PENNSYLVANIA COMPUTER HARD DRIVE STOLEN Computer repairman charged with theft -- themorningcall.com:


Computer repairman charged with theft
Bethlehem

May 5, 2009

A Bethlehem computer repairman has been charged with breaking into a realty office, stealing a camera and computer hard drive, and then later charging the company to fix the computer.

Kevin Andrew Lutes, 28, of 2121 Cypress Road in Bethlehem was charged with theft and receiving stolen property in connection with the break-in April 28 at Real Living Action Realty.

According to court documents:

Lutes, who had fixed computers for Action Realty in the past, was called the day after the break-in to repair the broken computer's hard drive. He told the owner he could retrieve her lost data and files.

Meanwhile, the owner of the company called the computer manufacturer, who told her it was impossible to retrieve the data without the hard drive. Police then discovered Lutes' car, with a computer repair sticker on the door, was seen parked in front of the office on the night of the break-in.

On Friday, Lutes brought the computer back with all the lost data and tried to charge the company $50 an hour for 40 hours of work.

Lutes was arraigned before District Judge James Stocklas of Bethlehem and sent to Northampton County Prison under $10,000 bail.