CALIFORNIA COMPUTERS STOLEN http://www.redding.com/news/2012/mar/07/no-headline---north_state_in_brief/

Police seek suspect in computer thefts

Redding police officers are searching for a man they say is connected to the theft of more than $20,000 in computers.

Officers say they are looking for Charles Joe Finn, 30, of Redding, who failed to appear in court for violating his parole after he was found with stolen property in a motel room Feb. 15.

Officers say he was staying with Heather Lynn Lashley, 27, of Redding, at the Americana Lodge in Redding. Officers arrested Lashley at her motel room that evening on suspicion of possession of stolen property, elder abuse and resisting arrest. She is accused of having fraudulently used a credit card belonging to Dan Shepherd, 72, of Redding.

Police said when they searched the room they found Finn alongside stolen property from several Redding cases.

Officers arrested Finn on suspicion of possession of stolen property and violation of the conditions of his release from prison.

On March 2, Finn didn't appear in court for those allegations, officers said. The Shasta County Superior Court issued two felony arrest warrants, with bail set at $100,000.

Five days later, officers said they found Lashley in the Wells Fargo Bank parking lot on Pine Street under the influence of drugs and with more stolen items.

She took them to her hotel room at the Travel Inn on Market Street, they said.

Officers then searched the room after she told them Finn was inside, along with more stolen property, they said.

Finn escaped out the back window, but inside the room officers said they found graphic software taken in a commercial burglary March 5 at the Redding Printing Company on Continental Street.

The business reported more than $20,000 in computers and software was stolen.

Officers ask anyone with information to contact police at 225-4200.