Raymond Hamilton, wanted in university theft cases, arrested
Raymond Webster Hamilton, wanted for questioning in a pattern of recent wallet thefts at three university campuses, is in custody.
Hamilton, 26, of Denver, is a suspect wanted in connection with the theft of an iPad at the University of Colorado Boulder over the summer. He is also a person of interest in at least 23 cases of wallet and laptop thefts at CU-Boulder, CU Anschutz Medical Campus and the Colorado School of Mines.
State parole officers arrested Hamilton in Denver on Monday, Nov. 19, 2012. He declined to speak to a CU-Boulder police detective on scene. The investigation into the wallet and laptop thefts is ongoing. Hamilton was booked into the Denver County Downtown Detention Center on charges of providing false information to a pawn broker, three fugitive holds and a parole violation. He is being held without bond.
“We thank the media for their assistance in publicizing these cases, and we thank the public for their tips that led to this arrest,” said CU-Boulder Police spokesman Ryan Huff. “At the same time, we remind the campus community that they need to stay vigilant in protecting their valuable items.”
CU-Boulder police worked with Lakewood police to obtain an arrest warrant for Hamilton. He is not a CU student. The following is a chronology of recent thefts at the three universities:
- Hamilton pawned an iPad just hours after it was stolen from a CU-Boulder Visual Arts Complex office on July 25, 2012. As a result of that case, Hamilton had an active arrest warrant for pawning stolen property (a Class 6 felony) to a Lakewood pawn broker.
- On Oct. 17, 2012, someone stole five wallets and a laptop from CU-Boulder academic building offices and the University Memorial Center.
- On Oct. 19, 2012, someone stole three wallets from offices at the Colorado School of Mines. A CSM Police Department investigation determined that Hamilton is a person of interest in at least one of those cases.
- On Oct. 24, 2012, someone stole wallets and purses from 14 offices at CU Anschutz Medical Campus. Surveillance video of the suspect resembles Hamilton.
From Oct. 2 to Oct. 20, 2012, UCPD recorded 15 cases of a suspect or suspects stealing laptops and wallets from common areas or unlocked offices. For a Google Map with dates, locations and stolen items, see http://bit.ly/Oct2012CUthefts.
The CU Police Department reminds the campus community to keep lockers and offices secured when unattended. In common areas, such as dining facilities, libraries or the University Memorial Center, never leave laptops, mobile phones or other valuable items unattended – even if just stepping away for a few minutes. For more crime prevention tips, see http://police.colorado.edu/crime-prevention-and-safety.
To get updates on crime alerts and other public safety information, see UCPD’s social media pages at www.twitter.com/CUBoulderPolice and www.facebook.com/CUBoulderPolice.