Make Some Noise!

Theft during veep visit linked to Iowa teens
ASSOCIATED PRESS


August 11, 2006


Two teenage boys face theft charges for allegedly possessing radios and other equipment belonging to a White House agency.

The 13 year old and 14 year old, both of Bettendorf, were charged with second-degree theft and were under juvenile court supervision, court officials said.

Court documents said the White House Communications Agency reported the items missing in July, less than a week before a visit by Vice President Dick Cheney.

Two radios were recovered from the 13 year old not far from his home on July 30. The teen, who told authorities he found the items, also provided officials with two earpiece/wrist microphone combinations, according to the documents.


Another handheld radio and seven earpiece/microphone attachments were found in the 14-year-old's bedroom the same day, court documents show.

It wasn't clear how the equipment, valued at $10,000, was stolen or where it was taken from.

Capt. Steve Brauer said the teens were charged only with possessing the equipment, not with taking it.


He said he could not explain why one of the affidavits says that the crime of theft was committed July 17, the day of the vice president's visit.


A Secret Service spokesman and an official from the White House Communications Agency both declined comment.

# posted by zazou @ 4:36 pm