Laptops latest trend in business thefts

Greg Risling

NEWPORT BEACH -- They can be disguised as property managers or

maintenance workers casually going about their business.

But their work really involves cunning and deception.

Police have noticed a rash of thefts at various businesses around John

Wayne Airport since the beginning of the year. The hot items are laptop

computers, which are easy to conceal and fetch a good resale price.

“It’s a target-rich environment up there and the crooks know that,” said

Newport Beach De. Darcy Andelin. “It’s an ongoing problem that has been

happening in that area for a while.”

Businesses along Bristol Street, Campus Drive and MacArthur Boulevard

have been hit by a dozen burglaries since the first of the year, police

reported. While cellular phones and purses have been a favorite among

thieves in the past, laptop computers are a new fancy for crooks.

Sgt. Mike McDermott said businesses in the airport district have

historically encountered routine thefts. Twenty years ago, electronic

typewriters were the hot items sought by burglars while prowling through

buildings near the airport.

“Those typewriters would go for about $1,000,” McDermott said. “The

airport area is a hotbed for burglaries.”

Given the amount of reported thefts this year alone, police will meet

with business owners next week as well as patrolling the area more often.

Police said the burglaries can happen during business hours or when the

office is closed for the night. Most of the time, employees or cleaning

crews have their guard down. They leave the doors unlocked and valuables

unprotected.

Thieves will stroll into the business and when people aren’t watching,

they steal the computers, McDermott said. He added that one hotel

surveillance camera caught a man wearing a business suit taking a laptop

without anyone stopping him.

The computers can be sold to stores or on the black market for anywhere

between $800 and $3,000, McDermott said.”These guys pose as someone who

won’t draw attention to themselves and walk right out of there,” Andelin

said. “It’s important for employees to know who’s inside their office so

they can possibly prevent a serious loss.”