Authorities seek help in burglary probe

DES MOINES – Iowa State Patrol officials are asking for the public's help in identifying two people believed to have information about a car burglary that resulted in the theft of state property that potentially could put the personal information of more than 3,000 Iowans at risk.

Investigators at the Iowa Department of Public Safety on Wednesday issued descriptions and photographs taken of two people caught on surveillance video at an Urbandale convenience store where “credit card activity” occurred involving items believed to have been taken when two vehicles were burglarized in a parking ramp located near the Iowa Capitol and the office building that houses the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.

Authorities say the two people estimated to be aged in their mid to late 20s are believed to have information on the car burglary.

Descriptions for a white female with blond hair between 5-feet-6 and 5-feet-8 inches tall and weighing 120-130 pounds and a white male with short dark hair who is about 6-feet to 6-feet-2 inches tall and weighs 180-200 pounds were issued Wednesday with instructions for anyone with information about them or the car burglaries to call Polk County Crime Stoppers at 515-223-1400. Crime Stoppers will offer a reward up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest of any involved parties, officials said.

Last week Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey reported a computer and protective case was stolen from a locked state vehicle of an IDALS employee – a theft that has placed at risk the personal information of Iowans that are participating in the department's Horse and Dog Breeding Program. The department provides financial awards through the program to breeders of successful Iowa-born racing greyhounds and racehorses at the close of each racing season, he said.

The state vehicle used by an employee of the Department's Horse and Dog Breeding Program was broken into Thursday at a state parking ramp located near the Iowa Capitol and the Wallace State Office Building that houses the agricultural department. While the computer did have an encryption protection, Northey said there was concern that unauthorized access could be gained to the names, addresses, telephone numbers and Social Security numbers of 3,404 Iowans who participate in the Iowa Horse and Dog Breeding Program.

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rod.boshart@gazcomm.com