SOUTH DAKOTA COMPUTERS STOLEN FROM BUSINNESSES Argus Leader Media - Metro: "Teens charged in theft of $80K in property
By Josh Verges
jverges@argusleader.com
Published: February 16, 2007

Three teenage boys stole more than $80,000 in property in a three-month, 10-stop crime spree, Sioux Falls police said.

The suspects, two 17-year-olds and a 16-year-old, have been charged in juvenile court with burglary and possessing stolen property. An 18-year-old man suspected of playing a lesser role also probably will be charged.

Alleged thefts began in November and included a $40,000 car from Vern Eide, computers and equipment from Gamers Computer Arcade and two dozen watches from the Diamond Room.

Lt. Dan Kaiser said that in addition to six businesses, the teens burglarized four central and south-central Sioux Falls homes, taking a family car, high-end TVs and laptop computers.

The burglaries showed some level of sophistication, he said, and the teens got better as they went along, using masks and bicycles and entering businesses late at night."

Some victims attended school with the suspects, and "in some of the cases, they knew they were going to be gone," Kaiser said.

The teens previously had been investigated but not charged for seven mailbox thefts last fall.

The mother of one of the boys told police last month that she found stolen property hidden inside her home. Kaiser said that tip got the investigation rolling.

Kaiser said police have recovered about $50,000 worth of the stolen goods, including both cars.

A few items were found listed on eBay, and others were found in the basement of a downtown business where one of the boys had worked. Investigators learned astolen watch was given as a gift to the girlfriend of one of the suspects.