Students driving on Lincoln Way past the Iowa State Center may have noticed something unusual about the large electronic sign.

The computer that controls the center’s lighted outdoor sign has been missing for about a month, which has meant outdated information for passersby.

Sara Huber, advertising promotions coordinator at the Iowa State Center, programs the computer.

She last updated the sign using the computer on Dec. 16, and she noticed it missing on Dec. 18.

Jerry Stewart, assistant director of the Department of Public Safety, said the Gateway 2000 computer was left in an unlocked room, making the incident a “non-forced entry.”

The thief left the monitor, keyboard and mouse behind, probably because “they were too cumbersome,” Stewart said. The thief made off with about $1,000 worth of software.

Huber said the center could not program the sign without the missing computer, so the information was outdated for a while.

However, she said, two weeks ago the center acquired a new computer and installed a new software program, and the sign has been up-to-date since.

Stewart said the thief has probably converted the computer for his or her own personal use and has installed his or her own software.

In order to perform such operations without revealing the computer’s serial number to a store owner, Stewart said, the thief is probably adept at working with computers.

DPS has no possible suspects at this time, but the computer’s serial number has been entered into the National Crime Information Center.

If law enforcement officials come across the computer sometime in the next few “days, months or years,” they will identify it as stolen, Stewart said.

If convicted, the thief could be charged with an aggravated misdemeanor and serve up to two years in jail and pay a fine.

Stewart encouraged anyone with information about the theft to call DPS at 294-4428 and said information will be accepted anonymously.