Auburn city police have recovered a laptop computer stolen from the Booker T. Washington Center and charged a 16-year-old girl with the misdemeanor related to the laptop's theft.

Police allege the girl tried to sell the computer at the Auburn Trading Post at 24 McMaster St., Auburn, on both Wednesday and Thursday.

An employee recognized the computer as one he had worked with at the Chapman Avenue, Auburn, community center and contacted authorities Thursday.

The girl is being charged with the misdemeanor of fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property and is not being named because of her age and the level of the offense. She was released on an Auburn City Court appearance ticket.

The laptop held personal information of people who applied for Family Health Plus or Child Health Plus at several locations in Cayuga County, but police do not believe identity theft or other fraud was committed.

“We don't think it was breached at this point,” detective Tom Berger said.

Police are still investigating who broke into the Booker T. Washington Center office and stole the laptop sometime overnight between Tuesday and Wednesday. The office was forcibly broken into, but no exterior entry was forced open, police said.

The misdemeanor charge the girl faces only relates to her alleged possession of the laptop for the last two days.

Police said the girl was carrying the laptop when she returned home Thursday afternoon, shortly after police had arrived to question her.

Anyone with information about the computer theft is asked to call Berger at 255-4702.

Staff writer Amaris Elliott-Engel can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or at amaris.elliot-engel@lee.net