Theft of 20 laptops may be inside job

By STEPHANIE GARRY, Times Staff Writer
Published August 3, 2007

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ST. PETERSBURG - There were no signs of forced entry.

But a thief somehow managed to get into three separate offices in the A.G. Edwards Building overnight Wednesday and steal 20 laptop computers.

St. Petersburg detectives suspect the culprit stayed behind after business hours or that it was an inside job.

First, entrants must swipe a security card to get inside the main building at 700 Central Ave. Then they must gain access into the individual offices. Two were secured with standard key locks; the third had a keypad lock.

Northwestern Mutual, Raymond James and the U.S. Attorney General's Office were targeted, said police spokesman George Kajtsa.

The financial businesses told police that the laptops contained client information, but because they are password protected they didn't think anyone would be able to access it, Kajtsa said.

The Attorney General's Office told police the computers didn't contain sensitive information.

On Thursday, police interviewed witnesses and dusted the offices for fingerprints. They believe the theft occurred between 8:30 p.m. Wednesday and 5 a.m. Thursday.

Dave Wilbanks, a manager at Northwestern Mutual, said the property was insured but declined to say more.

Stephanie Garry can be reached at 727 892-2374 or sgarry@sptimes.com

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To help

Anyone with information about the thefts in the A.G. Edwards Building can call St. Petersburg police at 893-7780.