-Caveat Lector- >From http://Leviathan.weblogs.com http://www.edinburghnews.com/news.cfm?id=EN0102cccc University computer thefts hit �1 million EDINBURGH University has been targeted again by computer thieves taking the value of equipment stolen in the last nine months to over �1 million. Police revealed today fresh raids at the weekend on Edinburgh and Heriot Watt university premises netted boards and chips worth over �110,000. In the latest robberies computer equipment worth more than �100,000 was stolen from the Royal Observatory on Blackford Hill. On the same night computers worth �12,000 were stolen from Heriot-Watt University. Police believe the thefts are being orchestrated by a gang who steal them to order for clients in the Middle East. Police insiders believe that the parts could be shipped to Iraq for use in hi-tech weapons programmes. The raids follow the theft of more than �900,000 worth of computer parts in two other raids on Edinburgh University last year. In all four raids, which police believe are linked, Sun brand computer parts were stolen. The latest break-in happened on Friday when computer parts worth �100,000 were stolen from a university lab at the Royal Observatory. The thieves broke windows to gain entry to the lab and fled with the equipment after being disturbed by a staff member. On the same night thieves raided a lab at Heriot-Watt University at Riccarton, stealing equipment worth �12,000. Computer equipment worth about �400,000 pounds was stolen from Edinburgh University in September. The thieves threatened a security guard before breaking into the James Clark Maxwell building, part of the Kings Buildings complex. Computer equipment worth �500,000 was stolen from the same building in May, when several men burst in and threatened a security guard. Universities and research institutes in Dundee, London and Essex have also been targeted. A police spokesman said: �There is an organised gang at work which is stealing these computer parts to order. �Obviously, we are looking at connections to two previous break-ins to the Kings Buildings last year where �900,000 worth of Sun computer equipment was stolen.� �A report has been prepared for the procurator fiscal�s office naming those we believe were responsible for the King�s Building raid in September, although they are still at liberty.� A highly-organised gang based in London are believed to be behind the raids. One potential customer for the high-specification servers is Iraq, which can�t buy replacement parts because of the worldwide trade embargo in place since the Gulf War. A police source close to the inquiry told the Evening News after the September raid: �There are strong links to a London team who knew exactly what they are looking for and are stealing to order. �The feeling is the boards are shipped to a third world country and then on to Iraq.� Reports linking the raids to East European mafia gangs have now been ruled out. Police are appealing for witnesses after the latest raids at Blackford Hill and Heriot-Watt. In the first incident The Royal Observatory at Blackford Hill was broken into at about 3.20am on Friday, 9 February. The suspect is described as white, 18 to 24 years, 5ft 10ins tall, pale skinned, slim to medium build, with short cropped dark hair. He was wearing a dark-coloured fleece jacket. In the next incident the Computer and Engineering Department at Heriot-Watt University, Riccarton Campus was broken into in the early hours of the same morning. A police spokesman said: �We are appealing for witnesses to both break-ins. We are especially keen to speak to anyone who heard or saw anything suspicious at either The Royal Observatory or at Riccarton Campus early on Friday morning. �It is likely that the thieves would have needed some sort of vehicle to take the computers and parts away.� Targeted A Edinburgh University spokeswoman said the latest thefts were now in the hands of police. She added: �We can confirm that an incident took place when some computer equipment was stolen. �We are constantly reviewing our security arrangements and we do not believe there is any problem with our security.� Anyone with information on The Royal Observatory break-in is asked to contact Howdenhall Police Station on 0131-666-2222. Anyone with information on the Riccarton campus break-in is asked to contact Wester Hailes Police Station on 0131-442-2626. The latest thefts of Sun Microsystems computer equipment follow similar raids at universities across Britain. In most cases highly complex computer mother boards have been targeted, but chips, monitors and other computer equipment has been stolen. First to be hit was Essex University in March of last year. Weeks later Bradford University was the next institution to be targeted. Dundee University and Northern College, also in Dundee, were targeted in May. In these raids �150,000 worth of equipment was stolen. The first raid at Edinburgh University in May was one of the largest computer chip thefts in Scotland, with a �500,000 haul. In September the same building was hit again, this time computer equipment worth �400,000 was taken. Vital computer systems were taken including high-end specification servers made by Sun Microsystems, which have the potential and power to be used in weapons simulators or in missile guidance systems. Monday, 12th February 2001 <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. 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