Thieves Overcome 2 Guards, Steal Computer Gear

Thieves overpowered two security guards at an Irvine financial services company early Saturday and methodically stole $100,000 worth of computer and office equipment from several floors.

“It was very well planned,” said Artur D. Perrone, vice chairman of the Geneva Corp. at 5 Park Plaza. “They were using dollies, and they apparently knew exactly what they wanted.”

The thieves, wearing ski masks and gloves, broke into the headquarters of the company at about 2:30 a.m., Irvine police spokesman Larry Montgomery said.

They overpowered one security guard in the lobby, binding his hands and feet with tape. They then went to the 16th floor, where they tied the second security guard.

The guards, who were not injured, told police that the thieves were unarmed.

After binding the guards, the thieves went to the 18th floor with dollies and began work. Montgomery said they took equipment from the building’s 1st, 4th, 16th and 18th floors.

Perrone called the break-in “professional” and estimated the losses at about $100,000.

Geneva Corp., which buys and sells other companies, specializes in the sale of medium-sized, privately held firms.

Initial Theory

Officials at first thought that the thieves might have been trying to steal information.

“That’s what we were thinking about at first,” Montgomery said. “But, we’re pretty sure now that they just wanted the equipment.”

The guards told investigators they heard the sound of a truck driving away from the building.

One of the guards freed himself and ran across the street to a hotel, from which he called police.