UCPD has recovered 39 computers stolen from Mulford Hall last week in a series of recent computer thefts on campus.
The computers were stolen in two separate incidents from the building, first on July 12 between 1 a.m. and 7:15 a.m. and then sometime between 3 p.m. on July 14 and 8 a.m. on July 15, for a loss of about $37,700.
UCPD Capt. Margo Bennett said police learned in their investigation of the stolen property that a computer matching the description of the Dell computer towers stolen from Mulford was being sold on an Internet sale site. Police identified two suspects through the sales posting — a UC Berkeley graduate student and a male unaffiliated with the campus.
Police received consent to search a home and vehicle, at which point they recovered 39 computers, which “constitutes most, if not all, of the Mulford computers,” according to Bennett.
According to the UCPD crime log from Thursday, the graduate student was identified as Esther Rojas-Soto, 22, who works in Mulford Hall. Bennett said Rojas-Soto was detained Thursday and then released the same night.
The other suspected individual is unaffiliated with UC Berkeley, according to Bennett.
In both burglaries, entry to the building was gained through breaking a glass window, but police did not know how the suspects were able to enter the locked rooms where the computers were housed.
Bennett said UCPD is still continuing its investigation.
A similar burglary took place recently at the Foothill Residence Hall library between 11:20 p.m. on July 10 and 2 p.m. on July 11, when 10 laptops were stolen from the library after suspects gained entry to the room through an unsecured screen in an open window on the south side of the building. In this incident, the burglary amounted to a loss of $4,000.
The Foothill break-in does not appear to be related to the burglaries at Mulford Hall, as the laptops have not yet been recovered.
The total number of burglaries on campus in 2011 was 36, according to Bennett. There have already been 32 burglaries so far this year. As a result of the recent increase, Bennett said UCPD is increasing patrols on campus.
Adelyn Baxter is the news editor.
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As someone who knows Esther personally, I can honestly say that there is no way in hell she would ever in a million years do something like this. She is a smart brilliant girl, she is sweet and shy and innocent, and she has no reason (financially or otherwise) to do something so low. Unfortunately, she had made friends with someone not knowing they were capable of doing something like this, but thankfully the guilty person has been arrested and Esther was released after questioning because she was innocent. This article is definitely slandering her name. They should post the name of the loser who is actually responsible for this, and leave Esther alone!
Fuck everyone of you ignorant idiots. Your UCPD detectives are a bunch of lying pigs who have no morals and don’t care WHO goes to jail, as long as someone ends up behind bars so that they look like they’re doing their jobs and that their fat guts can get even fatter. Esther Rojas-Soto has had nothing to do with this crime, the cops couldn’t prove it, the stupid daily californian is getting sued for slander and libel and defamation very soon for this. “The unaffiliated male” is the one charged with the crime and he’s going to jail. Esther Rojas-Soto’s only crime is knowing this “unaffiliated male.” Shut your cunt-holes and shut the fuck up about her. You all know about police injustices and how they will readily ruin anyone’s future to intimidate, they have only their own self-interest at heart, this could’ve easily happened to any of your mothers or sisters, it could’ve been easily one of your loved-ones. So shut the fuck up you ignorant, unethical, inconsiderate and disgusting excuses for human beings.
You’re defending a UC Berkeley Graduate student on UC Berkeley’s DailyCal. Don’t you think it would be somewhat beneficial for your own sake to ease off the swearing, particularly the C word you seem to enjoy using in your multiple alt accounts that you are no doubt using to vote up your hateful ignorant comments?
Have you ever considered that the people posting angry comments in defense of the girl being racially profiled might be her friends? Just stating.
By the looks of this article, there are a lot of people who go to Cal that would be considered useless by societal standards around the world.
I don’t understand what you mean by “racially profiled” however you, Patrick, and however many friend”s” this woman has, you might as well be her enem(y/”ies”). I have written nothing negative about her, nor taken any side in the issue, I only pointed out for the sake of humanity and positive dialogue that swearing profusely, particularly with vile hatefilled terms that I won’t even repeat, is not to the benefit of the person you claim to be defending. If you think you’re doing her a service, ask her if she wants her classmates to be talked to this way. There’s a difference between an “angry comment” and one that is simply hateful and derogatory.
These comments seem more fitting to be coming from an 14 year old boy trying to impress his friends with his knowledge of dirty words than that of a “Defender” of an innocent woman. Yelling at people and calling them names is never going to win them over, so don’t act like you care what people think or what decisions they’ve made because clearly you only want to vilify.
LOLFAG.
The idiocy of you people is astounding. I am not surprised that we leave in a world of hate. Don’t judge what you don’t know. Esther keep your head up; don’t listen to the ignorance of these masses. They have nothing better to do. Cops are all pigs.
All of you people posting comments about the suspected victim should first stop and think before you post your biased views. You have no idea how this person is and by looking at your racist and unethical comments its good that you don’t know her. You guys don’t deserve to know such a person . Please keep your negative comments to yourself as it is still not proven who has committed this crime and how it was done. God has given you a brain so PLEASE USE IT. Thanks.
Suspected victim? The only victim here is the UC Berkeley campus, which (apparently thanks to this woman’s complicity) lost its property.
Yet another sheep believes anything he’s told.
Misinformed is the new patriotic.
All you’re doing is making allusions to some secret sequence of events that you don’t reveal. Put up or shut up.
we can’t “put up” as directed by the fuckin’ UCPD because it’s still an on-going investigation. She had nothing to do with this, she just happened to know the people who did this, and apparently she was just a suspect for being a Cal student for a brief period and was released after her innocence was proved. This article is a lawsuit waiting to happen. You all are morons who sheepishly believe every shit your so-called media spoon-feeds down your throat. I pity this country made by morons and imbeciles such as yourselves. And to think you are our “educated” ones.. Stop wasting your money at UC Berkeley; you obviously haven’t learned a thing but obedience and blind faith. This is sad.
OK, so the UCPD has gagged you on the story? I don’t really have an opinion on her innocence or guilt, because (as you point out) I don’t know the whole story. But on the one hand there is an article in the Daily Cal which suggests that she is connected with the case, while on the other hand there are several comments abusing anyone who takes the article at face value, without offering any kind of counter to the narrative the article puts forth.
So again, I’m asking : what’s the real story? The UCPD cannot prevent you from telling it–only a duly constituted court can issue a gag order. Why are you being so coy?
And tell the truth : are there really multiple people posting to defend her, or just one person with an army of sock puppets?
The lot of you commenting cunt-rags are stupid assholes.
Those of you giving mexicans shit, need I remind you that people living in California (and in other places) abused a substantial amount of people (Mexican settlers and Native Americans) just so you can drive your shitty American cars and fellate each other at frat parties and talk shit about somebody you don’t know jack shit about.
On another note, this is why I hate the media. Some dumb-ass unemployment major needed a job so they hire these monkeys to falsely accuse people of stealing shit and get away with slander and publishing biased bullshit.
You people dont have nothing else to do but to talk nonsense. This girl is obesely innocent. And you guys will feeel stupid soon for saying anything.
Obesely innocent? Ha!
Are you saying she’s fat because she’s innocent or innocent because she’s fat?
A Freudian slip from her buddy over at Tolman Hall?
Esther has not been arrested or charged with any crime. The “unaffiliated person”, who was not named, is going to jail. I wonder at the wisdom of printing her name and as a result making all of you assume she committed a crime or is responsible for this theft. I am very grateful to the police for finding the computers.
America stole all of the Southwest from Mexico, and ya’ll are complaining about some computers? Pfft. She was just taking back what was hers.
Cool, then ads – since you like old time rules, you don’t mind if we punish the bitch with old time punishment. Lynching at 6pm folks.
Too bad Hitler didn’t deal with you.
And exactly where did Mexico get it from? I wonder which side of the line you would rather be “indigenous” on. U.S. side; casinos, golf courses, RV parks, tax-free stores. Mexican side: target practice
The beaner gangs already took back LA, and it sure shows. Tax base fleeing, pregnant sub-par IQs pouring in.
Noche Bueno!
Jesus Christ, sarcasm, man.
Judging from previous comments you’ve made, I’m reading this as sarcasm…
Her three kids must be so proud.
Kick the bitch out of school.
Great job UCPD! As for Esther Rojas-Soto, why was she released? Her google+ page has photos of Mexico so isn’t she a flight risk? She committed Grand Theft, which is a felony, right? Oh well, I hope she gets kicked out permanently.
On her Google Plus Profile Esther Rojas Soto lists her occupation as “What DON’T I do?” Considering the circumstances, that’s friggin’ classic.
Great work, UCPD! As always, your detectives are the best!
He probably tried selling them on craigslist and got caught.
Knew it had to be an inside job.
I’d like to offer thanks to the UCPD for a job well done.
A job well done? Don’t make me laugh. The so-called unaffiliated male called and gave himself up and the computers.. The only “job well done” the UCPD did on this case was moving their fat fingers to sign the papers, and then grab a donut.