UPDATED: Update On The Solomon Laptop--Obviously Professional Job
This is really important, and confirms what a lot of us have suspected. Commenter EZ wrote this, and I'm simply pasting his comment in here. Obviously other questions are raised, such as re that "call from source". Given that this was clearly a highly professional operation, one wonders whether it was, say, a CIA job. Or an Interagency job.
EZ:
UPDATE: from Solomon's podcast...
He rarely leaves laptop in vehicle; laptop was hidden from view/covered by jacket. Got call to meet with a source, parked near WH.
Security app for car alerted him via smart phone to an unauthorized access of vehicle. Returned to vehicle and "Secret Service were already there." (This is a mystery to me how they knew his car have been broken into, unless his meeting was IN THE WH complex, and he told the SS when he got the alert.)
He then explains the laptop , bought in 2013, had sophisticated security he installed with help from LE friends many years ago. A forensic exam of the computer, after it was recovered using the built in GPS, showed whoever took it tried twice to access the computer, but were thwarted. As best he can tell, no data was compromised.
Security cameras have footage of break-in -- took thief 17 seconds to get into his car. Thief is still unidentified.
The fact that thief tried twice to access computer, rather than just selling it to a fence, suggests this was about gaining access to Solomon's data , to find out what he knew, and/or to plant surveillance malware on his machine, and not a random petty larceny auto break-in.
The timing implies suspect knew when and where Solomon parked the vehicle, and that he had a meeting. This implies either Solomon's cell phone is compromised, or the person he was meeting with is having his calls monitored, or both.
Parking location probably pulled from Solomon's smart phone GPS data, which again suggests his phone is compromised, IMHO.
UPDATE:
"The theft took place on Jan. 20, according to police reports obtained by RealClearInvestigations. Police suspect thieves used a sophisticated electronic device to enter Solomon’s parked car, stealing his laptop and computer bag without leaving any signs of forced entry.
"Solomon’s car was parked only a few blocks away from the White House, one of the most secure locations in the world.
"The thieves appear to have been focused solely on the laptop bag and computer, as Solomon claims cash inside the car was left untouched."
Ignoring cash inside the car pretty much takes ordinary theft off the table, as does not stealing either the laptop or the vehicle.
It's a political crime. Somebody is getting very nervous and desperate *cough* Brennan? *cough* if they are resorting to daylight smash and grabs near the WH in the hopes of finding out what Solomon knows.