Editing Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold (section)

===Initial criminal activity===
On the night of January 30, 1998, Harris and Klebold broke into a locked van to steal computers and other electronic equipment. A short while after a Jefferson County sheriff's officer drove upon the two boys parked further down road at another park entrance and since the park area was closed by that time of night, the arresting deputy decided to further inspect them. The deputy announced his presence as one of the boys prepared to move the stolen goods into the trunk of the car. Harris shortly after admitted to theft after the deputy asked about where the equipment came from.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Originals to Evidence |url=http://acolumbinesite.com/reports/cr/p10501-10600.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130316001137/http://acolumbinesite.com/reports/cr/p10501-10600.pdf |archive-date=2013-03-16 |access-date=2023-09-11 |website=acolumbinesite.com}}</ref> They were later charged with [[mischief]], [[burglary|breaking and entering]], [[trespass]]ing, and [[theft]]. They both left good impressions on [[Juvenile court|juvenile officers]], who offered to [[expunge]] their [[criminal record]]s if they agreed to attend a diversionary program which included [[community service]] and [[psychotherapy|psychiatric treatment]]. Harris was required to attend [[anger management]] classes where, again, he made a favorable impression. The boys' [[probation officer]] discharged them from the program a few months ahead of schedule for good behavior. Regarding Harris, it was remarked that he was "a very bright individual who is likely to succeed in life", while Klebold was said to be intelligent, but "needs to understand that hard work is part of fulfilling a dream."<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZkMoCwAAQBAJ&q=a+very+bright+individual+who+is+likely+to+succeed+in+life&pg=PT46 |title=Fundamentals of Research in Criminology and Criminal Justice: With Selected Readings |isbn=9781506326696 |access-date=July 13, 2020 |last1=Bachman |first1=Ronet D. |last2=Schutt |first2=Russell K. |last3=Plass |first3=Peggy S. |date=December 19, 2015 |publisher=SAGE Publications |archive-date=November 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107113921/https://books.google.com/books?id=ZkMoCwAAQBAJ&pg=PT46&lpg=PT46&dq=a+very+bright+individual+who+is+likely+to+succeed+in+life |url-status=live }}</ref>

Several months later on April 30, Harris handed over the first version of a letter of apology he wrote to the owner of the van, which he completed the next month.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.schoolshooters.info/eric-harris-diversion.pdf |title=Eric Harris Juvenille Diversion File |access-date=October 15, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014005724/http://www.schoolshooters.info/eric-harris-diversion.pdf |archive-date=October 14, 2014 |website=schoolshooters.info}}</ref> In the letter, Harris expressed regret about his actions; however, in one of his journal entries dated April&nbsp;12, he wrote: "Isn't america supposed to be the land of the free? how come, If im free, I cant deprive some fucking dumbshit from his possessions If he leaves them sitting in the front seat of his fucking van in plain sight in the middle of fucking nowhere on a fri-fucking-day night? [[Natural selection]]. Fucker should be shot. {{sic}}".<ref>{{cite web |first=Dave |last=Cullen |title=Eric's big lie |url=http://www.columbine-online.com/journals/columbine-eric-harris-big-lie.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110119045203/http://www.columbine-online.com/journals/columbine-eric-harris-big-lie.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=January 19, 2011 |work=Columbine Online}}</ref><ref name="Erics_journal">{{cite web |first=Cyn|last=Shepard |url=http://acolumbinesite.com/eric/writing/journal/journal.html |title=Columbine shooter Eric Harris' Journals and Writing |website=Acolumbinesite.com |access-date=October 31, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904072615/http://www.acolumbinesite.com/eric/writing/journal/journal.html |archive-date=September 4, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>