[UPDATE Friday] Thieves Break in and Steal $3000 Stash of Quarters From Students at Small School

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Casterlin school

[Image from Casterlin School website]

We at Casterlin School are sick. Not the kind of sick that can be cured at the doctor’s office or with some chicken soup.

The parents and communities of Alderpoint, Blocksburg, and Kettenpom areas work TIRELESSLY to raise enough money to support the school, providing enrichment classes, field trips, materials, and the third teacher. Money is tight, and everyone’s hard work and energy in putting on events, as well as those who support our events, are always appreciated.

When we came to school on Monday, we noticed some things weren’t quite right: the gate had been opened during the weekend, a lock was missing, the “haunted house” doors were ajar, someone had attempted to open the janitor’s closet, other outbuildings had been either broken open or the attempt was made.

Then, the bus driver parked the bus and got in the van to continue her route, and all the gas had been siphoned from it. She barely had enough fumes to get to Alderpoint, where a family member helped her. Something was very wrong, the van had been full of fuel on Thursday.

Then we checked the Friends of Casterlin School (FOCS) storage container, and the lock was broken. A very successful “Quarter Craze” was held at the school recently, organized by FOCS and run completely by parent volunteers. After the event, students helped count and roll $3,000 in quarters. It was such a success that there was talk about having another Quarter Craze event in the upcoming months. With our school being more than an hour away from any bank, the decision was made to keep the quarters on hand – it would be easier that way. The quarters were stored, innocently enough, in buckets in the container.

When we looked, the one missing item from the shed was the quarters. We have heard of many people spending rolls of quarters at some local stores, and we have heard ideas about who has stolen the money.

The theft is a theft of not only money, but also of dreams, plans, and hopes. The money was not taken from adults, but from our students. Adults often comment, “oh, the Lip Sync was my favorite event,” “the Friday Night Live is awesome,” “that was always my favorite field trip,” or “I love the Easter Basket hunt.” Unfortunately, those are the events that will be hurt by the theft.

Yes, the Sheriff was called, Deputy Del Biaggio came to school to get information. Yes, we have learned our lesson, to those of you who are asking why anyone thought keeping $3,000 at school was a good idea.

Stealing from children is wrong, and it makes us sick. If anyone can find a way to help us recover our loss, the violation will still be fresh, but the harm will certainly be lessened.

Thank you,
Jennifer Kubik, Teacher in Charge

UPDATE Friday: Here is a way to donate if you would like to help.

https://www.facebook.com/donate/374606463012602/

Note: At the request of the author, some minor changes were made after the post was published.

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40 Comments
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Proof
Guest
Proof
6 years ago

Ugly. Absolutely ugly.

Neighbor
Guest
Neighbor
6 years ago

So sorry this occurred. This upsets me. I’ll forego the public rant.

Mom
Guest
Mom
6 years ago

I bet if they started a Go Fund Me the community would step up and replace the stolen funds. Thieves are the worst and it breaks my heart we even have to do this, but this is the world we live in.

Veteran's Friend
Guest
Veteran's Friend
6 years ago
Reply to  Mom

Go fund me accounts cost money. Just donate to the school directly so they get all of whatvyou give.

B
Guest
B
6 years ago
Reply to  Mom

thumbs up!

wants to know
Guest
wants to know
6 years ago

Good God! Is nothing sacred? Stealing from children…Somebody must know something…

The Hermit of Grizzly Mountain
Guest
The Hermit of Grizzly Mountain
6 years ago

This is a violation of the entire community, not just the school. Anyone who has supported and/or contributed to Casterlin School has been victimized, in my opinion.
I am angered and upset.

Mogtx
Guest
6 years ago

Low down no account no good people or person.

Mogtx
Guest
6 years ago

Low down no account no good people or person.the need,for all these needle drop offs is what causes this to happen .

Randy
Guest
6 years ago
Reply to  Mogtx

stealing quarters from kids… really? That’s methed up !

Chairokee
Guest
Chairokee
6 years ago

Whom ever is responsible for this,Shame on you, you are as low as can be, you do not deserve to breath. You do not belong in this community. My wife and i drove one hour to come have dinner, buy some pottery. and cookbook to support the kids going to DC. A month ago.What a community trying to teach kids the right way of values, then this happens, horrible, you THIEFS need to be ashamed, and dully punished, horrific, lower then scum. Kids keep your chins up, stay positive, grownups we know how to make justice work, put your ears to the ground, lets find justice , so the kids do relize there are good endings to those that try.Any fund raiser you kids come up with count me in, you all were so friendly and thankful the last time, i dont know who was happier, you kids getting the donations, or my wife and i getting to spend quality time with a quality community of grownups, and kids, god bless you guys!

Jeffersonian
Guest
Jeffersonian
6 years ago
Reply to  Chairokee

Drain the swamp thats been created in Humboldt. Drugs,misfits and crime.That’s what the marijuana industry has resulted in attracting

ESFOAD
Guest
ESFOAD
6 years ago

Follow the scent, track them down, hold them accountable. Be sure the banks in town know of the theft. That many quarters won’t go unnoticed.

Freedom Club
Guest
Freedom Club
6 years ago
Reply to  ESFOAD

A hoodie, sunglasses and a quick trip to a Coinstar and they should be good to go.

Emily
Guest
Emily
6 years ago

Probably the kids.. we used to do terrible stuff like that when we were kids and didn’t know better.

Just maybe
Guest
Just maybe
6 years ago
Reply to  Emily

Emily could be exactly right…if it is kids, they will probably never do anything like that again, after they apologize& listen to how it hurts so many people.

...
Guest
...
6 years ago
Reply to  Emily

I always knew that stealing was wrong. How long before you figured it out?

Adam Harrold
Guest
Adam Harrold
6 years ago
Reply to  Emily

I’m pretty sure the kids are elementary school age. The school is pretty remote. It seems highly likely that the burglars drove there. I doubt it was any of the students.

Charbead
Guest
6 years ago

Where can we send a donation to?

guest
Guest
guest
6 years ago

The school’s address is Casterlin School, 24790 Alderpoint Rd, Blocksburg CA 95514.

AP-Oldie
Guest
AP-Oldie
6 years ago

Nope, not the kids. The tweakers are taking over Alderpoint. It is so horrible. Supposedly they have been into Alderpoint Store, Kettenpom Store and possible Rays in Garberville spending them. Hopefully the cops will watch the security cameras from all 3 places and catch them. Something needs to be done about these worthless animals!!! The Rez needs to go!!!

Burn baby
Guest
Burn baby
6 years ago
Reply to  AP-Oldie

The Rez needs to go everything bad in AP starts and ends there. Zach Harrison can be found hiding out there. Stolen vehicles. Drugs. Children living in horrible conditions. The Sherriff knows who has been spending the quarters but hasn’t arrested anyone. I would encourage the locals to deal with them. It’s always the same people. I just saw that tweeker Terra was arrested for a bomb,weapons etc. We have been trying to get him out of AP for over a year. One down dozens to go. The kids at Casterlin are fantastic I would trust anyone of them with the quarters. It was adult tweeters. They will burn in hell.

Simtroll
Guest
Simtroll
6 years ago

Anyone know if they set up a go fund me?

Disgusted with thieves
Guest
Disgusted with thieves
6 years ago

Oh what scum of the earth won’t do for their drugs. Makes me sick. Hopefully the school will recover quickly. Praying so.

superduperD
Guest
superduperD
6 years ago

it’s sad but true, if you have ANYTHING of value it must be properly secured. desperate messed up people do desperate messed up things. don’t allow yourself to be a victim. sorry that happened to your community. [edit]

groba dude osnt trustafarian
Guest
groba dude osnt trustafarian
6 years ago

Another exemplary story from AP! Might not want to keep cash lying around up there!

Which school was it that had the WATER stolen right out of the tank?

Sorry kids! Don’t give up, there are some good folks around!

humkid
Guest
humkid
6 years ago

They also are on camera at napa spending our hard Raised quarters.maybe theses local businesses could .Donate the money back to the students.That would be a great story .

No Joke
Guest
No Joke
6 years ago

That’s 150 lbs of quarters!

Say it ain't so
Guest
Say it ain't so
6 years ago
Reply to  No Joke

3,000 quarters. one quarter weighs 5.67 grams.

3,000 x 5.67 = 17,010 grams

17,010 divided by 454 grams in a pound = 37.5 pounds

Brought to you by cannabis math.

Say it ain't so
Guest
Say it ain't so
6 years ago

$3000 x 4 = 12,000 quarters

12,000 x 5.67 grams = 68,040

68,040 divided by 454 grams in a pound = 150 pounds

Math brought to you by education. Stay in school.

School'd
Guest
School'd
6 years ago

Thank you for making my day😂

Armpit of humboldt
Guest
Armpit of humboldt
6 years ago

Start go fund me page please

Veteran's Friend
Guest
Veteran's Friend
6 years ago

Go fund me charges for the service. Donate directly, the address is in comments above

Mogtx
Guest
6 years ago

I think it was bridgeville school got water stolen right out the tank .

Humkid
Guest
Humkid
6 years ago

Im sure Our Southern Humboldt Credit Union can and would take any donation to Casterlin school.I would hope

D hoff
Guest
D hoff
6 years ago

The sad thing is it isn’t that easy to track them down just by looking out for them going to the bank with them, as someone said make sure all the bank’s know it happened and watch for them, most banks won’t deal with you especially trying to cash in quarters unless you have an account with them, and I really doubt anyone who would steal change from children has a bank account, plus there are a hundreds of those machines that you can dump your change in and it cashes It out, I don’t know if they have cameras on them but most are in places that have surveillance cameras, like the CASINOS were the meth heads love to take their change to try to get rich, that is were the search should start, get in touch with the companies that run change machines and check casino records and surveillance footage guaranteed you will find them fast [Edit]

Say it ain't so
Guest
Say it ain't so
6 years ago
Reply to  D hoff

Banks? Casinos? “Are you serious?” Tweakers buying Tweak.

Tony Tiger
Guest
Tony Tiger
6 years ago

Follow the money and you will find the tweakers. I’m sure there was more than one

J
Guest
J
6 years ago

Too bad the these thieves weren’t at the carwash yesterday, they could have saved that Nissan on fire

Teacher
Guest
Teacher
6 years ago

We’ve started a Facebook donation, which is now at the bottom of the article. Thank you for your support.