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NORFOLK, Va. – A former security guard employed at a city office in Norfolk is set to enter a guilty plea next month, acknowledging his involvement in a high-value theft of electronic devices. The alleged scheme, estimated to total around $600,000, targeted devices stored within a city building.
Details of the Theft and Confession
According to court records, Anthony Stateman, 37, from Portsmouth, was working as a full-time security guard at the Norfolk Department of Human Services in 2023, earning $17.25 per hour. However, he reportedly managed to steal a substantial cache of valuable electronics, including laptops and mobile phones.
Police reports indicate that Stateman accessed the electronics, which were stored in an IT storage room on the fourth floor of a building on Monticello Avenue. Stateman reportedly admitted to the police that he had taken close to 200 HP laptops along with several mobile phones. Law enforcement officials shared that Stateman transported the devices home in his backpack, usually during weekend shifts when the building was less populated.
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Investigation Uncovers Extent of Losses
The missing devices were first noticed by Human Services staff in August 2023, with records showing the thefts occurred between June and August. Detectives were able to trace some of the stolen laptops through tracking software, although it remains unclear how many of the devices were recovered or how much money Stateman made from reselling them.
Despite the scale of the theft, a city spokesperson stated that the incident did not disrupt the operations of the Human Services department.
Currently free on bond, Stateman is scheduled to formally plead guilty to grand larceny in Norfolk next month.orcement for potential criminal investigations.
