Tracking software on stolen computer leads cops to thief

A briefcase grab early Wednesday morning from the Four Points Sheraton Hotel pretty much solved itself.

A male guest called police to tell them that his case was snatched from the floor next to him as he was registering at about 1 a.m. Wednesday.

No one was seen taking the briefcase from the hotel in the 5100 block of Hopyard Road, but the victim provided a description of two black female adults who disappeared at the same time his case went missing.

The victim provided a detailed description of the suspects to officers, but that was probably unnecessary, thanks to several Apple products inside the briefcase that had tracking software.

“Officers were able to bring the devices up via the Internet and began tracking their location,” said Pleasanton Lt. Jim Knox in a news release. “Ultimately, the devices stopped moving at an address in Hunters Point in San Francisco.”

Pleasanton police officers contacted their counterparts in San Francisco and coordinated their response to the location of the briefcase and provided a description of the suspect.

The San Francisco Police Department dispatched several units and located the suspect, 27-year-old San Francisco resident Petesa Ufau, in a vehicle.

A computer with the victim’s name on it was in plain view, and all of the victim’s property was recovered.

Pleasanton police took Ufau into custody in San Francisco, and she gave a full statement, admitting to the theft.

The investigation is ongoing and Pleasanton police are working on identifying the second suspect.