Computer Parts Worth $20,000 Are Stolen From Truck in Irvine

A vanload of bandits followed a delivery truck late Tuesday afternoon and heisted $20,000 worth of computer components from the rear of the vehicle as it idled at a red light in this city’s east end, police said.

About half a dozen men in a white Ford Aerostar minivan apparently tracked the delivery truck for perhaps an hour, waiting for an opportune time to cut the lock off the loading door, police said. They stole an unknown number of computer hard-drives being ferried to a warehouse, police said.

The truck was stopped for a traffic light at the intersection of Alton Parkway and Fairbanks when the bandits crept up behind it, according to Irvine Police Sgt. Brian Clifton.

“It was just a matter of seconds, really,” Clifton said. “It looks like these guys followed the delivery truck for maybe an hour until it got to a location where they felt they had the opportunity to pull this off.”

A second driver for the same delivery company was also stopped at the intersection and saw the bandits loading the computer equipment into their van, police said. He radioed the first driver and tried to follow the van, but it eluded him as they traveled eastbound on Irvine Boulevard, and no license plate information was taken down by witnesses, police said.

Several similar truck thefts have occurred in recent weeks in Irvine and South County, leading police to believe the crimes may be connected.

“Looks like somebody is trying to make a living at this,” Clifton said.