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SANDY — Frustrated by repeated thefts, a computer store owner has devised a plan to track down iPads and iPods stolen from one of his stores. He is optimistic that a few clues will help catch the thieves.
Roger Smith owns ExperCom, a chain of stores that sells and services Apple products. In business 16 years, he's been burglarized more than a dozen times between his stores in Logan, Riverdale and Sandy.
"We've been able to catch most everybody," Smith said.
But on Feb. 16, someone broke through the back door of his Sandy store, located at 80 E. 10600 South, and stole nearly $50,000 worth of iPads and iPods.
"(They) wiped us out of all our iPads and iPods; left the computers but took some accessories, small items they could get out with quickly," Smith said.
In all, the criminals got away with 118 items. Two months later, police think they are now unloading the iPads and iPods, possibly online.
"ksl.com, craigslist, eBay; you can go online and sell these items," said Sandy Police Department Sgt. Jon Arnold.
Smith has serial numbers for most of the stolen items, which the unsuspecting buyers could use to help police.
"We have so many serial numbers, I'm pretty sure the units are out there, and I think we'll get some leads. I think there's a pretty good chance," Smith said.
If you recently purchased an iPad or iPod from anyone other than an authorized Apple dealer, Smith wants you to check your serial number against his list. If police can track down any of those sales, it may give them the clues they need to crack the case."
"We start putting together those stories: Did they all buy them from the same individual, from the same website? How did they purchase these?" Arnold said.
Smith said he will reward people if they help track down the thieves so that no one feels like it will cost them to come forward.
