UTAH COMPUTER THIEF ARRESTED BYU NewsNet - Man arrested for thefts of 20 businesses:

Man arrested for thefts of 20 businesses
By Matthew Deighton - 26 Jan 2009

A 31-year-old male was arrested in the Pleasant Grove area, January 15, in connection with a string of 20 business burglaries in at least four cities.

Springville resident, Brandon Ault, was arrested and booked into Utah County jail, following a three month investigation, ending when Ault was caught in the act of committing a burglary.

The investigation began after police received a call concerning a suspicious vehicle, giving police a partial license plate number. Police were then able to begin surveillance efforts on Ault.

According to Detective Courtney Jones of the Spanish Fork Police Department, Utah State Courts define burglary as the unlawful breaking into or entering of a building or dwelling with the intent to commit a serious crime ortheft.

“If he hit a business with an alarm and it went off, it would scare him away,” Jones said. “He wouldn’t end up stealing anything from that business.”

Investigators have linked the merchandise to burglaries that were committed in Spanish Fork, Salem, Pleasant Grove and Springville. Each agency is currently working with the County Attorney’s Office to make formal charges against Ault.

According to a press release, investigators estimate over $13,000 worth of merchandise was recovered from Ault’s possession. Ault is currently working with detectives to identify which businesses the re-covered items werestolen from.

Businesses reported hand tools, power tools, computers, cash and a big screen television stolen. Almost all of the stolen merchandise has been or will be returned to the original owners. A small amount of tools and several computers are still waiting to be re-claimed.

Many of the owners who documented the serial numbers of the stolen merchandise were already able to reclaim their stolen goods.

Police encourage victims of business theft within the previous six months to contact Jones at 801....