GEORGIA COMPUTERS STOLEN http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/ddfb51e9e831481fb0d77e10e2c78b5e/GA-Computer-Thefts/

Police search for $86,000 in computer equipment stolen in Macon from city techs

• THE ASSOCIATED PRESS  
• First Posted: March 19, 2011 - 10:11 am
  Last Updated: March 19, 2011 - 3:04 pm

MACON, Ga. — Macon officials reported that up to $86,000 worth of computer equipment is missing from the city's Information and Technology Department and police are investigating whether it may have been stolen over the last several months.

Officials in the city's Information and Technology Department called police after noticing their inventory of computers was shrinking. A police report says the thefts may have been going on since last May.

Mayor Robert Reichert said Friday he was unaware of any arrests being made or of any computers being recovered. Macon's IT director, Stephen Masteller, declined to comment on the police investigation.

However, Masteller estimated that 55 desktop computers, 20 laptops and 40 monitors could be missing. Workers are compiling an inventory to get a more exact count, he said.

The police report says five people had keys to the storage area where city computers were kept, and about 14 people had the key code for the door.

Masteller told investigators that during some recent construction work on his department's building, construction workers and air-conditioning installers also had access to the area where computers were kept. The storage area had no alarm system or surveillance cameras installed.

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Information from: The Macon Telegraph,http://www.macontelegraph.com