A security software program on a stolen laptop computer captured a man giving the computer to his girlfriend as a gift after he allegedly stole it from a college dorm room in April, officials said today.
Christopher Hardrick, 22, was ordered held on $75,000 bail today by Cook County Circuit Court Judge Donald Panarese in connection with an April 3 burglary of a dorm room at the University of Illinois at Chicago, said Andy Conklin, a spokesman for the Cook County state's attorney's office.
Hardrick, of the 1600 block of East 50th Street, was on video giving the laptop to his girlfriend as a gift, Conklin said. A security software program tracked the laptop when it was used, he said.
In court today, prosecutors said photos of Hardrick and his girlfriend were also downloaded on the computer.
Hardrick is one of three men charged in a string of burglaries that occurred about 4 a.m. April 3 at the dorm located on the 900 block of West Harrison Street, Conklin said.
The suspects were also caught on video surveillance at the campus, said Bill Burton, spokesman for UIC. The tape also aided in their arrests, he said.
Burton could not confirm if the men were part of a group, but did say the burglaries happened on the same night.
Also charged were Jermont Jones, 20, of the 12400 block of South Meadow Lane in Blue Island, and Jaron Orr, 20, of the 5300 block of South Michigan Avenue. Both men were charged with four counts of burglary, Conklin said.
Jones pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two years probation. The case against Orr was still pending.
Hardrick's girlfriend returned the laptop to police, Conklin said.
