by Timothy Rutt
Sheriff's deputies using a tracking program on a stolen computer not only turned up the computer, but an illegal assault rifle, a handgun, and several missing iPhones at the home of an Altadena man, says the sheriff's department.
Capt. Mike Parker of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said that Raymond Jackson, 57, of Altadena, was charged today (Feb. 24) by the district attorney with one count of possessing a banned assault rifle, being an ex-convict in possession of a gun, and one count of receiving stolen property.
Sheriff's deputies arrested Jackson on Jan. 12, and served a warrant on his Altadena home which turned up the stolen laptop and six iPhones. Also found was a legally-banned unregistered SKS assault rifle with two loaded 30 round magazines duct-taped together, and a .32 revolver with the serial number scratched off, Parker said.
Pictured: sheriffs say the assault rifle, revolver, and duct-taped magazine were recovered in Raymond Jackson's home on Jan. 12, 2012.
According to Parker, the story started when a home burglary in Altadena was reported on May 9, 2011. Taken in the burglary was a coin collection, several personal items, and the laptop, which was equipped with Lojack for Laptops theft recovery software.
Parker said that the owner notified the monitoring company, which would record the computer's keystrokes and make screen captures, including photos. The company turned in its information by the end of November 2011, to Sheriff Det. David Gaisford, who traced it to Jackson.
Two of the iPhones have been confirmed as missing from businesses in Los Angeles and Simi Valley. Parker said that they were tracked to their owners, who said the phones had been taken from desks, but had not reported the thefts. Deputies are looking for the owners of the other iPhones.
Jackson was released on $50,000 bail the day of his arrest, Parker said. His next court date is March 12.
UPDATE: A press release from the sheriff's department has the following quote: “The use of tracking software for one crime, led to the solving of multiple crimes,” said Detective Gaisford. “My partner and I have recovered several laptops over the last year alone through laptop tracking. They often lead us to property stolen in other crimes.”
Two full magazines, duct-taped together.
An example message from the Lojack for Laptops program.
