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Center City Laptop Thief Nabbed

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May 5, 2009 11:02 pm US/Eastern

Center City Laptop Thief Nabbed

Reporting
Walt Hunter

PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―

Click to enlarge 1 of 1: The same qualities that make us love our laptops, make them tempting targets for thieves.
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The same qualities that make us love our laptops, make them tempting targets for thieves.

Philadelphia police say no one was better at it than Evin Williams who, in just one month, is accused of stealing dozens of laptops from seemingly secure Center City offices.

"He was pretty smart on how he got in on some of them," said Lt. Rich Brown.

Police said Williams had a clever way of getting past security in high rise buildings along Market Street – talking on his cell phone.

Surveillance photos show Williams holding a cell phone to his face, pretending to be deep in conversation, as he signed in at security desks.

"Most people don't want to interrupt anybody when they are on their cell phone. He would then go to the elevator, and instead of going to the 16th floor, he would go to another floor. Then he would grab some laptops," said Lt. Brown.

Williams has been arrested 23 times before, the most recent allegedly beginning one day after he got out of prison.

Police credit the crime alert system, Alert Philadelphia, run by the Center City district with helping crack this case.

Alert Philadelphia Director, Stacy Irving posted pictures online of the suspect to warn Center City businesses. A security guard allegedly spotted a picture of Williams and called the cops.

"We send the information out as quickly as possible. The police provide the critical information and the people can act on it," said Irving.

Williams is the 5th suspect caught with help from Alert Philadelphia.

Detectives think Williams may have stolen many more laptops.

If you want additional information on Alert Philadelphia for your center city business,contact Stacy Irving,Senior Director,Center City District at sirving@centercityphila.org.

Also,if your laptop has been stolen,or is missing,from a center city office between April 1 and May 4,central detectives want you to contact them immediately at 215-686-3048.

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