WASHINGTON STATE COMPUTERS STOLEN http://www.seattlepi.com/local/415285_IT10.html?source=rss

Seattle employee charged with string of computer thefts

By LEVI PULKKINEN

SEATTLEPI.COM STAFF

A City of Seattle computer technician is facing felony theft charges following allegations that he stole at least 13 city-owned computers.

In charging documents, Seattle police detectives outline 13 suspicious incidents in which Department of Information Technology employee Raymond A. Siguenza is implicated.

Police were first notified of suspicions that Siguenza was stealing from the department in September 2008, according to court documents. As the investigation continued, detectives came to believe Siguenza had been stealing as early as February 2008 and continued to do so until his arrest in June.

Due to his position with the Information Technology Department, Siguenza was able to access computers in various areas of city government, according to police statements. In one instance, Siguenza is alleged to have stolen computers from the mayor's "situation room" at the city emergency operations center.

Confronted by detectives, Siguenza allegedly admitted to six of the alleged thefts.

Following his arrest, an internal investigation was launched into Siguenza's activities, a department spokeswoman said previously.

Siguenza has been charged with first-degree theft, a felony. The 45-year-old Auburn resident has not been jailed in the case.

Additional details on the case are available here.

Levi Pulkkinen can be reached at 206-448-8348 orlevipulkkinen@seattlepi.com.