Thieves steal electronics, van from special needs school

Heartless heist devastates Liberty City school

MIAMIThis school runs strictly on government assistance and vouchers and does not charge tuition. So they were already stretched pretty thin. If you would like to help them out during this difficult time go to our web page The Exceptional Development Corporation of South Florida has been teaching special needs students in Liberty City for 12 years. The private school gets funding and vouchers but does not charge tuition.

Over the Martin Luther King holiday weekend, heartless broke in and stole thousands of dollars in electronics and computers. Even the school's $5,000 sound system, used for dances and graduation, was stolen. But perhaps the most devastating aspect of all is that the crooks packed everything into one of the 15-passenger vans the school uses to transport students and drove off.

The school has insurance but administrators say it will take time to process, and they were already on a shoestring budget.

The school's director says he was crestfallen when he walked in and saw the place had been ransacked and ripped apart.

"They stole a computer from here -- ripped out the wires from the wall so, we had to have that rewired," said Michael Faine.

Faine said the thieves took a total six computers from the school.

He also said the student felt violated by what had happened.
"They were very upset. They did not understand why," Faine said. "We had books strewn all over the place and ripped. They didn't understand why somebody would attack us. Why? Why did you violate us. We did absolutely nothing to you. All we are trying to do is provide a good service in a community that's definitely needed and now are hands are behind our backs and tied."

The school runs strictly on government assistance and vouchers and does not charge tuition. So they were already stretched pretty thin. If you would like to help, please e-mail Exceptional Development Corporation at aff444@aol.com or call 305-758-9910.