TENNESSE SCHOOL COMPUTER THIEVES CAUGHT
http://www.maconcountytimes.com/articles/2006/05/23/news/newsa.txt

School break-ins case cracked; three men charged

By Melissa Falls

Three men have been charged in connection with six burglaries that occurred over an eight day period - from May 3, when Central Elementary was broken into, until May 10, when Macon County High School was burglarized.

Mark Thompson, 18, and Eric Flitcroft, 19, both of Macon County, were arrested on Monday, May 15, after a lengthy investigation by the Lafayette Police Department (LPD) and the Macon County Sheriff's Department (MCSD). Rocky Lex Marshall Lane, 18, of Clarksville, was arrested on May 18.

The first two arrests came after LPD Detective Stacy Gann saw Thompson enter an abandoned house on Winding Stairs Lane in Lafayette.

The abandoned house, which was well concealed by grown up weeds, was discovered by Lafayette police officers, while searching for an individual who ran from the scene of an accident on Sunday, May 14. The accident, and the individual who fled, were unrelated to the burglaries.

“Items from all six burglaries were found and removed from the house,” Lt. Bryon Satterfield said on Wednesday, May 17. “Then we began patrolling the area, hoping that whoever put the stuff there would be back that night.”

On Monday, May 15 Gann noticed a small white car drive to the old house. A man got out of the car, ran into the house, and then almost immediately ran back out and to his car.

Gann followed the vehicle, stopped it, and apprehended Mark Thompson, of Lafayette. who was taken to the LPD for questioning. Captain Bill Cothron and MCHS School Resource Officer Terry Atkins were contacted and called to assist.

During an interrogation of Thompson, a second suspect was identified as Eric Flitcroft, 19, of Macon County. Flitcroft's name was found by way of a cell phone in Thompson's possession.

Cothron and Gann went to Thompson's home, where they found Flitcroft. When questioned, Flitcroft responded that he knew officers were there because “we've been breaking into schools.”

After obtaining permission to search the residence, Flitcroft told the officers where to find property stolen in the six burglaries.

Officers recovered, from the Thompson residence and the trunk of Flitcroft's car, several computers, cameras, and what they believe to be most of the money that was missing from the combined burglaries.

Flitcroft, who was staying at the Thompson house, was wearing shoes that exactly matched prints found at Central. Another pair of shoes, found in the basement, matched prints found at other burglaries.

A red ski mask and black paint ball mask that matched those worn by the individuals who broke into MCHS, as revealed on video tapes, were also found.

The black paint ball mask was taken from Barber Auto Sales on the night of May 8, along with several collectable pocket knives, a briefcase of files, two paintball guns, and another mask.
Sighting the paint ball mask on the MCHS video tapes confirmed authorities' suspicions that the MCHS break-in was connected with the other five burglaries, which occurred at Central, Lafayette Elementary, Westside, and the Frito-Lay building.

During questioning, Thompson told officers that he and his companion had been waiting for another person to show up when they decided to break into the Frito-Lay building, revealing the involvement, and name, of a third suspect: Rocky Lex Marshall Lane.

Satterfield and Cothron alerted authorities in the area where they believed Lane would be found. Before he was picked up, however, Lane turned himself in to the Macon County Sheriff's Department, on May 18.

“We believe Lane was alerted that authorities were seeking him in connection with this case,” said Satterfield.

After questioning Lane, more of the stolen property was found.

“I feel that 95-98% of the property has now been recovered,” said Satterfield on May 22.

The two computer servers that ran Macon County High School's whole computer network had been recovered by May 18, and were up and running again, thanks to North Central Computer Technologies.

Although computer records taken from the schools did contain student's names, grades, and other personal information, officials are convinced that identity theft was not a motive in the burglaries.

“As far as we know, none of the information was removed,” said Satterfield last week. “All back-up files were recovered. The MCHS servers are up and running. Everything else that has been identified will be returned to the schools, or to the school board.”

Flitcroft and Thompson had attempted to put some processors in one of their personal computers to improve its functioning for computer gaming, Cothron said, adding that the only motive was believed to be resale value of the items on e-bay.

“We think this just started as a spur of the moment thing, then grew into the idea that they could make some money on the stolen items,” said Cothron.

An early estimate of items and damages to property is at least $100,000 at this time. According to information from North Central Computer Technologies, it may take another 25-50 thousand dollars to put everything together again and get it functioning.

“This investigation took every officer at both the Lafayette Police Department and the Macon County Sheriff's Department,” said Satterfield. “The Highway Patrol helped us, the Red Boiling Springs Police Department helped us, and Macon County High's SRO Terry Atkins was just great. It took everybody, or we couldn't have done it.”

North Central Computer Technologies, as well as North Central Security Services also assisted in cracking the case.

Flitcroft is a graduate of Macon County High School. Thompson was scheduled to graduate on Friday, May 19.

Flitcroft, Thompson, and Lane have all been charged with numerous counts of burglary and vandalism, by both LPD Lt. Satterfield and MCSD Captain Bill Cothron. All three are free on bond, with a May 24 court date. Complete charges appear on page 8a of this week's edition, under the heading of Lafayette Police Department Arrests.