(06-01) 13:46 PDT OAKLAND -- Oakland police have arrested a suspected laptop thief whose slack-jawed face became an Internet sensation after software that the owner had installed took photos of the suspect, which the victim posted on his blog.

Muthanna Aldebashi of Alameda was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of possessing stolen goods, police spokeswoman Holly Joshi said. The 27-year-old taxi driver is being held in Alameda County jail.

A Web campaign to catch the alleged thief was launched by Joshua Kaufman, who filed a police report in late March stating that someone had broken into his North Oakland apartment and stolen his Apple MacBook computer.

Kaufman said he had installed software called Hidden that followed the computer's movements through a tracking device, and took pictures of the suspect's face while the man used the laptop.

In one of the photos, the suspect appears to be driving with the laptop opened in his lap. In another, he peers into the screen while shirtless, and in yet another he's asleep on a couch.

The campaign picked up in earnest Tuesday after popular Web sites linked to Kaufman's blog, and Twitter users forwarded pictures of the bearded suspect to other users.

Kaufman wrote on his "This Guy Has My MacBook" blog that Oakland police were unable to arrest the suspect because of a lack of resources, despite receiving Kaufman's tips on the laptop's location.

Joshi said that after numerous media outlets called the department Tuesday afternoon to verify Kaufman's story, investigators learned that Kaufman's original report had been incorrectly closed. The investigator had given higher priority to other stolen goods cases, despite the strong leads about Kaufman's laptop, Joshi said.

On Tuesday, undercover officers had Aldebashi's taxi company send him for a pickup, and they arrested him when he arrived. They found the laptop at his home, Joshi said.

"It shows that when the system works, it works great," Joshi said. "The diligence of Mr. Kaufman is exactly what we need - people who are engaged and are making an effort to reduce crime."

Joshi said she expected an uptick in reports of stolen laptops from those who have installed the same software as Kaufman.

"If they bring us solid leads, that makes it easier on us to investigate," Joshi said. "We hope they use that technology."

Kaufman did not respond to e-mail messages seeking comment. On his blog, he left a message celebrating his laptop's recovery.

"An Oakland police officer just called me to let me know that they arrested the guy in my photos! BOOYA!"