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“Mission Impossible Burglar” Arrested in Laptop Heist

A 50-year-old probationer who dubbed himself the "Mission Impossible Burglar" was arrested on suspicion of burglarizing a computer store in Huntington Beach, police said Friday.

Steven Jay Krueger was arrested about 8 p.m. Thursday in connection with the May 2013 burglary, during which laptop computers worth more than $200,000 were stolen, Huntington Beach Police Lt. Kent Ferrin told NBC4.

A news release by the Huntington Beach Police Department said the thefts totaled $100,000, but Ferrin said the amount was $200,000.

None of the computers have been recovered, police said.

Krueger apparently boasted of his prowess in stealing high-end electronics in a series of videos posted to YouTube and referred to himself as the "Mission Impossible Burglar" on his Facebook account, police said.

"He is a sophisticated burglar who is known as a meticulous planner and uses specialized tools, often to gain entry through the roof, lowering himself into the location and bypassing alarm systems and other security devices," according to a police statement.

Krueger described how to commit a high-tech burglary in a 2006 TV documentary.

In the video, he emphasized that "preparation is key to sucess of the mission" and admitted to serving prison time in the past.

"I got eight years and $32,000 fine and lost my family," Krueger said in the documentary.

Because of Krueger's previous arrests, his DNA was in the system, which connected him to evidence found at the Huntington Beach computer store. 

"There was a roof job involved in the MacMall theft where the laptop computers were stolen," Ferrin said. "The alarm system was defeated…very similar to Mr. Krueger's series, and in that series he described how he would enter the location through the roof that he would defeat the high end alarm systems and that he targeted laptop computers or technology, high end technology."

His arrest came after an investigation by several law enforcement agencies, including the Anaheim Police Department and Los Angeles County Probation Department's Special Enforcement Operations Unit, police said.

"A Pomona Police Department patrol officer actually stopped Krueger while he was riding his bicycle, after being briefed regarding the circumstances of the case," according to the statement.

Krueger, who was booked on suspicion of commercial burglary and a probation violation, was jailed in Huntington Beach awaiting transfer to the Orange County Jail, police said.

Kate Larsen contributed to this report.
 

Copyright CNS - City News Service
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