Thousands of laptops stolen during nine-hour heist (from military contractor)

[Robbien]

Source: AP

Thousands of laptops have been stolen from the Florida office of a private contractor for the U.S. military's Special Operations Command.

Surveillance cameras caught up to seven people loading the computers into two trucks for nine hours.

U.S. Special Operations Command coordinates the activities of elite units from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. A spokeswoman said Tuesday that none of the stolen laptops contained military information or software.

The Virginia-based company iGov was awarded a $450 million contract earlier this year to supply mobile technology services linking special operations troops worldwide. A company executive says iGov is cooperating with authorities and the March 6 break-in at its Tampa facility remains under investigation.

Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2010/07/13/2080783/thousands-of-laptops-stolen-during.html

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If none of the laptops contained military info, then what the heck was the company doing for the military? Getting paid and doing nothing?

Another article:
http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/crime/article1108521.ece

TAMPA — The thieves hit on a weekend when no one was around.

The target: a military contractor for the super secret Special Operations Command, the elite commandos who help coordinate the war on terror.

The intruders entered through the roof, gaining access to iGov Technologies, which occupies suite 110 in the beige corporate center at 9211 Palm River Road.

For the next nine hours, they loaded up more than 3,000 laptop computers and other equipment into two waiting semitrailer trucks .

Those details came to light only recently, when a Hillsborough County sheriff's detective filed a search warrant in Hillsborough County Circuit Court seeking phone records for one of the suspects.

. . .

Earlier this year, iGov was awarded a $450-million contract by the Department of Defense to supply mobile technology services linking special operations troops all over the world.

. . .

Sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter said that she was unaware of the theft and that Thatcher no longer had the case. It was assigned to a second detective who also was transferred, and she did not know which detective was now handling it.



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Everything about the case is shrouded in secrecy. Every name in the sheriff's report says they know nothing about it. Some stolen stuff was recovered, or maybe not. The theft was reported, or maybe not. There are suspects, or maybe not.

[EC]

1. Robbed themselves huh?

Covering up something...losing info.

[gateley]

4. Never even thought of that. Hmmmm..... nt

[superconnected]

8. You're probably not too far off. If was probably an employee if it wasn't the company itself.

When I worked at the City of Seattle in the early 2000's one department had about 70 computers stolen over a weekend which ended up being an employee who stole them - he and his buddys were caught on camera. The employee brought them back and got to keep his job - I never understood but then that place had lots of people who had related family members working there - some departments far more than others.

[peacetalksforall]

2. First thought - perhaps this is/was the second internet. George goofed.

But, which way? Mistake in grammar or a slip.

They sure kept this theft secret. Correct?

Wouldn't you think it would be a 24/7 operation?

Maybe they all went to a seminar at the same time to learn about new laptops and lines?

What have these people been doing since.

Whose going to make statements first from this point?

[gateley]

3. You're right -- so many things are fishy about this. A nine-hour heist with

two semis standing by sounds pretty well-planned and executed.

And wouldn't you think the government would insist on tough security for any contractors given sensitive information?

Unbelievable. Wonder when we'll find out the truth and the facts.

[Robbien]

5. iGov Tech seems like a fishy company in the first place

Even the owners are squabbling over who owns what and who is in control.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/crime/article1108613.ece

For that last five years these guys were supposed to be writing software which coordinates all paid mercs the military uses. This five year contract was just recently renewed.

If these expensive laptops were empty as the article says, then it is no wonder no one knows how many paid mercs are over in the Middle East, or elsewhere in the world.

[Cal Carpenter]

7. Why would one think the government would insist on tough *anything* for contractors?

There have been countless examples of fraud, malfeasance, incompetence etc from government contractors. Billions of dollars vanishing in Iraq, and showers that electrocute the troops are just 2 that come to mind quickly.

Personally I'd find it more unbelievable to hear a story of a well-planned contract with a clean audit, no fraud, no scandal, no shoddy work.

[peacetalksforall]

6. Would the 450 mil cover insurance - private or government insurance? Is there such

a thing as government insurance?

Perhaps it is all just another money making scheme - a theft set-up to keep the 450 mil for the RNC after costs.

Whate do we call the vitims igov outsider-contractor?

Whose names are associated with this contractor?

Florida - hmmmmm.

[KG]

9. that would explain the recent special sale on laptops on the Homeboy Shopping Network

[ellenfl]

10. any info is probably on a server somewhere and not on the laptops. eom

[aquart]

11. NINE hours? Impressive security there.

[LawnKorn]

12. These laptops weren't stolen; they were deployed

The theft is just a cover story for the Government in case any of the computers turn up in the aftermath of a clandestine operation.

These computers were bought, paid for, programmed, modified, and networked for operations supporting special forces. In the event one is lost, the story will be "That computer was stolen. It has nothing to do with the Government."