Stolen Sprint equipment could be used worldwide

Karen Zekan

Tuesday, Jan. 5, 1999 | 11:10 a.m.

Computer hardware stolen during a weekend heist at Sprint telephone company's central office include components that could be used to create a phone system anywhere in the world, authorities said.

And with the robbers still at large, Metro Police and FBI agents trying to pick up their trail are curious about who might be in the market to buy such items.

Detra Page, spokeswoman for Sprint, said the computer components are expensive and typically made available by distributors directly to telephone companies. For safety reasons, Sprint has declined to release the value of the stolen equipment.

"The (loss) was a substantial amount," Page said. The equipment was taken about 8 a.m. Sunday from the central office on Spring Mountain Road west of Jones Boulevard.

The office, one of 14 Sprint operates in Las Vegas, handles 29 of the southwest valley's prefixes.

Investigators believe as many as five people may have been involved in the heist that left three people working at the facility bound with rope and duct tape, beaten, and repeatedly shot with stun guns.

Officer Steve Meriwether, Metro spokesman, said the robbers unsuccessfully tried cutting through the office's rear door with a blow torch, then headed to the front and knocked on the door.

At least two suspects forced their way in, armed with handguns and stun guns, when a worker opened the door slightly. After beating and repeatedly stunning the victims, one of the robbers kept an eye on the victims as another began ripping equipment out of consoles.

More than 75,000 customers from Sunset Road to Oakey Boulevard and Hualapai Way to Interstate 15 immediately lost telephone service before the robbers fled. Lt. John Alamshaw estimated that the robbers spent less than 20 minutes on the property, which is surrounded by a block wall topped with barbed wire.

One of the victims was able to get away, running to a nearby 7-Eleven and contacting police, Alamshaw said.

Two of the three victims -- a Sprint employee and a contractor -- were treated for their injuries at University Medical Center and released by 4 p.m. Page said the third victim, also a Sprint employee, did not require medical attention.

"They were clearly professionals who understand the phone industry," Page said. "The telephone equipment that was stolen is high technology that is not of any use to the average citizen. It is only of use to a company providing a central office."

Page said the investigation had uncovered no disgruntled or ill-motivated employees who would want to steal from the company.