On the morning of March 5, Dawn Fregosa saw that someone had broken into the storage pod in front of her San Leandro home. "It was pretty disheartening and my heart was in my throat all day," she said.
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Laptops that belonged to the non-profit Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship were stolen, 38 in all.
The program gives under-served students business skills and opportunities.
"These computers are what they do their market research on," said Fregosa. "It's what we start their first websites on, it's how they write their business plans with their mentors."
The laptops are old and refurbished but Fregosa says they change lives.
"I see these kids use these computers that none of us would even look at and it's like giving them a million dollars."
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San Leandro police were able to collect fingerprint evidence from the pod and are actively investigating the case.
"Our detectives are going to have to work twice as hard to advocate on behalf of these children to find the person or people responsible for it, " said Lt. Robert McManus of the San Leandro police. "Get those computers back so our students can once again learn to prepare for the future."
Fregosa is desperately seeking donations in the meantime.
Between her neighbors, SAP and Greencitizen.com, she's already received 25 computers -- about half of what she needs to get her students back in business.
"A little bit of technology can go a long way," Fregosa said.
San Leandro police ask anyone with information about the burglary to contact them. Fregosa asks anyone who is able to donate a laptop to contact her at Dawn.Fregosa@nfte.com.