Seattle police confiscate laptops in stolen-property investigation

Seattle Police say they have confiscated hundreds of laptops and other electronic equipment from a South Seattle computer-parts business suspected of dealing in stolen items.

It began Wednesday when a patrol officer in South Seattle pulled over a vehicle with "known burglary suspects" and some electronics, police said. According to police, one of the occupants told detectives he and others routinely sold stolen laptops to a computer-parts business in the 7600 block of Rainier Avenue South.

Police said they went looking for one stolen laptop at the business and, upon finding hundreds of laptops, ran the serial numbers or owner-applied numbers on 10 and discovered that seven had been reported stolen.

Police said more than 600 laptops and hundreds of electronic products, including digital cameras, cellphones and iPods, were confiscated from the business as well as from the owner's home and a storage unit. Police did not release the owner's name or that of the business.

They said they will sort through the items over the next several days to determine which were reported stolen. They ask that people wait at least a week before calling to find out if any of their stolen items were recovered.

Amy Martinez: 206-464-2923 or amartinez@seattletimes.com