MICHIGAN (UPDATE) COMPUTERS STOLEN http://www.detnews.com/article/20100212/SCHOOLS/2120403/1409/metro/Investigators-search-for-650-stolen-DPS-laptops

Last Updated: February 12. 2010 1:17AM

Investigators search for 650 stolen DPS laptops

The Detroit News

Detroit -- Authorities on Thursday executed search warrants throughout southeast Michigan as part of an effort to recover more than 650 laptops allegedly stolen from Detroit Public Schools in the last year, officials said.

As part of the investigation, which also involves possible embezzlement of university property, the DPS Office of Inspector General joined with the University of Michigan Department of Public Safety and the Michigan State University Campus Police Department to execute the search warrants in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, West Bloomfield, East Lansing and Detroit.

According to DPS, 659 laptops valued at more than $790,000 were taken during some 24 thefts in the last eight months.

The DPS Office of Inspector General has since recovered 62 of the computers.

Evidence from the search warrants is expected to be turned over to county prosecutors for possible charges, DPS officials said.

The search warrants follow three cases last year involving alleged thefts of laptops: Two elementary school custodians were suspended in June 2009 in connection with the alleged theft of 30 laptop computers and an elementary teacher was suspended in November after district officials said she admitted to stealing a school computer and pawning it for $60 so she could get a tire repaired.

Since Bobb began his appointment in March 2009, he has ordered numerous investigations and audits to uncover fraud, corruption and mismanagement in the district. Bobb appointed former FBI agent John E. Bell Jr. as inspector general to root out waste, fraud and abuse.