MICHIGAN COMPUTER THEFT RING BROKEN Men charged in computer theft ring The Associated Press
1/24/2004, 2:09 a.m. ET


SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (AP) — Two men have been charged with racketeering in connection with a multi-state computer theft ring in which laptops were stolen from offices and re-sold through a computer store

Troy police confiscated nearly 300 computers from the business, PC-Value in Southfield. They suspect many more were sold throughout the state and across the country, The Daily Oakland Press reported in a Saturday story

The investigation began after 21 Troy businesses reported thefts of personal computers from break-ins during the early summer.

Detectives found that similar break-ins had happened in a host of cities inside and outside Michigan, including Auburn Hills, Flint, Hamtramck, Farmington Hills, East Lansing and Plymouth.

The loss inside Oakland County alone was $500,000, said James Halushka, director of warrants and investigations for the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office.