Something I realized.
I just recently watched this movie for the first time in many years and I realized something--if school had been cancelled the day of the break-in (like it would've been in any city further south), the whole thing would've been a bust. Alex would have had to un-rig everything and it's possible the terrorists would've killed the entire family to get that chip. It would've really sucked for them.
Remember that four fingers point back at you when you point one at me.