OHIO COMPUTER STOLEN FROM UNIVERSITY RECOVEREDAP Wire | 12/23/2005 | University computer swiped in May is foundPosted on Fri, Dec. 23, 2005
University computer swiped in May is found

M.R. KROPKOAssociated Press
CLEVELAND - A stolen laptop computer that contained personal information from an estimated 44,000 current or former Cleveland State University students has been recovered, the university said Friday.
The computer's security system was designed to prevent unauthorized use, and an analysis completed Thursday indicated the information remained safe, said Cleveland State spokesman Brian Johnston.
The computer was reported missing May 27 from the office of undergraduate admissions. It was found Dec. 14.
Edward Kirtz Jr., 46, of Cleveland, had called a computer technician to his home to determine whether he could get the computer to work. The technician noticed a Cleveland State identification tag and contacted university police.
Kirtz was arrested and the computer was seized by Cleveland police as evidence. The university said it did not announce its discovery until Friday because it wanted to make sure it was the missing computer and that the information was still secure.
Johnston said the university is preparing mailings to the people in the computer's database.
Kirtz said in a telephone interview Friday that the computer was sold to him.
"I just really wanted a computer, and I had a chance to get something for real cheap," he said. "I kind of knew it might have been stolen, but I didn't think it might be something so serious. It was just something that was available out on the street. I learned a lesson."
Kirtz said he was charged with receiving stolen property and is out on bond. Although he lives near the Cleveland State campus, he said he never has any reason to go there.
"I've been very cooperative. I told the police who I got it from, and they seemed to know about him," Kirtz said.
Johnston said university and Cleveland police believe Kirtz and are searching for the person who sold the computer. He said the university has had no report of identity theft as a result of the data stored in the computer.

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Cleveland State University: http://www.csuohio.edu