IOWA TRACKED STOLEN COMPUTER LEADS TO ARRESTS DesMoinesRegister.com:

Stolen computer tattles; tip leads to drug arrests
Two men are charged with meth trafficking following a raid north of D.M. Friday.

By TOM ALEX
REGISTER STAFF WRITER

January 23, 2007
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A computer with the ability to report itself stolen was the key to a methamphetamine bust, Des Moines police said.

Loree Wilson, 37, said someone broke into her home in the 5100 block of Oaklynn Drive on Dec. 28 and took electronics, a shotgun and jewelry.

A laptop computer taken in the burglary was equipped with an anti-theft feature that lets it phone home when plugged in by an unauthorized user, investigators said.

The software, purchased with the Compaq Presario laptop, uses a third party to monitor the wherabouts of stolen computers. A growing number of technology suppliers sell such security products.

Police used Internet access records from a separate company to zero in on a house at 5435 N.W. Torgerson Drive, north of the city, Friday.

Police noticed security cameras around the house, so some officers went around back, in time to apprehend Richard Gist Jr., 30, who was leaving by the back door.

By the time Gist was seated in a chair, handcuffed and surrounded by detectives, there was a knock. It was Daniel Garcia-Alcantar, 35, of Des Moines.

"We told him to come on in and found about a pound of ice - a form of methamphetamine - in his pocket," Detective Craig Hamilton said. "Talk about your bad timing."

Police said they found wads of cash in a wall safe and more illegal drugs in the house. The amount in Garcia-Alcantar's pocket, officials said, would have likely fetched $20,000 on the street.

Gist and Garcia-Alcantar are charged with meth trafficking. Gist's bond was set at $350,000; Garcia-Alcantar's at $270,000. Both were still in jail Monday.

Another occupant of the house, Tiffany Stockbauer, 23, is charged with exercising control over stolen property.

Reporter Tom Alex can be reached at (515) 284-8088 or talex@dmreg.com