Technology collars alleged computer thieves

New technology defeated a pair of young burglars who took a laptop computer from an Olivehurst school, Yuba County Sheriff Steve Durfor said Tuesday.

The burglars, ages 13 and 14, were arrested Tuesday after grabbing the $1,900 computer from Yuba Gardens Intermediate School, 1964 11th Ave., on March 23, said Durfor. Neither boy is a Yuba Gardens student.

"The laptop was equipped with anti-theft technology that broadcast its location to a tracking company, which in turn contacted law enforcement with the computer's location," he said.

Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Melanie Oakes said authorities don't want to reveal much about how the system works and give thieves the knowledge to disable it. A software program alerts the tracking company if the computer "is plugged in where it's not supposed to be," she said.

School surveillance cameras show the boys, both of East Linda, entering school grounds at about 11:30 a.m. on a Sunday and covering the cameras with clothing.

For some reason, the boys uncovered the cameras before breaking into the school through a window. Detectives identified one of the boys from the tape, said Durfor.

When the boys were arrested, detectives found they had downloaded photos, addresses and other personal information onto the computer, "which assisted investigators in their identification," Durfor said.

The boys admitted their involvement when questioned and were booked into Bi-County Juvenile Hall in Marysville. Neither boy is a Yuba Gardens student.

Contact Appeal-Democrat reporter Rob Young at 749-4710 or at ryoung@appealdemocrat.com.