COMPUTER THEFT HAS MOUNTIES ON ALERT

A couple of thieves broke into an RCMP officer's house on New Year's Eve
and made off with a laptop computer that may have contained sensitive files
on high-level drug investigations.

While police doubt the bandits had any idea what they were stealing, an
intense search is on to recover the laptop before the information gets into
the wrong hands.

"Any time RCMP property is stolen it's a concern," RCMP spokesman Sgt.
Steve Saunders said yesterday. "This is no different."

The officer in question is a member of the Proceeds of Crime Unit, whose
task is to investigate how drug dealers and other criminals launder money.
Police did not release the officer's name.

The incident began when the officer's van was stolen while he was at
Winnipeg Arena watching a Manitoba Moose hockey game with his family.

Police said the suspects roamed the parking lot, broke into the officer's
van, discovered his address on the vehicle registration and then drove to
his home.

Once there, they made off with thousands of dollars in personal property,
including jewelry, entertainment equipment and the computer.

A few days later, Winnipeg police found the stolen van and two suspects
have since been arrested. But the stolen property -- including the laptop
- -- was nowhere to be found.

Police say it is unlikely the suspects' goal was to access the information
on the officer's computer.

"It's not an unusual situation. They know the person is at the event for a
specific period of time."

Saunders provided few details into the nature of the information on the
computer.

RCMP are conducting an internal investigation to determine if the veteran
Mountie broke any rules, Saunders said.