ARIZONA COMPUTERS STOLEN FROM UNIVERSITYFour indicted in theft of athletic items from McKale | The Arizona Daily Star ?ARIZONA DAILY STAR

A UA administrator has been indicted on criminal theft charges after police said his son, a former McKale Center employee, was found with a large amount of stolen athletic-department items, ranging from Nike shoes to bobble-head dolls.

The goods, including a master key, equipment, clothing, signed sports memorabilia and stadium chairs, were stolen over a period of several months and discovered after a lengthy investigation, authorities said.

Gary L. Thomson, associate director of Parking and Transportation Services, his wife, LuAnn, and two adult sons were indicted last month on charges of theft by means of control of stolen property, said Deputy County Attorney Chris Ward, who prosecutes property crimes.

Clint Thomson, 20, is suspected of taking the items when he worked at McKale Center. He is facing additional felony charges of third-degree burglary and attempted computer tampering.

According to University of Arizona Police Department reports, the stolen clothing items include more than 20 pairs of Nike athletic shoes, UA sweatshirts, polo shirts, warmup suits, baseball caps and numerous articles not available to the public, like packaged team clothing, golf bags and travel bags issued to cheerleaders and golfers.

Also stolen were two buckets of Pac-10 baseballs, three blue McKale Center folding chairs, two orange Gatorade coolers, seven cases of 20-ounce Pepsi Edge bottles, three Louisville Slugger baseball bats, two autographed footballs, two autographed basketballs, one autographed women's soccer ball, one autographed baseball, a football helmet autographed by coach Mike Stoops, duffel bags, athletic tape and prewrap, Gatorade water bottles, deflated basketballs, bobble-head dolls and mini-helmets.

Police needed four vehicles to transport the stolen items back to use as evidence.

UA senior associate athletic director Kathleen "Rocky" LaRose said the department has not seen thefts on such a scale before.

Other than laptop computers, the items were never noticed to be missing because they are kept in long-term storage in McKale, mostly overstocked items used on a year-to-year basis.

LaRose said she didn't have any idea about the total cost of the stolen goods and did not know how Clint Thomson could have obtained a master key. She also said she was not aware of any stolen items being sold.

Clint Thomson was employed at McKale from October 2003 to November 2004 as an ancillary facilities attendant, a part-time employee who assisted in setting up for athletic events and special events, LaRose said. She could not say whether he was fired or left the job on his own, citing personnel matters.

The case began in June, when UA Police Department officers started investigating the thefts of two laptop computers from McKale Center.

On Oct. 29, a local computer business called police to report that the computers had been brought in for reprogramming and he suspected they were stolen, said Sgt. Eugene Mejia, a UAPD spokesman. The serial numbers matched the theft from McKale and police got a search warrant for the home of Clint Thomson.

LuAnn Thomson declined comment, referring questions to separate attorneys. Harley Kurlander, her attorney, said LuAnn Thomson did not know any items were stolen.

"To prosecute her on this basis is appalling to me," he said. "This isn't like a load of dope or some contraband that's obvious in the home. These kids play ball and work there and got things for free on a regular basis."

Jeffrey Blackman, who is representing 18-year-old Colin Thomson, said his client did not commit any crime and neither he nor his parents knew stolen items were in the house.

"The state's allegations are that his older brother was taking things and Colin, his mother and father were aware the stolen property was at the home. The fact is they weren't," he said.

Gary Thomson's attorney could not be reached Tuesday night and Clint Thomson has a public defender.

Gary Thomson was hired at the UA in July 2000 and is paid $63,647 a year, said Vern Lamplot, a university spokesman.

Thomson's status is still as an employee, Lamplot said. He couldn't comment further, citing personnel issues.