University Police have arrested and charged two individuals for their alleged involvement in separate laptop thefts in the fall.
A student left his laptop unattended while at an event at the Nyumburu Cultural Center on Nov. 16, said University Police spokesman Sgt. Aaron Davis. When he returned an hour later, the laptop was gone, the student told police. Detectives were able to identify Michael Vasquez Dominguez, 20, of Greenbelt as a suspect, Davis said. Dominguez denied involvement in the theft, even when presented with incriminating evidence, Davis added.
Police arrested Dominguez and charged him with theft between $1,000 and $10,000 Feb. 18. The crime carries a maximum sentence of 10 years. Dominguez was previously charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, according to court records.
On Dec. 3, between 9:30 a.m. and 2:15 p.m., a student left her Kent Hall room door unlocked, and when she returned, two laptops were missing from the room. After an investigation, police identified Jose Del-Carmen Majano, 38, of Washington as a suspect, Davis said.
During an interrogation, Majano was unable to explain how he came into possession of the laptop, and was arrested and charged with two counts of theft of less than $1,000, each of which carries a maximum 18-month sentence.
In the first case, the laptop was not recovered, and in the second case, only one laptop was returned, Davis said.
Students should avoid leaving personal property unattended to prevent theft, he added.
“If you make it hard for these people, it’s not going to be appealing,” he said. “It doesn’t take very long for someone to get into your residence and take property.”
newsumdbk@gmail.com
