UTAH COMPUTER THEFTS AT BUSINESSES WIDEN
August 28, 2005 Sunday

259 words

Investigation into computer thefts at businesses widens

Pat Reavy Deseret Morning News

The investigation into a pair of alleged computer thieves appears to be growing.

Two men allegedly were walking into businesses such as FranklinCovey and the University of Utah during business hours and posing as job applicants or custodians while filling their bags with laptops.

They were arrested Aug. 17.

After Taylorsville police released surveillance video to the media on Aug. 15 from a company that allegedly had laptops stolen by the two men, the Taylorsville department was contacted by investigators from nearly every police department in the valley, all of whom had had similar cases with similar suspects.

A multijurisdictional team formed to compare notes on each agency's cases, which eventually led to detectives tracking down the suspects just two days later. One man led police on a short car chase and hid in a vacant apartment before being arrested.

With the arrests, investigators believe they have solved 30 cases throughout the Salt Lake Valley, said Taylorsville Police Sgt. Rosie Rivera.

Four laptops were recovered from the vehicle that police chased Aug. 17. Detectives believe the other stolen laptops already have been shipped out of state and sold, Rivera said.

Investigators said they were concerned that some of the stolen laptops now believed to be out of state may have had personal information on them.

FBI agents now are looking at the pair in connection with similar burglaries in 11 other states, she said.

One of the 33-year-old men arrested has already served prison time for similar incidents in Washington and Florida.

August 28, 2005