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Psychonaut · Mar 14, 2005, 06:22 PM

This last week I was in New York City for a Model United Nations conference, and on the last day my 12" Powerbook was stolen by most likely an employee of the Hilton. (Whoever lifted it left the laptop bag, unzipped and empty. I don't know why they didn't grab the whole thing.)

I was already running late for my flight out of JFK, so I spoke to the chief of hotel security, grabed the Property Theft/Loss form and left.

I'm assuming that they'll eventually have to pay for it, if only because my faculty advisor is a demanding queen bitch, but that will only be after an 'investigation' and having taken statements from the employees involved. But at least I'll be able to upgrade to a current-model, 15" PB.

I've gone about changing most if not all of my passwords that I use online, but I'm wondering what other security problems could be involved.

Has this ever happened to anyone here?

analogika · Mar 14, 2005, 06:24 PM

Reason #1 why I *hate* laptop bags.

I recommend against them every time a customer asks to see them.

Oisín · Mar 14, 2005, 06:33 PM

Originally posted by analogika:
Reason #1 why I *hate* laptop bags.

I recommend against them every time a customer asks to see them.

Huh? How does that make sense? The PB could have been stolen just as easily had it been in the hotel without a laptop bag... or did I misunderstand you incorrectly?

analogika · Mar 14, 2005, 06:37 PM

Originally posted by Ois�n:
Huh? How does that make sense? The PB could have been stolen just as easily had it been in the hotel without a laptop bag... or did I misunderstand you incorrectly?

The primary factor in someone stealing a laptop is making it painfully obvious that there is a laptop there to steal.

Nothing screams "HEY, I'M WORTH $2000 AND HERE FOR THE TAKING!!!!" like a nice, black, $80 laptop bag.

Psychonaut · 06:48 PM

Originally posted by Ois�n:
Huh? How does that make sense? The PB could have been stolen just as easily had it been in the hotel without a laptop bag... or did I misunderstand you incorrectly?

He means to say that laptop bags stick out like a sore thumb, announcing almost, "Steal me! Steal me!" Though I don't know what the alternative would be.

Edit: *sigh* $2200 to be exact, Spheric. But what am I going to do about my personal information? Is it more likely, since it was password protected, that whoever stole it (or ends up with it) would format the harddrive rather than crack it?

CharlesS · Mar 14, 2005, 06:42 PM

Originally posted by Psychonaut:
Though I don't know what the alternative would be.

Backpack.

TETENAL · Mar 14, 2005, 06:51 PM

Originally posted by Psychonaut:
But what am I going to do about my personal information? Is it more likely, since it was password protected, that whoever stole it (or ends up with it) would format the harddrive rather than crack it?

You don't have to "crack" it to get access to your personal information. One just has to boot it in target disk mode to have access to everything. Unless you had FileVault turned on.

Mastrap · Mar 14, 2005, 08:29 PM

Originally posted by analogika:
Reason #1 why I *hate* laptop bags.

I recommend against them every time a customer asks to see them.

My PB lives in a thin black neoprene sleeve in the back pocket of a beaten up old leather satchel. More often than not buried under books or papers, for exactly that reason.

Sorry to hear that Psychonaut, I hope you'll get it sorted out.

MilkmanDan · Mar 14, 2005, 08:35 PM

Originally posted by CharlesS:
Backpack.

A regular backpack with a sleeve works fine. I use my regular backpack and stick my 12in in a Marware sleeve. Works perfectly fine.

Superchicken · Mar 14, 2005, 09:47 PM

I have a PointZero side bag. It looks like it could have just books and crap. Besides laptop bags are generally ugly.

demograph68 · Mar 14, 2005, 10:01 PM

I would give it back but it's just too darn pretty.

Cipher13 · Mar 15, 2005, 12:16 AM

Yeah, I hate laptop bags for the same reason.

My iBook goes in a neoprene sleeve, which then goes inside my backpack (which is designed to house a ~12" laptop).

Sometimes I do carry a laptop bag around (a canvas one that I got with my PowerBook 100 way back when they were the hottest thing to come out of Cupertino!), but I never, ever let it leave my sight, and I do nothing to hide it. Anybody trying to roll me for it would have an unpleasant experience at best. I only use that bag when I have my car with me so I can lock it in the boot.

mitchell_pgh · Mar 15, 2005, 12:20 AM

It's very common for a quasi-pro thief to leave the laptop bag behind. The reason is... it generally gives them more time to get away.

Generally, people don't check the laptop bag every couple of minutes to see if the laptop is still inside. So the person could have been long gone and you still think your laptop is just a few feet away.

I'm a big fan of the backpack and the sleeves that hide away in a normal looking bag.

mitchell_pgh · Mar 15, 2005, 12:26 AM

Originally posted by Psychonaut:
I'm assuming that they'll eventually have to pay for it, if only because my faculty advisor is a demanding queen bitch, but that will only be after an 'investigation' and having taken statements from the employees involved. But at least I'll be able to upgrade to a current-model, 15" PB.

I would be VERY surprised if the hotel offered you a dime. They are not responsible for lost or stolen property. Is it covered under your (parents) home owners insurance?

angelmb · Mar 15, 2005, 05:05 AM

Do you remember your PowerBook serial number?

http://www.secondhandmac.com/indexgestolen.html

When I had a 17 PB I used to carry it between a bunch of those ADC envelopes, no one can think that there was a laptopd there, just papers and more papers. Anyway I also used a non computer related plastic bag to carry it -inside a second skin- I dont think anyone is going to go for a plastic bag instead a laptop bag being both side by side, stoling the laptop bag they are gonna to get a bunch of car brochures, nothing more.

screamingFit · Mar 15, 2005, 05:26 AM

Originally posted by mitchell_pgh:
I would be VERY surprised if the hotel offered you a dime. They are not responsible for lost or stolen property. Is it covered under your (parents) home owners insurance?

Yeah, I was wondering this, too. I've always noticed a sign at every place I stayed that said how the hotel wasn't responsible for personal items. That property theft form they gave you was just for you to give to your insurance company, I bet.

analogika · Mar 15, 2005, 05:39 AM

Originally posted by mitchell_pgh:
It's very common for a quasi-pro thief to leave the laptop bag behind. The reason is... it generally gives them more time to get away.

Generally, people don't check the laptop bag every couple of minutes to see if the laptop is still inside. So the person could have been long gone and you still think your laptop is just a few feet away.

The other reason, of course, is precisely the reason why you shouldn't use one, either:

A thief with a laptop bag is quite conspicuous.

Randman · Mar 15, 2005, 05:48 AM

Well, if you have professional needs, a backpack ain't going to cut it. Go to a conference, or a business meeting and pull a PowerBook out of a papersack and see how well you close the deal.

As far as security, chances are it'll get a reinstall of a stolen OS. To be safe, change all your passwords. If you have apps that require the password, contact the company and let them know, They may issue you a new password and lock the other.

Contact the iTMS and deactivate the music store if you've bought anything.

badidea · Mar 15, 2005, 06:30 AM

Originally posted by analogika:
A thief with a laptop bag is quite conspicuous.

Why is that?
Because thieves with a laptop but without a bag look less conspicuous or because thieves can be recognized by their looks?

mitchell_pgh · Mar 15, 2005, 06:37 AM

Originally posted by analogika:
The other reason, of course, is precisely the reason why you shouldn't use one, either:

A thief with a laptop bag is quite conspicuous.

I doubt the person that stole it walked around with the laptop. I'm guessing they removed it from the bag and placed it in another bag.

mitchell_pgh · Mar 15, 2005, 06:42 AM

Originally posted by Randman:
Well, if you have professional needs, a backpack ain't going to cut it. Go to a conference, or a business meeting and pull a PowerBook out of a papersack and see how well you close the deal.

Well, I would argue that you could pick something a little more professional then a backpack, but less "hey, I have an expensive computer in here!!! wOOt"

Also, many people don't need to close deals.