arrest in break-in at Elm Park's Eden II School for autistic children
By John M. Annese
April 21, 2010, 3:42PM
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A self-proclaimed video game fan from Elm Park had no problem taking part in stealing video games, cherished toys and a pet hamster from autistic children last month, authorities allege.
Emil Sorensen, in a photo posted to his MySpace.com profile.Police say Emil Sorensen, 21, served as the lookout in a March break-in at the Eden II School that shook a group of children who couldn’t understand someone stealing their possessions.
Sorensen, who lives on the 300 block of Pulaski Avenue, within walking distance of the school, admitted to his role, and that he sold some of the stolen goods— a Nintendo Wii, a laptop and jewelry, authorities allege.
Sorensen told investigators the break-in happened sometime between 4 and 5 a.m., between March 5 and March 8, police allege.
He told police he stood underneath a nearby bridge, a law enforcement source said, while his accomplices broke into the Granite Avenue school.
Once inside, the thieves stole electronics, toys and a pet hamster named Star, cage and all, authorities and school officials said.
A tip led police to Sorensen, the source said, and the investigation into the other accomplices remains ongoing.
The theft prompted some of the students to put up missing posters for some of the toys, including "Skippy the sock puppet" and a set of plastic ducks.
Sorensen was arrested early this morning and charged with third-degree burglary, grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property, as well as fourth-degree grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property, said William J. Smith, a spokesman for District Attorney Daniel Donovan.
On his MySpace.com page, which was last checked this month, he lists as his interests "videogames," "weed" and "making money."
The page is littered with photos of marijuana posted by friends, and pictures of characters from the 1997 PlayStation game, "Final Fantasy VII."
The Elm Park school consists of a pre-school, a school program, a vocational center, two adult programs, and three residential group homes.
The school’s executive director, Joanne Gerenser, did not return a message seeking comment today. In the days following the theft, she said the school’s students were left devastated by the crime.
"They’ve never experienced anything like this," Ms. Gerenser told the Advance in March, adding that some students were grappling with the question, "What does that mean?"
"One of the students told us that she didn’t sleep the night before because she was afraid," she said.
After the theft made headlines, Best Buy donated several Wii consoles, games and a camcorder to the school, spurred on by a group of concerned citizens who formed the group Staten Island for Eden II.
The school also received several pet hamsters as gifts, and $100 from a freshman at Manhattan’s Xavier High School who’d been saving the money for video games of his own.