Mexican attach� attempts to make off with White House BlackBerrys

We're a bit frightened by the fact that high-ranking political officials are told to leave their BlackBerrys outside in an unguarded basket during high-level meetings (really, it's "common practice"), but nevertheless, one chap who tried to take advantage of the situation didn't quite make it out undiscovered. During a recent political meetup in New Orleans, a Mexican press attaché managed to slip a half dozen or so BlackBerrys into his pocket before darting to the airport with visions of black market markups in his head. Before he could exit the country, however, Secret Service had tracked him down after catching him via surveillance footage. As it stands, the responsible individual has been fired from his post, but there's been no word on whether the US will take any further actions. Reevaluating the whole "leaving them out in the open" practice may be a good start -- just sayin'.

[Via The Boy Genius Report]

[Rususeruru @ Apr 25th 2008 8:50AM]

They took our jo........... BlackBerrys?

Nah, if I was given the chance to do this I would too, but being an citizen I don't think I'd even be able to get close to the BlackBerrys

[Mike @ Apr 25th 2008 8:11AM]

I have no idea what the procedure was in New Orleans, or what their reason for leaving the phones outside was, but in certain classified meetings this is in fact common. There is absolutely zero tolerance on what outside electronics are allowed inside a sensitive compartmented information facility (SCIF). To facilitate this cell phones, cameras, ANYTHING that could capture or transmit data electronically must be left outside in at the guard station in cubbies. Of course, there's supposed to be a guard who's only job is to monitor who goes inside and watch the cubbies where the phones are left.

[nDee @ Apr 25th 2008 8:48AM]

Even nokia the giant in cellphone industry had to ban cellphones from meeting rooms a few years ago
(that's why first gen E series got no cam)
But then they cancelled that policy because anyone who has a brain can talk and phone rings all the time while they were in lockers

[Rususeruru @ Apr 25th 2008 8:48AM]

It's New Orleans... Don't apply logic to what they do.

I used to live 40 miles south of New Orleans (yes, there is land down there).

[B0BD0BB5 @ Apr 25th 2008 9:30AM]

I live in New Orleans now and was in town the earlier this week when the delegation was here. The meeting took place down at the Convention Center on the river downtown. The whole city center around the Convention Center was blocked off from to pedestrian and vehicular traffic so there was nobody within even a good 2,000-foot radius from the EXTERIOR of the building. The area was secure. If they were leaving government electronics outside the _meeting room_, they were safe. However, not safe from the very few people (mostly those associated with the delegations) who were allowed in past the barricades. That being said, I did see Air Force One at the airport that day from the area of the runway as we were doing some investigations along the levee out there, and at the time there was no one guarding this area. If I had been a "terrist" I would easily have blown up the plane as it was taking off that day. Thank Allah I am not a terrist

[Todd Radel @ Apr 25th 2008 10:12AM]

I came in here to say what Mike already said. In secure environments, it's not uncommon to see 20 or 30 cell phones and Blackberries sitting on a table by the door. Of course there's usually a security officer (or at least a secretary) nearby.

Whether you can successfully pick your own BB out of the pile afterwards is a different story altogether!

[o29 @ Apr 25th 2008 10:37AM]

@Rususeruru

I'm from New Orleans, and while it may have its problems, what city in the United States doesn't? Let's try to avoid stereotyping and demeaning comments.

[OneLove @ Apr 25th 2008 1:06PM]

if they don't stereotype and demean how can they be Americans?

[Rususeruru @ Apr 25th 2008 6:13PM]

@o29: Salt Lake City, according to Salt Lake news.
Honestly I wouldn't apply logic to anything any municipality does so don't take too much offense to any of that.

[looseinthedeuce @ Apr 25th 2008 8:16AM]

This isn't nearly as awesome once you find out no one tried to sell them on ebay. If it's gonna be a fake picture, at least make it funny.

[Pym @ Apr 25th 2008 8:18AM]

The additional point toMike is, also, that the cubby holes aren't out on the street either, but in buildings that require a certain level of trust (clearance/permission/badge/etc) to even be in there. This is just a case of someone with that trust violating it, and, apparently, the Mexican government not paying their government officials enough. I mean, come on, black market on three blackberries just isn't going to go very far. :P

[Rocketboy @ Apr 25th 2008 10:48AM]

I think it has a lot less to do with reselling, and a lot more to do with low-budget spying.

[Harkonian @ Apr 25th 2008 12:16PM]

When you think of Mexico the phrase "masters of international subterfuge" does not come to mind.

[Puneet @ Apr 25th 2008 8:20AM]

the image is a bit misleading , at first i thought some mexican guy stole the blackberry's and then put it on ebay and got caught hehe :)

[nizzy1115 @ Apr 25th 2008 11:53AM]

Same here. But i think its more bad ass that the secret service tracked him down so fast!

[DaTwo @ Apr 25th 2008 8:27AM]

"As it stands, the responsible individual has been fired from his post, but there's been no word on whether the US will take any further actions."

I hope the hold him down and rip off his brown berrys!

[DaTwo @ Apr 25th 2008 8:50AM]

So I forgot the "y" .. sure you can figure it out? Then again... who's writing anything? I typed it you fool!

[John Aubrey @ Apr 25th 2008 8:38AM]

wow, atleast they got them back. It's kinda scarry to see this happen. I get the whole no devices allowed in part. Was there no gaurd there? I'm thinking there wasn't any top secret info, but I'm sure there is some info on them that they wouldn't want let out. Didn't think he would get too far with them, with the goverment behind it, it would get donw fast.

[JD @ Apr 25th 2008 8:41AM]

Nice, so the Secret Service is in the business of tracking down stolen phones now? I guess I'll need to get their number for the next time my phone gets jacked. What a complete waste of money - just buy the guys new phones, and let the regular police do their jobs like they would for every other schmuck who gets their phone jacked, and they'd probably have saved 10-20 grand of taxpayer money.

If there was something so valuable on those phones, then they shouldn't be using those phones for whatever they have that is so valuable. Use something more secure, and backup regularly so that we don't have to send the Secret Service out chasing down every little cell phone that gets misplaced. Yikes!

[John @ Apr 25th 2008 8:54AM]

does it occur to you that the people who are in a meeting at the white house may possibly have information on their phones that you don't want just anyone getting a hold of?

[Ally @ Apr 25th 2008 8:56AM]

What?

The secret service seen the guy steal the officials phones on camera, so they went after him. Whats the problem?

They arent paid to just jump in front of bullets you know.

[Paul @ Apr 25th 2008 9:00AM]

BlackBerrys = email capable = access to sensitive information = the Feds get involved and since it is a White House matter that means the Secret Service.

[Pochi @ Apr 25th 2008 9:34AM]

"They arent paid to just jump in front of bullets you know."

Hollywood would have to disagree. And since Hollywood is right, so would I.

[Seminole @ Apr 25th 2008 11:38AM]

I'm guessing you're too ignorant to know that the Secret Service also handles all counterfeit money investigations as well.

They actually do a lot of stuff besides walking around looking cool in sunglasses and black suits.

[JAmerican @ Apr 25th 2008 8:54AM]

Thanks for deleting my comment Engadget! You do realize the first post on Boy Genius was a racist/stereotypical one!

[Robx @ Apr 25th 2008 9:02AM]

First I would like to say that, as mexican, it is a shame this kind of things happen. You have to be real stupid to think you won't be caught.

Second, I have to complain about picture,it is misleading the readers. The guy didn't intend to sell those in ebay. Selling that amount of phones wont make you rich and you get less in the black market; Any thought about sensitive info stored there, which might be translated as $$$.

Finally, what everyone should know is that mexican politicians are earning the BIG bucks, sadly enough for the tax payer.

I hope US is doing something about this and putting the guy in jail, Guantanamo pls...so we don't have to see him around any longer.

[amy @ Apr 25th 2008 8:55AM]

made me think of martha stewart ... "put your blackberry in the basket. it's a good thing..."

http://www.bestkitchendesignideas.com/

[Raheem @ Apr 25th 2008 9:04AM]

Send him to Guantanamo Bay!

Come on... no one would really do that. Would they?

[Ben Bomgardner @ Apr 25th 2008 9:41AM]

No qulams about getting my bb stolen. Just call up the service desk and have them wipe it through the BES.

[iBSOD for iPhone @ Apr 25th 2008 9:44AM]

Aren't they called "Blackberries" when plural?

[Tony @ Apr 25th 2008 11:25AM]

I don't think so, because they are proper nouns.

[Ian @ Apr 25th 2008 9:51AM]

Its puts the blackberries in the basket, or it gets the hose!

[JAmerican @ Apr 25th 2008 10:06AM]

Mine too! Something fishy happening around here!!

[Chris @ Apr 25th 2008 10:16AM]

What a dumb a**! Why would anyone even want a blackberry??
There crap! Do they even have blackberry service in mexico?
It's guys like this that give mexicans a bad name....

[Frank Furter @ Apr 25th 2008 10:25AM]

Guess I'm confused. Somebody was bashing another poster for forgetting a 'y' in their sentence, and I called them out. No name calling, nothing racist, about as mellow as it gets. Yet, you can talk poorly about Mexico and Mexicans, and it's all good. Great censoring on your 'blog', Engadget. Ah well, you get what you pay for.

[o29 @ Apr 25th 2008 10:43AM]

When Engadget deletes posts, if the post has replies to it, they generally get deleted too. Why would you want your reply to a nonexistent comment to not get deleted anyway?

[XenoX101 @ Apr 25th 2008 10:44AM]

Gary: Oh, don't worry, Mr. Simpson, we can take care of ourselves.
Snake: Uh, wallet inspector!
Benjamin: Oh, here you go. I believe that's all in order.
Snake: Wow, I can't believe that worked! (runs away)
Homer: Hey wait a minute… that's not the wallet inspector!

[XenoX101 @ Apr 25th 2008 10:48AM]

Gary: Oh, don't worry, Mr. Simpson, we can take care of ourselves.
Snake: Uh, wallet inspector!
Benjamin: Oh, here you go. I believe that's all in order.
Snake: Wow, I can't believe that worked! (runs away)
Homer: Hey wait a minute… that's not the wallet inspector!

[Gabriel @ Apr 25th 2008 10:53AM]

Chris: Yes, we do have blackberry service in Mexico...we even got HDTV and iPhones! but I do agree with you...its idiots like that who give a bad name to us mexicans.

I hope he is put away for a long time.

[Frank Furter @ Apr 25th 2008 10:51AM]

Two things - how am I supposed to know how/why they deleted the comment? They have my email, let me know. Two, I would never have guessed they would delete the comment I replied to, based on other comments on this thread that are left on.

That being said, I didn't think the reply I commented on was -that- inflammatory, and even if it was, I felt my reply to -it- was decent enough to warrant leaving on.

That also being said, I appreciate your reply. Unless it gets deleted too.

And those two things being said, it just seems to take away from the 'genuineness' of the postings here when some unknown selectively picks and chooses comments to delete. Unless they are flat out hateful or slanderous, what's the problem?

[Mikes @ Apr 25th 2008 11:04AM]

"further action"? are you kidding?, like what have the guy water-board?
i am glad they fired his ass off, but that should be enough. There is no need to make a big deal out of it. By the way i also think the image in your post is very misleading. Not good!

[Daniel @ Apr 25th 2008 11:10AM]

Damn! It's because things like these that we mexicans have got the reputation we have. I hope he gets locked away for a very long time.

[Scott @ Apr 25th 2008 11:25AM]

The depositing of cell phones outside secure meetings has to do with this:
http://www.wasc.noaa.gov/wrso/security_guide/cellular.htm#Cellular%20Phones

"A cellular telephone can be turned into a microphone and transmitter for the purpose of listening to conversations in the vicinity of the phone. This is done by transmitting to the cell phone a maintenance command on the control channel. This command places the cellular telephone in the "diagnostic mode." When this is done, conversations in the immediate area of the telephone can be monitored over the voice channel.
The user doesn't know the telephone is in the diagnostic mode and transmitting all nearby sounds until he or she tries to place a call. Then, before the cellular telephone can be used to place calls, the unit has to be cycled off and then back on again. This threat is the reason why cellular telephones are often prohibited in areas where classified or sensitive discussions are held."

[z0phi3l @ Apr 25th 2008 11:40AM]

I worked in a secure room at a Navy base, we had to keep our phones outside the room, at first there was no table but then we were graciously given a table when a high ranking official came by on a visit and asked why our phones were on the floor by the door.

Considering it was a secure building just to get in, we didn't have a need to have a guard for the phones.

[o29 @ Apr 25th 2008 11:43AM]

I know where you're coming from, as I've had my replies deleted along with the original comment when the deletion of the original comment seemed questionable, but flaming in general (however mild) really doesn't contribute anything to the discussion, and the comments section might seem a bit confusing if they left all of the replies to these deleted comments.

It would be nice if Engadget e-mailed us to explain the deletion, but this is their blog after all that we're simply commenting on, and if they don't have time then I can't really blame them too much. But I agree that it would be nice.

[Magallanes @ Apr 25th 2008 11:45AM]

Humm whitehouse blackberries.. let's check the contact list: Puttin number, Blair number, the "french" number, Pope number, mom number and a lot of sex number related.

[Doug @ Apr 25th 2008 11:52AM]

Yeah, I would say that since the guy was in the Mexican press, he was probably more interested in the information on the Blackberrys (ies?) than the devices themselves.

[Nerd Ferguson @ Apr 25th 2008 12:04PM]

that's s00per funny. :-)

[JAmerican @ Apr 25th 2008 12:52PM]

Exactly. Looks like the Engadget doesn't fall far from the AOL Tree.

[tiuk @ Apr 25th 2008 4:49PM]

Why don't they just lock them in a safe or something?