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Teen admits to newspaper theft

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By Linda Cook | Monday, January 30, 2006 1:16 AM CST | () comments

A newcomer to Wilton, Iowa, confessed Sunday to taking about $10,000 in office equipment from the Wilton-Durant Advocate in Wilton, Iowa.

Assistant Wilton Police Chief Scott Layne said that his department has been investigating a Jan. 23 theft of computers, digital cameras, a printer, a bank bag, cash and items from the newspaper.

“The paper’s publishers put out a $500 reward for any tips leading to the arrest and/or conviction (of whoever took the items),” Layne said. “We’ve been following up a bunch of leads.” The publishers also offered a $500 reward for the safe return of two Macintosh computers.

One caller’s advice “turned out to be a good tip,” Layne said. “We watched (the suspect’s) place last night, did a trash pull at the home and found a lot of things that were taken from the Advocate.”

Layne subsequently interviewed Pedro E. Gines-Colon, 18, of Wilton, formerly of Puerto Rico, who confessed that he was selling the items. “We actually located some things in Wilton, West Liberty and Chicago,” Layne said.

Layne spoke with a man who had purchased some of the stolen property. “He’ll either show up (today) by 3 p.m. or we’ll issue a warrant for his arrest too. But I think he’ll show up,” Layne said.

Layne said that Gines-Colon, who has lived in Wilton for only five months, went to his apartment, where “he had hidden some things in the ceiling tile. He had one of the computers up there,” Layne said.

Gines-Colon was charged with third-degree burglary, and was being held on $13,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear this morning before a judge in the Muscatine County Courthouse.

The recovered items will be held until the outcome of the case has been determined, Layne said.

Layne said that Gines-Colon apparently entered the Advocate through a steel door in the alley that wasn’t always locked. “They’re using a deadbolt now,” Layne said.

Gines-Colon’s girlfriend is two months pregnant, so he needed the money, Gines-Colon told Layne. But Gines-Colon did have a job at Plasticraft Manufacturing, Layne said.

The city desk can be contacted at (563) 383-2245 or newsroom@qctimes.com.