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rubydog · Mar 6, 2006, 10:43 PM

Hello all,

I just returned from a week out of town to discover my home had been broken into and, among other things, my g4 imac was stolen. The police have been helpful, but busy and probably understaffed.

Does a computer's serial numbers follow internet browsing? Can I track down it's location this way? Will an isp know what phone number a login has used? Has anyone successfully recovered a stolen mac using a virtual "paper" trail? Whenever I do a clean install of a fresh OS I get the registration prompts. Does the machine send the serial number back to Apple? Presumably this will happen in the future. Has anyone tried to get Apple to help on something like this?

I had a modest amount of backup. Not great but not bad. Nothing lost I can't do without. But I'd rather not do without, and I would like the machine back.

Any ideas appreciated. Steve

Mojo · Mar 7, 2006, 12:39 AM

My sincere condolences...

This won't help with your current problem, but maybe in the future...

http://orbicule.com/undercover/

I have our three Macs registered under the "family" plan.

Computer serial numbers are not linked to Internet use. The IP address is the primary identifying tool on the Web and it is linked to the Internet connection and not a specific computer.

Some people have successfully recovered stolen goods by sending info to local pawn shops, checking classified/shopper ads, CraigsList, etc.

If you had financial information on the computer that was not encrypted you should consider contacting the big three credit reporting services, your banks, etc.

Tomchu · Mar 7, 2006, 02:01 AM

Since every Mac has its own individual serial number, and since that serial number is sent to Apple when you reinstall OS X and go through the initial registration screen, you could call Apple and report the thing stolen. Give them the serial number (you can find it on any boxes that it came in), and I'm sure they'd be happy to give you the IP address that the last registration was sent from (if it ever was).

Most thieves aren't too smart.

jamil5454 · Mar 7, 2006, 07:00 AM

Originally Posted by Mojo

This won't help with your current problem, but maybe in the future...

http://orbicule.com/undercover/

I have our three Macs registered under the "family" plan.

Wow, seems like a very nifty little app. I'm about to purchase the student version, but before I do, I just want to make sure this is a reputable company. I don't want to pay for it now and then have the company disappear within a couple years. If everyone started using this program, then theives would certainly think twice before stealing another Mac. Hah.

To the OP, all I can say is I'm sorry. I can't imagine how'd I'd feel if my computer was stolen from me. However, living in Austin, my bike was stolen right from under my nose in my apartment complex last semester. It was a POS so it didn't bother me too much. But a computer, man.

File a report ASAP and you it would probably be worth to check eBay soon and take a little drive to all the local pawn shops. Almost all computer thieves steal and then sell to make a nice profit, very little steal and then actually use the computer.

ghporter · Mar 7, 2006, 07:32 AM

As jamil says, it's most likely that your computer was stolen for sale, not personal use-and it's probably already been sold. With that said, you CAN demonstrate that whoever has it now has stolen property, but only by filing a police report that includes all the pertinent data, including model description and serial number. Sorry about your loss-a break in is pretty devastating.

Jamil, I had my NOT POS bike stolen from my garage here in San Antonio a few years ago. We left the door open while bringing in groceries and got distracted for about 15 minutes. When we went back out my bike and air compressor were gone. Rat-bastards! Since then I am very careful about garage doors...

Mojo · Mar 7, 2006, 01:40 PM

I can't guarantee that UnderCover will be around forever, but I have been in touch with the developer and he is very responsive and conscientious. Considering the reasonable cost for UC, if he did go out of business in a couple of years the cost per month would still be minimal. I really like supporting small-time developers that design useful software.

I am curious whether Apple will assist in tracking down a stolen Mac via the registration process? If you find out anything I hope you will share your experience with us.

It is very easy to prevent the registration info from being sent to Apple, so one would have to hope for a very a stupid thief/buyer for it to work.

tooki · Mar 7, 2006, 05:04 PM

I don't believe we have any reason to believe that the registration assistant from OS X sends the machine serial number.

tooki

quiklee · Mar 7, 2006, 06:00 PM

Do what this professor does

http://clip.break.com/dnet/media/con...olenlaptop.wmv

Tomchu · Mar 7, 2006, 06:00 PM

I think it makes sense that it would.

rubydog · Mar 7, 2006, 07:19 PM

Many thanks for all the responses.

I bought the computer from a friend, who was the original owner. I never wrote down the serial number. When I wrote the original post I was waiting to hear back from my friend, hoping he had the serial number somewhere. He didn't. I called Apple tech support and they were quite helpful but unable to provide me with my serial number, not because they wouldn't, but because they couldn't find the sale. Guess my friend bought it through his business; I'm waiting to hear back from him.

When I get my computer returned or replaced, I'm getting undercover. What a great idea! Thanks, mojo.

I've got an interview with a county detective tomorrow. I live out in the country. Neighbors tend to be spread out.

I'm using my old g3 imac with nothing more than Jaguar and Appleworks loaded. How can I watch that .wav clip?

Thanks again for all the support and advice. It's greatly appreciated. I'll keep you posted.

Steve

hookem2oo7 · Mar 8, 2006, 04:08 PM

Originally Posted by tooki

I don't believe we have any reason to believe that the registration assistant from OS X sends the machine serial number.

tooki

it sent the serial number when i installed it on my clamshell...i got an email from apple like 10 minutes after i submitted telling me "thanks for registering your new ibook (ser. no. 3223513462345634) and installing mac os X"