LOUISIANA COMPUTERS STOLEN http://www.lsureveille.com/news/students-charged-with-laptop-thefts-1.2504744
Students charged with laptop thefts
By Xerxes A. Wilson
Staff Writer
Published: Thursday, March 3, 2011
Updated: Thursday, March 3, 2011 22:03
It's not often crime comes to the police station.
But it happened twice earlier this week, leading to two arrests tied to laptop thefts on campus.
A University student was at the LSU Police Department Office on Tuesday reporting the theft of her $2,000 laptop from Howe-Russell Geoscience Complex when she received an unexpected call, said Det. Kevin Scott, LSUPD spokesman.
On the other line was Dustin Williams, a 19-year-old student at Southeastern Louisiana University. Williams, of 19262 Antenor St., Mandeville, 70471, told the victim he had bought the laptop on Craigslist and needed her password, Scott said.
The student informed Williams the laptop was stolen, but Williams refused to cooperate and instead said she would have to buy the laptop back, Scott said.
At this point, an LSUPD detective posed as the student's boyfriend and negotiated a $1,500 buyback of the laptop, for which Williams later said he paid $900, Scott said.
Williams agreed to meet at a truck stop in Hammond, where instead of getting money, he was arrested by LSUPD and charged with extortion and illegal possession of stolen things.
Possession of stolen things carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $3,000. Extortion carries a penalty of one to 15 years of incarceration.
"The right thing to do when you discover you have purchased stolen material is report it to the law," Scott said.
After being arrested, Williams led police to University student Jasmond Tucker, of 10694 Country Aire, Wakefield, 70784, who originally sold the laptop on Craigslist.
Police got lucky again when they brought in Tucker to interview and eventually arrest. After questioning, detectives arrested Tucker and discovered he was carrying another laptop that had been stolen from Middleton Library on Feb. 15.
Tucker was charged with two counts of felony theft and booked into East Baton Rouge Parish Prison.
Each count of felony theft carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $3,000.
"The most prevalent crime on this campus is theft," Scott said. "And iPhones and computers are the items most commonly reported stolen."
Scott said most instances of computer or cell phone theft happen when a student leaves the item unattended in public.
Scott suggested students consider purchasing electronic tracking software available for computers and cell phones.
Students charged with laptop thefts
By Xerxes A. Wilson
Staff Writer
Published: Thursday, March 3, 2011
Updated: Thursday, March 3, 2011 22:03
It's not often crime comes to the police station.
But it happened twice earlier this week, leading to two arrests tied to laptop thefts on campus.
A University student was at the LSU Police Department Office on Tuesday reporting the theft of her $2,000 laptop from Howe-Russell Geoscience Complex when she received an unexpected call, said Det. Kevin Scott, LSUPD spokesman.
On the other line was Dustin Williams, a 19-year-old student at Southeastern Louisiana University. Williams, of 19262 Antenor St., Mandeville, 70471, told the victim he had bought the laptop on Craigslist and needed her password, Scott said.
The student informed Williams the laptop was stolen, but Williams refused to cooperate and instead said she would have to buy the laptop back, Scott said.
At this point, an LSUPD detective posed as the student's boyfriend and negotiated a $1,500 buyback of the laptop, for which Williams later said he paid $900, Scott said.
Williams agreed to meet at a truck stop in Hammond, where instead of getting money, he was arrested by LSUPD and charged with extortion and illegal possession of stolen things.
Possession of stolen things carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $3,000. Extortion carries a penalty of one to 15 years of incarceration.
"The right thing to do when you discover you have purchased stolen material is report it to the law," Scott said.
After being arrested, Williams led police to University student Jasmond Tucker, of 10694 Country Aire, Wakefield, 70784, who originally sold the laptop on Craigslist.
Police got lucky again when they brought in Tucker to interview and eventually arrest. After questioning, detectives arrested Tucker and discovered he was carrying another laptop that had been stolen from Middleton Library on Feb. 15.
Tucker was charged with two counts of felony theft and booked into East Baton Rouge Parish Prison.
Each count of felony theft carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $3,000.
"The most prevalent crime on this campus is theft," Scott said. "And iPhones and computers are the items most commonly reported stolen."
Scott said most instances of computer or cell phone theft happen when a student leaves the item unattended in public.
Scott suggested students consider purchasing electronic tracking software available for computers and cell phones.
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