A man suspected in a series of Midtown computer thefts was busted after a crafty tech exec stalled him — by having him fill out paperwork.
The suspect had showed up at AlleyNYC, a Midtown work space for tech startups, at 6 a.m, setting off a detector installed after thefts of laptops and iPads there.
AlleyNYC COO Nsi Obotetukudo said he recognized the man — identified as Sean Smith, 44 — from video of the earlier heists.
“How can I help you?” he said he asked Smith.
The man said he wanted to use AlleyNYC’s services to get kids into job programs.
“Great, cool idea,” Obotetukudo said — and handed him a contract application.
With Smith busy, Obotetukudo texted his CEO, Jason Saltzman: “The guy is back.”
“Keep him there,” the CEO wrote. “Police on their way.”
Obotetukudo walked Smith out, and into cops’ clutches.
Cops say Smith hit seven other businesses before his July 25 bust.