MISSOURI COMPUTER STOLEN FROM LIBRARY The Maneater - Camera captures laptop theft ‘person of interest’:

Camera captures laptop theft ‘person of interest
By Elliot Njus, Crime Editor. Posted March 02, 2007.

The MU Police Department released several frames of surveillance footage showing a “person of interest” in a laptop computer theft entering Ellis Library.

The laptop was reported stolen Feb. 20.

The laptop’s owner was working in the second-floor study area of Ellis Library, MU police Capt. Brian Weimer said.

The student walked to the printer, leaving the computer unattended. Upon return, it was missing.

Police believe the theft took place between 7:30 and 8:15 p.m.

The time stamp on the photos reports the subject entered the library at 7:48 p.m.

Weimer said he could not release any additional investigative information at press time, but he said the person in the surveillance photos was not yet a suspect in the case.

“Maybe this guy has a legitimate reason for being there,” he said. “Right now, we’re just trying to identify the person.”

The Maneater crime blotter on Monday described the laptop as a white Apple MacBook laptop computer.

It is valued at approximately $1,600, making the theft a felony offense.

The surveillance photos were taken at the west entrance to the library, closest to Speaker’s Circle.

The two photos, taken one second apart according to the time stamps, show a front and a profile view of the subject.

The photos are available on the MU Police Web site along with contact information for investigators and ways to leave anonymous tips.

To prevent computer theft, MU Police offer laptop registration programs.

Locking computer security cables are available commercially, but Weimer said the most important step students can take to protect their property is to not leave it unattended.

“The most important thing is that you cannot leave stuff lying around,” he said. “It only takes a minute.”

Information and Access Technology Services spokesman Terry Robb said laptop theft can cause problems beyond the computer’s replacement cost.

“You might have personally identifiable information on your computer,” Robb said. “However, if you have password protection on your computer, and it’s hard password protection, it’s virtually impossible to get into it.”