An apparent spike in laptop computer thefts has Denver police putting out a stern warning today: You may lose a lot more than your hard drive.
“People put their whole lives on their computers now,” said police spokesman Sonny Jackson. “We want them to be aware that these are hot-ticket items for thieves right now, and they may not just lose an item — an expensive one in their computer — but there’s a gold mine on there for identity thieves.”
Statistics for the city’s six police districts were not immediately available this afternoon, but Jackson said the 39 downtown thefts since January was a noticeable increase.
“And it’s not just downtown, it’s all across the city,” he said.
The locations and times of day have been random, and police think the thefts are crimes of opportunity in which laptops have been left unguarded for an instant — but that’s not to say thieves aren’t setting out to steal laptops that day.
Unguarded desks in downtown offices have been hit especially hard when employees walk away, Jackson said. Thieves are known to wander around office buildings looking for such a break then slipping the item in a backpack and walking out, he said.
Anyone who spots strangers wandering around offices and cubicles should notify building security or call Denver police at 720-913-2000.
Police advise against confronting the person but, instead, to make note of their appearance, including race, gender, age, eye color, facial hair, hair color, height, weight, scars or tattoos, clothing and the direction he or she left in.
Tips about recently stolen laptops can be given to Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867.
