Thief swipes Microsoft ABQ plaque

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Albuquerque is where it all began for Bill Gates and Paul Allen, the Microsoft founders had some great times in Albuquerque in the late 70's.

A crew of about a dozen people helped them start what would turn into a computer empire.

The company never forgot its roots, and installed a plaque in 2006 to make sure no one else did either, but now someone has stolen that plaque.

Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen told KRQE News 13 in 2006,”I've been dreaming about for a long time to do something to give back to the city of Albuquerque and the state of New Mexico because it's where both the microcomputer got it's start Microsoft really got it's start. So it is a very rewarding day for me personally.”

Somebody else must have gotten a rewarding feeling when they swiped the plaque recently. Now just a blank rock sits in front of the building near the fairgrounds.

Officer Robert Gibbs says most likely someone took it to show off, “Keep it in their garage to say, ‘Hey this is what I have’. I think if it was something that was going to be sent to a metal recycling place because of the way the plaque is, its size, I am sure we would receive some type of phone call.”

They are hoping the publicity leads to the plaques' return, and maybe even an arrest.

“It's still a stolen item, it belongs to somebody else,” said Gibbs.

Paul Allen sent the following statement in an email to KRQE News 13:

"I’ve got great memories of working long hours in that office, and Bill and I were happy it was there as a way to thank the city of Albuquerque for its role in starting Microsoft. I can’t imagine why someone would want to steal it. If it doesn’t turn up, I’ll make sure it gets replaced and installed in a more secure fashion."