ISU Police continue to look for suspects in the theft of more than $4,100 worth of computer equipment from a lab in the Design Building.

The lab, used primarily for community and regional planning classes, originally contained between five and six computers, said Tim Borich, associate professor in community and regional planning. Four of the newer models were stolen, leaving only the older models.

“Basically just the spares, the stuff that’s not worth much [are left],” Borich said.

Only the computer towers and one high-end keyboard was stolen from the room, he said.

ISU Police Capt. Gene Deisinger said the theft is believed to have occurred sometime between 5 p.m. Nov. 25 and 1:45 p.m. Dec. 1.

The lab is regularly locked and requires a combination and key to enter, Borich said.

There were no signs of forced entry, but Deisinger said police are investigating the case as a burglary.

The computers are used by senior-level community and regional planning classes that are working on projects for communities throughout Iowa. Borich said students contract with a community to work on a semester long project and make a final presentation at the end of the semester.

This semester, students are working on two different projects.

One involves designing a trail system for five counties in Eastern Iowa and another is a development plan for Sergeant Bluffs’ downtown area.

Borich said the semester of work for the communities was on the hard drives of the stolen items.

“The fortunate thing is most of what they had was backed up,” he said.

After discussion with the two professors who teach the community and regional planning classes, Borich said he believes the students should be able to complete the projects on time.

The money used to buy the stolen computers came from money students received for work on past community projects. Borich said with recent budget cuts, he doubts all the computers will be able to be replaced for another year or two.

Deisinger said anyone with information about the theft should contact ISU Police at (515) 294-4428.