By Almasa Pecanin

A number of scales and balances have been stolen out of Lane science classrooms during the past three school years.

The most recent theft occurred during the week of Jan. 16. Damian Burkat, Div. 371, was in his seventh period physics class taught by Mr. Durham when Ms. Machaj, who teaches in the same room, arrived with security guards to inquire about the missing scale. According to Burkat, after no one confessed to taking the scale, security searched every student’s bag.

“I didn’t mind being searched, but I wouldn’t like that to happen again,” Burkat said.

Machaj, the owner of the stolen scale, said she takes the theft personally in a way because it was an item she had purchased herself.

“It’s strange,” said Natalija Simicevic, Div. 384. “Why scales? I just don’t understand.”

Mr. Kopack, a Lane Chemistry teacher and department head, chooses not to make assumptions.

“I think the kids would answer that better than I could,” Kopack said.

Others, however, have some theories, including that the scales could be used for weighing drugs. Not everyone finds this likely.

“I don’t think people would want it for drugs,” said Sarah Nueschen, Div. 371. “I think it was probably just to mess with their teacher or because they think it’s funny.”

Since the scales are very expensive, it is possible they have been stolen simply for profit.

“They probably could get a lot of money from them on eBay,” said Kathrin Kajderowicz, Div. 369. “That’s really horrible, though.”

One teacher suggested the scales may have been stolen to be used for home experiments. Machaj disagrees, saying that any student doing home experiments is a hard-working student who would be less likely to resort to stealing.

“To just take [the scale], that shows that it’s not a good kid,” Machaj said.

The thefts have put science teachers on high alert. Many like Kopack and Mrs. Trine have taken the extra precautions of making sure equipment is locked and safe any time teachers are out of the room.

“It made me nervous,” Trine said. “I was really shocked. I felt we were at a school where we could treat each other decently.”

According to chemistry teacher Mrs. Hollingshead, two scales were stolen from her chemistry room two years ago during second semester. One of the scales had been in a teacher office that joins two rooms. Since students are not allowed in that room, she said it is possible the scale could have been taken by an adult. One of these two scales was found in a student’s locker.

After that incident, Hollingshead purchased locks to secure the scales when they are not out and in use.

The thefts also proved to be a financial setback for the science departments. According to Kopack, the balances were replaced with grant money Lane had received from DonorsChoose.

“That money could have been used for something better for the Chemistry department,” he said.

“It’s a result of someone making a bad decision,” Kopack added. “That bad decision affects the whole group.”