CALIFORNIA COMPUTERS STOLEN FROM UNIVERSITY CAMPUS CENTER FOR APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY CONTAINED PRICELESS INFORMATION The Eureka Reporter - Article:

"Computers stolen from CCAT contained 'priceless information'

by
Christine Bensen-Messinger, 12/4/2006

Although it has been almost three weeks, Zach Mermel, one of the co-directors of the Campus Center for Appropriate Technology, said he is still hoping the two laptops and printer stolen from CCAT will be returned.

The burglary occurred on Nov. 18 and the computers are both Dell laptops; one is an Inspiron 6400 and one is a Latitude, said Humboldt State University Police Chief Tom Dewey.

“One of the laptops was CCAT’s and one of the laptops was mine and the printer was mine, but it was being used by CCAT,” Mermel said.

Although he can put a monetary value on the computers, Mermel said the information contained on them is priceless.

“The main thing that set us back was that we are currently trying to move into our new facility and because of that we have compiled a lot of documentation… and a lot of that is now missing,” he said.

Mermel said he thinks the monetary loss also has more of an impact on CCAT because it is a nonprofit organization.

“It has hindered our progress in moving into our new facility,” he said, adding that CCAT is scheduled to move June 30.

Although theft on campus is not common, Dewey said people should be careful.

“My understanding is the house was left unlocked and unattended and computers were in plain sight and computers were stolen,” he said. “I think property crime is always a frustration on any university campus. All it takes is one or two light-fingered people to go around and steal a lot of things. When it does occur it can really affect a student’s semester.”