Costa students caught committing petty theft

By Eric Furth
Staff Writer

During early October, three Costa male students, all under the age of 18, were caught in the East Locker Hall committing petty theft.

The three students were attempting to steal random items from different lockers, such as cellphones, food, or textbooks. They were all caught in the act by campus security and released to their parents.

“One of the best measures of safety to prevent theft is for students to lock their lockers and keep track of their things,” Resource Officer John Loy said. “That would reduce the issue of theft drastically.”

Standard protocol for students that have committed a crime of any degree varies from suspension, and a submission of their crime to the juvenile court to decide their rightful punishment, along with possible extensions of their active suspension.

“I can only do so much,” Loy said. “I’m only one person. Theft is currently the biggest crime on campus.”

It will take approximately 60 days for the juvenile court to make a final verdict about what the students’ sentences will be, with punishments ranging from reference to law enforcement to enrollment to juvenile detention.

“Thankfully, the security at Mira Costa is extremely effective at stopping crime before anything gets out of hand,” Loy said. “Theft can be stopped as long as students take the right precautions.”