Man arrested in UC Berkeley computer theft

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Sep 16, 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 have no evidence of identity theft or credit card fraud.

A review of the laptop by the Silicon Valley Regional Computer Forensic Laboratory found that the university's original files had been erased and overwritten 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 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 along a circuitous route as it apparently changed hands several times.

Police said the woman sold the laptop in April to Alburati, who posted it for sale April 19 on online auction site eBay. He told officials he typically wipes old computers of data or installs new operating systems before posting them for sale.

A South Carolina man bought the computer April 22 and installed a new operating system, which is common after buying a used computer. That man is not suspected of any crime.

University police recovered the computer in June with the help of police in South Carolina.

The laptop contained Social Security numbers and other personal information on UC Berkeley alumni, graduate students and past applicants, including some dating back to 1976.

The theft prompted Chancellor Robert Birgeneau to hire outside auditors PricewaterhouseCoopers to analyze of campus security procedures. The audit was completed in the spring and officials are reviewing its findings, Gilmore said.

Contact Michelle Maitre at mmaitre@dailyreviewonline.com.