County Loses $20,000 in Computer Gear, Cash : Crime: Burglary at clerk-recorder’s office is third such break-in in past five months. Officials say no sign of forced entries indicates all the thefts could be inside jobs.

About $20,000 in cash and computer equipment was stolen from the Orange County clerk-recorder’s office this weekend--the third time in less than five months the building has been burglarized.

Authorities said Wednesday there were no signs of forced entry in the building during any of the burglaries and investigators suspect the thefts could be inside jobs.

“Whoever was here knew exactly what they were after and where things were; there was no guesswork,” said Clerk-Recorder Gary L. Granville. “It’s terribly demoralizing. I feel certain that I must have laid eyes on this person, but I couldn’t tell you who it is.”

Orange County Sheriff’s Lt. Ron Wilkerson said the theft was discovered Monday morning when employees of the clerk-recorder’s office returned to work.

Authorities said the haul included five computers worth $2,700 each, one laser printer valued at $850, a safe with $600 in cash and other equipment. In addition, about $27,000 worth of checks payable to the county were stolen. Granville said said the checks are worthless to the thief and the county will be able to seek replacements.

The theft should not affect the office’s ability to deliver services to county residents, Granville said. The office is responsible for maintaining a variety of county records from marriage licenses to real-estate documents.

Granville said he believes somebody with a key to the office is responsible for the burglary, but he doesn’t suspect his staff.

“So many people have access to this building,” he said. “There are construction workers, maintenance workers and other departments here.”

Wilkerson said it is possible the theft was done by a person with access to the building, but he added there are a number of other explanations, such as an unlocked door or a person skilled at picking locks.

Wilkerson many similarities exist between the latest burglary and ones in June and August at the same building, located at 12 Civic Center Drive.

In all three incidents, the crime occurred over the weekend, computer equipment was stolen and there were no indications of a forced entry.

Although the August burglary occurred in the clerk-recorder’s offices, the victims were county consultants--Arthur Andersen and KPMG Peat Marwick--who lost about $5,500 worth of equipment, authorities said. About $20,000 worth of computer equipment was stolen in June.

Granville said he ordered the locks changed after the first burglary and is doing so again. He also plans to install more locks to secure office valuables.

“You hate to see this. It is very disheartening,” Granville said. “This is all public property. This is all taxpayer money.”

Orange County Supervisor William G. Steiner agreed.

“It adds insult to injury in a county reeling from a bankruptcy,” Steiner said. “It’s kind of robbing someone who just lost his job.”