Man arrested for UC Berkeley computer theft

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Sep 15, 2005 | by Michelle Maitre, STAFF WRITER

University of California, Berkeley police have arrested an 18- year-old San Francisco man in connection with the March theft of a laptop computer containing personal information on more than 98,000 graduate students, officials announced Wednesday.

The computer was recovered in South Carolina after it was sold on eBay.

A forensic review of the laptop could not determine whether any sensitive information had been accessed, although police said they don't have any evidence of identity theft or credit card fraud.

A review of the laptop found that the university's original files had been erased and written over with a new operating system.

The Alameda County District Attorney has charged Shuki Alburati with possession of stolen property, a misdemeanor, and he is scheduled to appear in court Sept. 30.

Attempts to reach him were unsuccessful. His number is unlisted and his public defender was not available late Wednesday. He is not affiliated with the campus, said university spokeswoman Janet Gilmore.

Officials continue to search for a woman who is believed to have lifted the laptop March 11 from an unattended graduate division office on the fourth floor of Sproul Hall.

"We're pleased we recovered it and were able to trace the history of what happened to the computer," Gilmore said.

University police traced the laptop through a circuitous route as it apparently changed several hands.

Police said the woman sold the laptop in April to Alburati, who posted it for sale April 19 on online auction site eBay.

The theft prompted Chancellor Robert Birgeneau to hire outside auditors PricewaterhouseCoopers to conduct an analysis of campus security procedures.

That audit was completed in the spring and officials are reviewing its findings, Gilmore said.

Contact Michelle Maitre at mmaitre@angnewspapers.com.