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Mafia steals IT kit from UK universities

Donta they have no respect?

The mob is accused of stealing millions of pounds' worth of computer equipment from universities and flogging it on the black market in the former Soviet Union.

The UK's National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS) - the body that monitors organised crime - is looking into the allegations, made in The Independent on Sunday.

University sources say the thefts are causing major disruption and many students are unable to finish their work on time, so no change there, then.

A spokesman said: "There is obviously a market which a professional group or groups have identified. They do their homework, find out how to get into these places and either have inside knowledge or technical expertise to bypass the alarm systems."

They added that the gangs were 'making a hit' every two months - perhaps an unfortunate choice of word in the circumstances - in which a few hundred thousand pounds' worth of gear is lifted.

Essex, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Bradford Unis have all been targeted in the last few months. In August, a gang broke into Manchester University and dismantled part of a mainframe and took other components worth around £200,000.

Sonny Pastrami, Consiglieri of the Spinola Family, said: "Shut the **** up, you little ****, donta you breaka my balls, you ************. We don't know nothin', we're honest businessmen. You keepa on like that an' you gonna sleep with the fishes, you little **** ***** **** ****************. Show a little respect, punk." ®

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