ALTAMONT — The Altamont Police Department used high-tech methods to track down five laptop computers stolen from Altamont Elementary School.

On Tuesday, the police department announced the arrest of three school-age children for burglary and criminal possession of stolen property. On Sunday, Dec. 18, the Altamont police executed a search warrant at a home in Guilderland with the help of the Guilderland Police department. Property was recovered, said Public Safety Commissioner Anthony Salerno. He would not release the names of the three. They were juveniles—under 15—at the time of the crime, Salerno said.

The case has been referred to the Albany County Family Court, Salerno said.

According to Salerno, the juveniles stole five laptops from the elementary school in August.
"They entered unlawfully. It was night," Salerno said. However, he said, "There was no forced entry."

The trio then sold the computers, Salerno said.

The police department was able to locate the computers using information subpoenaed from the manufacturer, Salerno said. When software updates were downloaded from the manufacturer, Salerno said, it triggered a security alert. The manufacturer keeps a database of the serial numbers of the computers it makes and the updates that have been downloaded for them, along with when and from where, Salerno said.
When asked if this sort of investigation is common for the tiny Altamont Police Department, Salerno said, "Under my administration, it is." Salerno took the top cop post this summer.

Salerno didn’t know the juveniles’ motive for stealing the computers.
"That’s a good question," he said. "I know they’ll never do it again."

Altamont Elementary Principal Peter Brabant referred questions to Guilderland School District Superintendent Gregory Aidala.

Aidala said the district has taken extra steps to make sure that a theft like this doesn’t happen again.
"It was an issue for us to make sure the building was secure at all times," Aidala said. The computers were all taken from the same location in the school, he said.

Though he said he didn’t know how the thieves got in, whenever something is stolen, the district examines its security procedures to see what has been overlooked, he said. For example, Aidala said, janitors should be checking school buildings in the summer to make sure every door is completely closed and locked.

Aidala commended Salerno and district technology specialist Joe Lorenzo for helping track down the computers.
"We’re very pleased to get the computers back," Aidala said.
Aidala would not say if the thieves were students in the district. In general, though, Aidala said, if students are caught stealing equipment, "The consequences generally take the form of a suspension as well as the district pursuing criminal proceedings."