ONTARIO CANDIDATE SEARCHES FOR STOLEN COMPUTER Hamilton Spectator - News The Hamilton Spectator(Jan 4, 2006)

Hamilton police believe there was nothing political behind the theft of a personal computer from Liberal candidate Javid Mirza's downtown campaign office.

Two detectives from the Criminal Investigation Division have been assigned to the case because of Mirza's candidacy in the federal election. He is running in Hamilton Centre.

"Right now, it does not appear to be a politically motivated crime at all," Sergeant Michael Webber said. "There's nothing to indicate that."

He said the door to another office in the building was found unlocked. However, the occupant is away and police don't know whether anything was stolen. The computer and a tape recorder were taken from Mirza's King Street East office sometime overnight Monday. Mirza would not say if the computer contained sensitive campaign strategy.

Mirza said there were two other computers, but the thief went to a back office and took his computer. He last saw it when he brought his two children to the office Sunday night.

He said the front and side doors were locked and it appears the thief gained entry through a third door into a boiler room of the former Royal Connaught hotel.

Mirza said it has since been barricaded.

He is pleading for the return of his computer, no questions asked.