PENNSYLVANIA COMPUTERS STOLEN http://www.nj.com/news/expresstimes/pa/index.ssf?/base/news-16/1206417969270450.xml&coll=2


Lehigh U. student arrested on theft charges
Police say he stole two laptop computers, underwear from dorm room of two women.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008

By BEVIN MILAVSKYThe Express-Times
BETHLEHEM A 19-year-old Lehigh University student was arrested Monday for allegedly stealing computers and undergarments from the dorm room of two other students.

University police said Ricardo Alvayero, of Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., entered a room in Taylor College dormitory Jan. 26 and stole two laptop computers belonging to Sarah Wolfe and Brittany Thurston. The computers were worth about $1,500 each.

On March 16, Alvayero allegedly returned to the room and stole $100 worth of undergarments belonging to Wolfe. The same day, Wolfe received an e-mail about the stolen computer, which led police to Alvayero.

Police said he admitted to the crimes and said he destroyed the computers when he heard police in the building taking the theft report.

Alvayero was arraigned before District Judge James Narlesky on two counts each of burglary, theft and receiving stolen property.

The judge said police told him Alvayero also was charged in federal court Monday in connection with the burglaries.

Narlesky said he released Alvayero on $100,000 unsecured bail because he was placed on electronic monitoring for the federal charges.

Patty Hartman, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Philadelphia, could not find information in the federal system on Alvayero.

Lehigh University spokeswoman Sarah Cooke would not comment specifically on Alvayero's status as a student.

But she said anytime a student is charged with a crime, there is the possibility of suspension pending the disposition of the charges.

Cooke said it is premature to comment on what charges Alvayero could face, but the university will conduct a disciplinary review to determine if the student code of conduct was violated.

Sanctions range from a warning to expulsion.

Alvayero did not answer the phone in his dorm room Monday and his voicemail was not set up to accept messages.

Reporter Bevin Milavsky can be reached at 610-867-5000 or by e-mail at bmilavsky@express-times.com.