FBI Investigating Disappearance of Qualcomm Chief’s Laptop Computer

Authorities tried Monday to determine whether the suspicious disappearance of a laptop computer belonging to the chief executive of Qualcomm Inc. was a simple case of thievery or an act of economic espionage.

Laptops, because of their value and small size, are frequent and obvious targets for theft, but the disappearance of a computer belonging to Irwin Jacobs from a hotel conference room in Irvine instantly became a top priority for local authorities, police Lt. Sam Allevato said.

The FBI has begun an investigation at the request of Qualcomm executives, said Cheryl Mimura, a spokeswoman for the bureau’s Los Angeles office.

Qualcomm declined to comment on the investigation.

The San Diego-based company, a leader in wireless technology, designs and produces chips for wireless communications devices.

Jacobs left the computer unattended on a podium or an adjoining table in the Hyatt Regency-Irvine ballroom Saturday for 15 to 20 minutes when he stepped down to talk to a small group of people after addressing about 90 members of the Society of American Business Editors and Writers.

Jacobs told people at the conference that the IBM laptop, which he had used for a slide-show-type presentation focusing on Qualcomm’s wireless telecommunications technology, contained proprietary information that could be valuable to foreign governments.