WOBURN - District Attorney Gerald Leone can literally be calling Woburn home these days - day and night!

In the day, he's working out of his office at 15 Commonwealth Avenue in the northeast section of Woburn or at the temporary quarters for the Middlesex County Courthouse just of Route 128 in North Woburn.

At night, he's at engagements, like the 57th Annual Meeting & Business Expo of the North Suburban Chamber of Commerce at the Hilton Boston/North-Woburn.

In his message last night to a packed hall, Leone said the current negative business climate is rife for opportunity for internal, white collar theft, especially from individuals who feel pressures from the current economic downturn.

He urged the chamber members to be ever-vigilant about signs something might be wrong.

"We are here to help you," he said, noting the DA's office "is not a collection agency but we are here to help you" and are in a partnership with regional businesses in times of crisis.

Leone warned the business community to be ever-vigilant for signs in behavioral patterns among personnel in sensitive areas, such as accounting and bookkeeping departments.

In the downturn in the economy, he said, executives should change thinking a little bit and not have it just business as usual in these "sensitive" departments.

He said to take a hard look where firms have "just one person in charge" and to check bank statements and other critical documents.

He also urged double checks on computer operations, where funds could be directed back to an individual or to others involved in accounting schemes.

He also said "motive" is a key indicator, as executives should watch for changes in behavioral patterns of personnel. He urge checks and double checks on cash and checks.

"Employee theft is another issue," he said firmly. "Individuals and groups should be watched for abuses and misuses and those with easy access to assets," he said. "This type of theft can add up to the 10s of millions of dollars," he said. "We know it's happening. You could lose your entire business."

He cited such recent Middlesex DA offices cases such a a $1 million loss at Tufts University and a $400,000 theft from the Tewksbury Little League.

He told the Woburn-based, North Suburban Chamber members there were some 40,000 cases in Massachusetts last year.

Partnership

Overall, the Chamber's Executive Director Maureen Rogers told members "our business is your business" and urged members to listen carefully to the DA's remarks.

And, DA Leone reinforced the "partnership" point by pointing out the Woburn office "is here to help you."

Leone set the tone early by raising the conscienceness of the business community of "what to do for a business" in "an economic crisis." The crowd included a host of "brass" from the U.S. Air Forces Electronic Systems Division at Hanscom A.F.B.

"I like to meet with you to find out what is going on in communities like yours," Leone said at the outset. He cited such firms as Woburn's Raytheon Missile Center and its 1,200 employees as well as the firm's major presence in the area as areas where his DA's office could be extremely helpful. "The door is always open," he said at several junctures.

He acknowledge at several points the value of government-business partnerships that have worked well over the years.

He cited the work with the Winchester Hospital and the cooperation in the Shaken Baby Syndrome group, as well as the Intervention Prevention Program "that is now 20 years old."

He singled out Winchester Hospital Chairman Paul Andrews of Woburn who was present at his talk as being a major participant in the implementation of both programs - on the hospital side in one case and an educators side in the other.

"I'm here to talk about relationships and partnership," he said in bonding with Chamber members. "Public-private partnerships are to be valued."

"In the end, it's all about the quality of life. I am the chief law enforcement officer in your area. The door is always open to you."

He pointed out he has "125 lawyers" in his office ready to help, as well as a total office staff of 250, including 34 from the Mass. State Police. "I view my office as a very large business," he said at another juncture.

He pointed out the success of the Middlesex District Attorneys as being fine examples of getting the job done and then moving on to head the state's Attorney General's office. This included Martha Coakley (present Mass. AG), Thomas Reilly and Scott Harshbarger.

To understand the role of the DA, he said one only has turn on the TV where many shows are based on DA-type operations. "Just check Law and Order," he smiled.

Woburn and the area, he said, "is really a great place for business and to do business."

He cited the recent success of moving the Middlesex Superior Court to Woburn on a temporary basis to 200 TradeCenter Park last spring.

He also noted the area is rife for local, national and international crime.

He cited his own rule as an assistant at the U.S Attorney's office in the much-heralded "Shoe Bomber" incident at Logan Airport and three high-profle criminal cases, starting with the Neil Entwhistle case in Woburn in recent months.

He said he felt his decade of experience on the front lines and of his office's involvement as being a key to staying on top of just about any situation.

"I think we showed our professionalism," he said to re-assure the business community of the knowledge and experience of the Commonwealth Avenue, Woburn operation. "Your just have to look at the six courtrooms in Woburn at Superior Court on any given day."

Criminal prosecutions have increased 27 percent this past year, he added. Embezzlement and "trust of others," in the down economy, he said, is "on the upturn." "It's all obviously a major concern."

Last year, he pointed out, his office handled 41,000 such cases. "We don't need more cases and most times we have found the money has already gone out the door."

"Watch out for employee theft," he cautioned in his parting words with the Chamber's business community at the Hilton Boston/Woburn in East Woburn.