TRINIDAD & TOBAGO COMPUTER STOLEN http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Suspect_caught_on_video_at_Hilton-147406655.html

Suspect caught on video at Hilton

Computer, 8 plasma TVs stolen

By Akile Simon 

Story Created: Apr 13, 2012 at 10:54 PM ECT

Story Updated: Apr 13, 2012 at 10:54 PM ECT 

A $9,000 computer and eight 36-inch plasma television sets valued at $40,000 have been stolen from the Hilton hotel.

Belmont police, who yesterday confirmed that they were probing several break-ins at the hotel, said they are close to solving the crimes.

Police have already identified a suspect involved in breaking and entering eight unoccupied guest rooms at the hotel which occurred within a two-week period.

The office of the hotel's general manager, Ali Khan, was also broken into and the computer stolen, police said. Police said the suspect stole eight 36-inch plasma televisions from the unoccupied rooms.

When contacted via telephone yesterday, Khan confirmed the theft, saying he was happy with the manner with which the police were treating the matter.

Khan said the suspect was caught on surveillance cameras located throughout the hotel and investigations are ongoing to determine how the suspect actually gained access into his office.

He said the televisions that were stolen from the unoccupied hotel rooms are coded and could be easily identified and located.

"I am happy that no guests of team members were involved because safety and security is of paramount importance to us," Khan said.

Police sources said Khan, in company with other Hilton officials, visited the Belmont Police Station yesterday where a computer—which police recovered at the home of a suspect—was positively identified by Khan.

According to police, they were able to track down a suspect as he had left evidence in Khan's office which linked him to the other break-ins.

Police said they went to the suspect's Belmont home on Thursday, armed with a search and arrest warrant, but the man fled the house as officers approached. After searching the premises, police said they found Ali's computer.

Officers are working on the theory that the suspect may have connections with an employee at the hotel since he knew which rooms to break into and the times to commit the acts to avoid detection.

Police said the suspect gained access on the eastern side of the hotel's premises, near the Carlton Savannah Hotel.

Officers are warning persons who may have been recently sold a second hand television or have the stolen items in their possession to immediately turn them in at the Belmont Police Station or the nearest police station since they could be traced to an exact location.