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- 30 Arrests In Silicon Valley Computer Parts Sting 01/13/93
- SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 JAN 13 (NB) -- The
- computer and software industries are a high source of revenue
- for California. But they also afford a good income for the
- criminal elements. An undercover investigation into stolen computer
- parts by local and federal authorities and the FBI in Silicon Valley
- has resulted in 30 arrests, according to a published report.
-
- UPI reports the operation resulted in the recovery of more than $3.6
- million in cash and stolen property and was the result of a 4.5-month
- investigation called "Operation Gray Chip." A total of $2.1
- million was recovered in cash and another $1.55 million in
- stolen high-tech equipment, the report says.
-
- UPI quotes Santa Clara Police Sgt. Mark Kerby as saying: "The
- trade in stolen computer parts is one of the largest crime
- problems in the Silicon Valley. So I'd say we just scratched the
- surface. But hopefully the publicity this case will receive
- will serve as a warning."
-
- Various locations, from parking lots to restaurants, were used
- to stage the stings. The arrests occurred after cash changed
- hands. The largest transaction involved $250,000 in exchange
- for 5, 000 Intel computer parts.
-
- In December of 1991, Newsbytes reported that The Acer
- Group had $250,000-worth of Acer 386 notebook computers
- stolen on the way to the company's San Jose, California,
- factory.
-
- In February of 1992, Newsbytes reported that PC Force,
- a computer retailer in California's City of Industry was one of
- 20 to 30 Los Angeles area businesses hit by a RAM memory thief.
- In that instance, a man came into the store on the Martin Luther
-
-