ARKANSAS COMPUTER THEFT RING BROKEN The Helena Daily World - News

Computer thefts net five arrests

By MICHELE PAGE
Published: Wednesday, December 5, 2007 8:53 PM CST
E-mail this story | Print this page

World Staff Writer

Helena-West Helena Police Chief Vincent Bell and Detective Roy Covington updated the city's leaders about a computer theft ring that has preyed upon almost every local school and even the college. Approximately 90 computers were stolen. Bell said that almost every day, for the past three weeks, computers were reported missing at various schools.

Bell explained that at Phillips College, 27 laptops were stolen and police foiled an attempt to steal 30 computers at Westside Elementary. Apparently, the intruders stacked the computers near an exit and police arrived before their plans to steal the computers could be completed. Bell also said officers caught three individuals coming out of J.F. Wahl Elementary.

Anthony Sellers, 25, and two juveniles were arrested.

Bell said that investigation led to a residence on South Ninth. There, police recovered three of the computers and arrested Bryan Adams, 21 and Jarvis Austin, 20. All the suspects are from Helena-West Helena.

Bell reported that the department has additional "names" and plans more arrests soon.

In each incident, the alarm systems were either disarmed or were not working properly. Bell said that doors to some of the facilities were either left unlocked or had keys left in the locks.

Council member Joseph Dean, who works with the school district, said the school's insurance would not cover the computer loss.

So far, the H-WHPD has recovered four computers. The stolen merchandise has not been turning up at local pawnshops.

"Most of our schools have been broken into," said Dean.

Bell reported that the 25 laptops stolen from the college occurred right before the Thanksgiving Holiday break.

Bell praised the H-WH Criminal Investigation Division with their apprehension of the suspects.

Mayor James Valley said that anyone caught with the computers in their possession could be charged with felony theft by receiving and needed to turn the property over to the department at once.

Superintendent Rudolph Howard said that the stolen computer count stood at 55 and the loss of the computers, mostly from the school's computer labs, was affecting students.

Howard said that it was "a toss-up" as to whether or not the insurance company would pay for the loss.

"The alarm system is just one of the many problems we have," said Howard.

He reported that the repairs to the system would be very costly and may not be feasible. Howard added that a new alarm system was not possible because the cost would be too high.

"That's why we need to look at building another school," said Howard. "We do not have the money to repair or install a new security system."