Camera may have filmed Grayslake locker room thief

Authorities are looking for more victims of a string of thefts that occurred in a Grayslake North High School boys locker room while students were outside at athletic practices.

Tim Warner, a Grayslake police school resource officer assigned to the north campus on Route 83, said there might have been up to eight victims of the thefts, which happened Thursday afternoon. He said the Grayslake North locker room is shared by athletes in football and other fall sports.

Warner said only two football players reported to police Thursday night that electronics and money were stolen from their lockers.

However, he said, other students followed a directive from coaches and reported stolen items to Grayslake North deans on Friday.

Some parents, including Peter Barbacovi, say school officials didn't act quickly enough. Barbacovi said the thefts should have been reported to police immediately.

"I'm just concerned that there is not a procedure in place at the high school to report a crime of this nature," Barbacovi said.

Michael Zelek, associate superintendent for business services at Grayslake District 127, said teachers and coaches are supposed to notify police when necessary.

Zelek said he didn't have specifics on how the Thursday incident was handled by the coaches, but the high school was cooperating with police.

"We always review and reflect back on what went well and what didn't," said Zelek.

Police didn't have any suspects in the thefts as of Tuesday, said Warner, but he expected to review images from cameras near the outside of the locker room as part of the police investigation.

Warner said the thefts happened while participants in various sports were outside between 3:30 and 5:30 p.m. Thursday. He said athletes in football and other fall sports share the locker room.

One senior football player reported as stolen his iPod valued at $110 and a wallet with a $100 gasoline card and $50 in cash. Warner said a sophomore football player's $250 iPod was snatched.

It's not known if the dressing area was locked when the thefts occurred, Warner said. He also couldn't say if forced entry was used to remove the items and money from lockers in what would be considered a felony theft.

Warner said District 127 employees can help police investigations by making sure reports are filed after an incident as soon as possible.

"Most teachers and coaches don't understand I'm in the school every day," he said.