Although the Absolute Theft Recovery Team is in the computer theft recovery business, its forensic tools often lead police to more than just stolen laptops. From hundred-thousand dollar theft rings to underground fight clubs, Absolute has learned that computer theft is often just a side hobby for ambitious career criminals.
Absolute Uncovers $100,000 in Credit Card Fraud
Absolute recently tipped police off to a suspect who stole more than just computers, helping to uncover a hundred-thousand dollar identity-theft operation.
Absolute was called to action after a LoJack for Laptops-equipped computer was heisted in a home burglary. Forensic tools determined that the stolen laptop was located just blocks away from the victim’s home, and suggested that the machine was being used to perpetrate credit card fraud. Absolute called upon the County Sheriff’s Forgery and Fraud Unit for further investigation.
Within a week, the Sherriff’s office had obtained a search warrant for the unauthorized user’s address. The warrant was served, and after detaining the house’s occupants, a thorough search conducted.
Police recovered the stolen laptop from the scene, along with narcotics, stolen auto parts, electronics and handguns. More incriminating, police also found a machine that reads and re-encodes credit cards’ magnetic strips, and hundreds of documents which contained names, addresses, and social security and credit card numbers. Detectives estimate the amount of known fraud on the compromised credit cards to be in excess of $100,000.
The unauthorized user was arrested and charged on several counts of Credit Card Fraud, ID Take-Over, Receiving Stolen Property and Narcotics Possession.
Absolute Makes Explosive Recovery
The bomb squad was called on to the scene of a recent Absolute recovery after a stolen computer was used for explosive online research.
A terminated employee opted to take his company-issued laptop as a parting gift, blatantly ignoring several requests for the machine’s return. Upon receiving the theft report, Absolute began to track this now unauthorized user.
Use of the machine was far from professional – the ex-employee was conducting extensive online research on the construction of explosives. Absolute passed this information over to police, who used it to obtain a search warrant for the suspect’s residence. Given the nature of the evidence, the bomb squad was also asked to tag along – a sound choice, as was soon discovered.
Police recovered the laptop from the ex-employee’s residence… along with an expansive collection of homemade explosives in various stages of construction. Luckily, the bomb squad was able to safely de-activate and dispose of the dangerous finding. Charges have been laid.
Stolen Laptop Leads Police to Underground Game Fight Operation
Absolute’s detective work led police to a computer thief with a colorful criminal career and particular interest in underground game fighting.
A string of home burglaries left a Computrace LoJack for Laptop’s customer without his laptop, and provided the Absolute team with the evidence it needed to incriminate the suspected theft.
Absolute was quick to identify the user and location information that police needed to serve a search warrant on the suspect’s residence. In a fruitful search, police recovered more than just the stolen computer – over $2,000 in narcotics, $5,000 in illegal firearms, and $3,000 in criminal proceeds were also seized.
On top of the $10,000+ collateral, an established fighting game cock operation was uncovered in the home’s basement. Further investigation revealed that the suspect had a history of charges relating to similar underground operations.
The officer was happy to add to this criminal record; the suspect now faces charges of Receiving Stolen Property and Possession of Narcotics. Further charges in relation to the other findings are pending.
Please note that indictments and criminal complaints are merely unproven accusations and the accused in all cases are presumed innocent until proven guilty.