Laptop Burglar Has Face For Camera

COLLEGE PARK, GA — Shorter College in College Park is missing 48-laptop computers after a burglar broke into the school twice.

The suspect was captured on surveillance cameras inside the school. The pictures show the suspect use a crow bar to break into a back door entrance to the school on Phoenix Boulevard in College Park.

The suspect walked into the school with his shirt pulled up over his head as if he knew the cameras were taking his picture.

But when he entered a storage room where the computers are stored, he dropped his shirt and his face could be seen clearly.

College Park Police released the video to the media in hopes of catching the suspect. “This is an exceptional video and someone should be able to recognize this person if they know him,” said Lt. Reed Pollard.

The video shows the suspect wiping off surfaces that he touched with his hands. “Him wiping the prints off gives us reason to believe he may have some prior criminal history,” Lt. Pollard said.

The suspect made two trips out of the school carrying a trash can full of computers and a box full of computers.

Dr. Alton Jones, the colleges Assistant Dean of Students said the computers are used by students in the class room. “We’re probably going to have to get more resource equipment from other campuses until this can be replaced,” he said. Shorter College’s main campus is in Rome.

After breaking into the building, the suspect went directly to the storage room. “We believe he probably has some knowledge of the area and some knowledge of the school,” said Lt. Pollard. “He knew where to go for these laptops.”

Dr. Jones said he doesn’t believe it’s anyone he knows. “No, I don’t personally,” he said. “My staff has seen the video and no one on my staff has seen this guy before.”

The first break-in happened on Saturday. The very next day the same suspect came back to get more laptops. This time he took every precaution, wearing a hood to cover his face and gloves so he didn’t leave prints.

For police it was too little, too late. “Right, it is,” said Lt. Pollard. “It was kind of stupid on his part. He should have covered up on the first one.”

College Park Police are asking anyone who recognizes the suspect to call them at 404-761-3131

Posted By – Kevin Rowson

Last Updated On:  5/18/2010 10:27:59 PM

http://www.11alive.com/news/news_story.aspx?storyid=144177&catid=40