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Jan 11, 2008 8:36 pm US/Central
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Victim Helps Police Catch Thief Through Craigslist
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) ―
A theft victim helped Minneapolis Police arrest who
they believe is a major thief who has
been victimizing students at the University of Minnesota.
Sergei Dmitriev wasn't sure he'd ever see his stolen
laptop again, but one of his house mates thought Craigslist was worth a
try.
"I saw a Toshiba on Craigslist and called Sergei
and said is this yours? " said Steve Vuong.
Dmitriev was almost sure from the photos that the
blue Toshiba on Craigslist was his laptop, so he came up a plan with his
friends to get it back. He contacted the seller.
"I talked to him for a little bit,
trying to make it sound like I was just interested in buying it," said Dmitriev.
Dmitriev went to the seller's home just a block away
and discovered the serial numbers matched. He text messaged his roommates, who
called police.
"I started shaking a little, kind of
nervous, hoping the cops get there soon," Dmitriev said.
The suspect took off when police arrived, but he was
later arrested. Thanks
to Dmitriev and his friends, police were able to get a search warrant and found
more than 50 items in the suspect's apartment.
The laptops, watches, cell phones,
turntables, game systems and much more filled five tables at Minneapolis Police's
evidence warehouse.
"We wouldn't be here right now if it
weren't him, but at the same time it's not something that I would advise anyone
to do, to go and confront directly somebody who victimized them, " said Sgt. Tom Stiller.
Police have been able to connect the alleged thief, Daniel
Gonzalez, to at least three burglaries and five car break-ins around Dinkytown.
Investigators said the 39-year-old was using a fake name to rent a room at a
fraternity house and had a false identification saying he was 25.
"Just glad we got him off the streets,
because who knows what else he would've stolen," Dmitriev said.
Gonzalez has been charged with receiving and
concealing stolen goods. If convicted, he
faces up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Gonzalez has committed crimes in four other states
and used several aliases.
Investigators said they have connected about half of
the stolen goods to their owners. It will likely take several months to get the
items back to their owners since they're now part of the case against Gonzalez.
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