Police ID suspect in Clinton campaign car break-in

Police on Monday identified the man charged with breaking into a car and stealing three laptops from a parked SUV that was later identified as a vehicle used by Clinton campaign staff.

The SUV was parked near I-95 on Brown Street in the Northern Liberties neighborhood, an area plagued by property theft.

Christopher Colon, 27, of the 500 block of Diamond Street, is accused of breaking into the 2016 Buick Enclave on Friday evening and stealing three backpacks containing three MacBook Pros and various other items.

Four campaign staffers had parked the car around 8 p.m. while they went to get foot at a nearby restaurant, and returned to find the windows smashed around 9:15 p.m.

“This was a random theft from auto, and Colon had no indication who the complainants were or that they were affiliated with any campaign work,” police said in a news release.

However, federal authorities were notified about the incident.

“The computers may have contained scheduling information surrounding the Hillary Clinton Presidential Campaign due to the fact that the complainants are working for the campaign,” police said. “Based on that information, the Secret Service and Department of Homeland Security were notified as standard procedure and work with Philadelphia Police as needed throughout the investigation.”

A source familiar with the investigation said all the laptops were remotely wiped after the theft and no security breach into confidential information occurred.

After “thorough investigative work,” police said, they identified Colon, “who has a lengthy criminal history.” He is charged with criminal mischief and theft.