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Jed Boal ReportingSalt Lake County detectives have pulled the plug on a burglary ring that swiped more than a half- million dollars worth of computer equipment.
Computers run small businesses around the globe. They've become more common targets for criminals, and when they're stolen it can cripple a business.
Sheriff's Investigators say Lawrence Justice Jonas and at last three other people ran quite a burglary ring from a small office in a South Salt Lake business plaza and two other locations they raided.
Police say Jonas, William Robert Johnson, Holly Hamilton-Mask and another suspect stole computers from small businesses on the east side of the valley.
Lt. Robbie Russo, Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office: "Small businesses who are computer based, taking all of their information. Not only the value of the property but the information and could put some of them out of business."
Investigators think the burglars broke down the computers and resold them for drug money and profit.
Russ Nelson, Burglary Victim: "Everything was just cleaned out. Our little safe was broken into."
It appears, not only was he knocking off his neighbors, but he was also very interested in who was coming and going; he had a counter-surveillance camera.
One internet company was amazed to recover much of their half-million dollars in stolen property.
Ken Bowman, Networld Connections: “They came in and bypassed our alarm systems so they had to know what they were doing."
Investigators still want to find out whether the suspect pulled information from the computers for identity theft. Right now they face burglary charges, but there will be more charges as the investigation continues.
