LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Louisville Parks and Recreation officials say a teen is suspected of breaking into the California Community Center twice in four days, stealing a total of three computers from the building’s public lab.
Surveillance images released by LMPD show a young suspect wearing a black hoodie with a large white design on the back. Officials said the teen broke in through a window of the computer lab early Friday morning and took one computer. He returned early Monday and stole two more -- this time wearing a white glove.
Broken glass and a boarded-up window now mark the entry point on the side of the building.
"Even though it was a black hoodie with a pretty prominent white design on back of it, he also had some shoes that were easily recognizable," said Ben Johnson, Jr., Assistant Director of Recreation for Louisville Parks and Recreation. "I'm not a shoe guy like that -- I do know they are Jordans. I don't think those are his climbing-in-the-building shoes because they're kind of expensive."
Pictured: a screen grab showing a suspect who broke into the California Community Center in west Louisville twice in four days. (Louisville Metro Police Department)
The California Community Center, located in California Park, offers free Wi-Fi and a public computer lab. The lab originally had eight computers, which were donated by Louisville Metro Government.
"I wouldn't mind the young man to say, 'Hey, my bad, I was in a bad space,' and try to make amends," Johnson said. "There are consequences for your actions. Do we lock them up and throw away the key? Absolutely not. Should he be caught? Absolutely. This doesn't mean this is the only place that he does these things. This doesn't mean he won't try to come back or hit another facility or another youth organization. So there is accountability."
The center plans to replace the stolen equipment, which was used regularly by local children for homework, games and other activities.
Johnson has these words for the suspect: "What are you doing? These aren't our computers. It's not my computer. It's literally a computer lab in the center.
"When we look at video, sign-in sheets, there's a lot of little kids in here all the time playing games, doing homework."
Anyone who recognizes the suspect is asked to call the LMPD crime tip line at 502-574-LMPD or leave an anonymous tip on the LMPD crime tip portal by clicking here.
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