Witness foils computer theft

Talk about it

An observant student might have made it a whole lot easier for sheriff’s deputies to track down a computer stolen from Dakota County Technical College.

The student was studying at the school when he noticed a man walking out with a black case. The man, later identified as Daniel Harold Mittelstadt, 34, of St. Paul, set the case down and went to get his car. When he did, the witness looked into the case and saw a computer that looked like it belonged in the school’s computer lab.

The witness watched Mittelstadt drive away with the computer and wrote down his license plate. Sheriff’s deputies found a stocking cap Mittelstadt had been wearing as well as a soda bottle he’d left in the computer lab. DNA analysis connected both items to Mittelstadt.

If convicted on a felony theft charge Mittelstadt could face up to five years in jail and fines of up to $10,000.

A business partnership gone bad

Talk about a business partnership going bad.

The Dakota County Attorney’s office has filed felony theft and identity theft charges against Kanan Mohammed Talal Mustafa, 31, of Burnsville, for reportedly writing more than $23,000 worth of checks on his former business partner’s account.

Mustafa’s former partner learned of the problem last February when his bank told him his line of credit was overdrawn. Mustafa and the victim tried to open a business together in June of 2007 but ultimately decided against it.

According to a complaint filed in the Dakota County Attorney’s office Mustafa admitted taking the money because of a gambling problem.

If convicted on a theft by check charge Mustafa could face up to 10 years in jail and fines of up to $20,000. An identification theft charge carries the same potential penalty.

Tags: news, stolen, dctc, computer, recovered