Bait for a Burglar by Joan Lowery Nixon Page B

went from hot to cold and back again. One minute he was happy with the idea of working with Estella. The next minute he’d think about having to give a report to all those eyes watching their TV sets.
    Brian kept his news until his family was seated around the dinner table that night. “Guess what,” he said. “I’m going to be on TV.”
    â€œWhen?” Mrs. Quinn asked.
    â€œWhere?” Mr. Quinn said.
    â€œHow come?” Sean asked, his mouth filled with mashed potatoes.
    â€œMs. McGowan picked Estella Martinez and me to represent Redoaks Junior High on That’s News 2 Me .” Brian said. “We’ll be investigative reporters.”
    â€œWow!” Sean shouted. “You’ll be a television star!”
    â€œNo. I’ll just be on TV once,” Brian explained. “And then it’s another school’s turn. Estella and I have to get our stories ready in a week. Then on Thursday we’ll be filmed, the tape will be edited on Friday, and the show will air on Saturday morning.”
    â€œCool,” Sean said. He shoved another forkful of mashed potatoes into his mouth.
    â€œWe’re proud of you, Brian,” Mr. Quinn said.
    Mrs. Quinn’s eyes sparkled. “We’ll tell all of our friends,” she said. “Everyone will be watching.”
    Everyone will be watching? Brian shuddered. It will be great working with Estella, he thought, but will it really be worth it?
    The Quinns ate in silence for a few moments. Then Brian said, “Dad, what about the High-Tech Burglar?”
    â€œWhat’s a high-tech burglar?” Sean asked.
    â€œHe’s not someone to be afraid of,” Mr. Quinn cautioned. “He’s someone to be prepared for.” He turned to Mrs. Quinn. “After dinner let’s talk about taking out a special insurance policy on our computers, printer, fax…all our electronic equipment.”
    â€œDoesn’t our homeowners policy offer them?” Mrs. Quinn asked.
    â€œOnly to a point,” he said. “It doesn’t offer complete coverage, and under the circumstances…”
    â€œWhy are you worried about our computers and stuff? What’s going on, Dad?” Brian asked.
    â€œThe police have seen a tremendous rise in home burglaries in Redoaks within the last month,” Mr. Quinn answered.
    â€œI haven’t read anything about it in the newspaper,” Mrs. Quinn said.
    â€œThe police have been keeping the burglaries quiet, and the reporter on the police beat hasn’t picked up on the news yet,” Mr. Quinn said.
    â€œWhy are they keeping the burglaries quiet?” Sean asked.
    â€œBecause they’re not your usual burglaries,” Mr. Quinn explained. “The police feel that the burglaries are being committed by one person. And what makes them unusual is that only electronic equipment is being taken.”
    â€œLike computers,” Sean said.
    â€œYes, computers, VCRs, fax machines, electronic games, TV cameras, and other electronic equipment—all of which can easily be sold and not traced. The police have nicknamed the thief the High-Tech Burglar.”
    â€œHave they found any of the stolen stuff in pawnshops or other places where it might be sold?” Brian asked.
    â€œNo, and that’s another strange thing about these burglaries,” Mr. Quinn said. “None of the stolen items have shown up in or around Redoaks.”
    â€œWeird,” Sean said.
    Mr. Quinn went on. “Also, the crook isn’t just targeting wealthy people. He’s also stealing from apartments and middle-class homes, such as ours.”
    â€œSo he knows who owns electronic equipment,” Brian said. “Are you investigating this case, Dad?”
    â€œNo,” Mr. Quinn said. “It’s being handled by the police.”
    And maybe, Brian thought, by the Casebusters. He raised his eyebrows in a question as he looked at Sean. In answer, Sean