Burglary Like Chip Off Old Block Firm’s Computers Taken For Third Time This Summer

Maybe the third time will be the charm.

The Farm Bureau Insurance Co. hopes so.

Sometime between Monday night and Tuesday morning, burglars made off with $19,000 worth of computers and a copy machine, according to a Kootenai County sheriff’s report.

It is the third time this summer the company has lost nearly all of its office computers to theft.

Frustrated and tired of buying new computers just to watch them disappear, employees there hope that this time will be the last.

Authorities believe the crime was committed by the same person or group of people who stole computers from at least five other businesses earlier this summer, said sheriff’s Detective Neal Robertson.

From May to June, 20 computers were stolen from Kootenai County businesses. The Farm Bureau Insurance Co. on Government Way first was burglarized in mid-May, losing six computers. Another five computers were taken from the business in June.

In most of the cases, the burglars broke in through a window in a door and then made a quick getaway, taking only computers and computer-related equipment.

The insurance company tried to install security measures, said John Astorquia, associate manager.

They put bars over their doors and employed a security company to patrol the area. They even put deadbolts on all of the inside office doors, he said.

But earlier this week, the burglars came back, breaking in through a window and busting through six different bolted doors to get to the computers.

They made off with part or all of five computer systems - monitors, processors and printers.

So far, investigators have not been able to catch the culprits.

“I do have some evidence that we’re still processing and a couple of people of interest,” Robertson said.

However, not one of the computers taken this summer has turned up.

“Somebody said today that in California they rent rattlesnakes and throw them in the business” for a security system, Astorquia said.

“God, that would be great.”

The insurance company isn’t actually considering the snake approach, Astorquia assured.

However, they will install a security system.

“Hopefully, this is it,” Astorquia said.

“I guess we’ll just have to batten down the hatches a little more.”

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: TIPS The sheriff’s department asks that anyone with information regarding the burglaries call (208) 664-1511.