FC: Top cop-turned-jewel-thief used police databases to plot crimes

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

[Forwarded from cyberia. Anyone want to suggest a revision to the 
sentencing guidelines? +9 for police using police databases to plot 
crimes... --DBM]

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http://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/26/national/26THEF.html
> CHICAGO, Oct. 25 — A former chief of detectives in the Chicago Police 
> Department pleaded guilty today in Federal District Court to charges of 
> running a sophisticated jewel-theft ring across several states for more 
> than a decade. William A. Hanhardt, 72, who by some accounts was once a 
> debonair top officer widely known for fighting crime, could face up to 25 
> years in prison, although he will probably be sentenced to up to 12 years 
> under federal guidelines. The detective, whose career with the Chicago 
> Police Department spanned 33 years, appeared in court today wearing an 
> orange prison jumpsuit.

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From: Sean Donelan <sean () DONELAN COM>
Subject:      Watching the watchers
Date:         Mon, 5 Nov 2001 20:06:08 -0500

A former chief of detectives in the Chicago Police Department pleaded
guilty today in Federal District Court to charges of running a
sophisticated jewel-theft ring across several states for more than a
decade.

http://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/26/national/26THEF.html

How did the detective find the people to rob?  He used law enforcement
computers and databases to get information about traveling jewelry
sales people.  Apparently he had access to car rental information.
I don't know if rental car companies regularly provide information
about renters to police, or if this level of information sharing
is unique to jewelry sales representatives.

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