November 05, 2016
Three advance staffers for presidential Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton had their laptops stolen while dining at a Northern Liberties restaurant Friday, officials said Saturday.
"According to the Philadelphia police commissioner, this appears to be a routine theft, and local law enforcement is handling the matter," Clinton campaign spokesperson Stephanie Formas said in a statement. "We have confidence they will resolve it."
Police said they responded to a "report of a theft" on the 100 block of Brown Street in Northern Liberties at 9:22 p.m. Four complainants told police that they parked their 2016 Buick Enclave around 8 p.m. and headed into a nearby restaurant.
When they returned to their car shortly after 9 p.m., they found that the back car window was broken and three of their backpacks that had their MacBook Pros and other personal items were taken.
Police said that the Secret Service and the Department of Homeland Security have become involved as a "standard procedure" since the laptops may have contained scheduling information related to the Clinton campaign.
The car was taken in by police for further processing.
Philadelphia Police spokesperson Tanya Little said that this was nothing more than a "random theft."
"This is a theft from auto and we don't want to make it more than what it is, which is a random theft," she said Saturday via email. "Individuals left bookbags visible in a car, and Unfortunately, this happens everyday in every neighborhood."
Clinton will be joined along with President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, former President Bill Clinton as well as Chelsea Clinton in Philadelphia Monday evening as she makes her final campaign appearance before Election Day.
