MISSION HILLS : Feud Over Stolen Computer Ends

A bitter feud between William McLean, a 56-year-old pet sitter from Sherman Oaks, and a computer store owner came to an end on Thanksgiving eve--after three days of public protests by McLean, who accused the store’s owner of knowingly selling stolen computer equipment.

McLean said his computer and printer, worth more than $1,000, were stolen from his home last May by a relative, who sold it to the New and Used Computer Store in Mission Hills. McLean said he reported the theft to the Van Nuys Division of the Los Angeles Police Department immediately.

While McLean gave police the name of the relative he suspected, and though police knew who bought and who sold the computer, McLean didn’t retrieve any of his stolen equipment until last week, when detectives called him and told him they had found his computer, sans printer.

Computer store owner Darryl LaBate said he followed proper procedure in checking on the second-hand equipment with the Police Department and waiting 30 days before selling it. He added that McLean wrongfully accused him and detracted from his business by carrying out a three-day protest in front of the store with a 2-by-2-foot sign that read: “Store Sells STOLEN Computer.”

LaBate said there was little he could have done to help McLean get his computer back any sooner.

“Mr. McLean has accused us without talking to us about what we can do--he’s assumed we’re at fault, that we’re guilty, but it’s not true,” LaBate said. “When we ran the serial number, it didn’t come up as stolen.”

LaBate said that was because McLean either did not file a report about the theft or did not include the serial number of the computer equipment on the police report.

McLean said he had owned the computer and printer less than one week when it was stolen, and didn’t have a chance to jot down the serial number.

LaBate said that in cases like McLean’s, the owners of stolen computers aren’t the only party that loses.

“We’re out $1,000 too,” LaBate said, and added that the store must now sue the person who sold the store the computer. McLean said he doubts he would be in possession of his computer now if he hadn’t carried out his quiet, card-toting protest, which attracted the attention of motorists and pedestrians on Sepulveda Boulevard.