TENNESSEE COMPUTERS STOLEN http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqDhXBEILDQ

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Health Dept. Computer Theft Went on for Months

Published on Feb 7, 2013

by Kyra Rogers The sign outside the Chattanooga Hamilton County Health department encourages bright smiles for the new year, but former employee Ricky Flerl certainly wasn't smiling in his mug shot.Flerl is charged with stealing dozens of Health Dept. computers, a surprise to clients we spoke with outside.€œI'm not sure if they had security measures taken to secure their facility. I'm just finding out myself,€ patient Shankirah Bedford said.We aren't sure if there were security measures in place either. Spokesperson Abena Williams declined to do an on-camera interview. Off camera she said she just became aware of the incident Tuesday night. However according to the affidavit, her boss, Director Becky Barnes first notified investigators December 31, 2012. The affidavit says she checked her inventory and discovered that she was missing numerous laptop and desktop computers over the last year or so.€Also according to the affidavit, Flerl made off with 15 computers and one projector. Investigators say he tried to sell some of them outside a Tobacco Mart on Highway 58.They say he sold one of them for $175 cash to a woman who then tried to pawn the computer at the E-Z Pawn. That is where investigators tracked it down.Williams said no patient information was on the computers, some apparently stolen nearly a year ago. Bedford still had questions.€œThey can run rampant with it, she said. Open new accounts, ruin my reputation, get into my bank accounts. Anything can happen.€Williams described the computers as new, but declined to share any further information.NewsChannel 9 also requested an interview with Health Department Director Becky Barnes, but those requests have been declined.