Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

historylme · Jul 21, 2005, 02:48 PM

This suck, out of my office too.

I sit by the entrance and I was away for 1/2 hour.
I came back and it was gone... with the BAG!

no one saw anything... I"m on the phone with the cops right now.

It was a 12 pb with a DVD burner....

jasonsRX7 · Jul 21, 2005, 02:51 PM

That sucks man, sorry for you. I had a laptop stolen out of my car, which was parked in the garage. Homeowners paid for it. Good luck!

Fred_Cokebottle · Jul 21, 2005, 02:52 PM

Did you have this on it?

http://homepage.mac.com/sweetcocoa/lapcop/

I feel your pain...

Hope you get it back!

xi_hyperon · Jul 21, 2005, 02:57 PM

That does suck. Sorry man-- hope they find the bastiges and your laptop. In what city do you live?

brapper · Jul 21, 2005, 02:57 PM

keep an eye on eBay.
Hope you get it back.

ManOfSteal · Jul 21, 2005, 02:57 PM

Yikes, sorry to hear that!

historylme · Jul 21, 2005, 02:57 PM

I feel numb.

nonhuman · Jul 21, 2005, 02:58 PM

Originally Posted by Fred_Cokebottle

Did you have this on it?

http://homepage.mac.com/sweetcocoa/lapcop/

I feel your pain...

Hope you get it back!

Mental note: next time I steal an Apple laptop, wipe the hard drive and reinstall before connecting it to the internet.

olePigeon · Jul 21, 2005, 02:59 PM

This was at work? Hopefully they have insurance. I know that if I bring in my laptop to work and it gets stolen AT work, they'll pick up the tab.

historylme · Jul 21, 2005, 03:08 PM

Originally Posted by olePigeon

This was at work? Hopefully they have insurance. I know that if I bring in my laptop to work and it gets stolen AT work, they'll pick up the tab.

I'm hoping that this will be the case. I'm just glad I have backups of everything. But still, I live through that thing.

budster101 · Jul 21, 2005, 03:09 PM

Your work should pick it up for you, but the information you lost was enough to cause stress just the same. At least I hope they'll pick up the tab (insurance-wise) for you.

You could sue them...
Do they have a clause, stating "not responsible for lost or stolen personal property"?

Lapcop looks good!

Contact Apple maybe and put a flag on your S#, you never know...

What did the cops say?

historylme · Jul 21, 2005, 03:20 PM

Work doesn't have insurance covering my personal property. Land lord's insurance wont either.
Basically, I'm #$%#$!

Cops took down info, but told me that it's virtually a miracle to get them back.

I'll contact apple, but I don't know what that will do...

dam, I feel like sleeping.

budster101 · Jul 21, 2005, 03:29 PM

Don't passout dude.

If they flag the S# and the idiot brings it in for service... Kazzamo... nabbed.

Watch EBAY.

jasonsRX7 · Jul 21, 2005, 03:29 PM

Originally Posted by history1me

Work doesn't have insurance covering my personal property. Land lord's insurance wont either.

Maybe your home owners insurance will cover it, mine does. I pay a bit extra for additional coverage for all my computer stuff. It's worth finding out.

budster101 · Jul 21, 2005, 03:31 PM

I hope your HO insurance covers it,but watch ebay.

What are the specs on your PB?

12" 100gb 1gb Ram? ...

historylme · Jul 21, 2005, 03:39 PM

12"
1.3 ghz
768 ram
60 gigs
super drive

JoshuaZ · Jul 21, 2005, 03:42 PM

Dude, I totally give you a nice big virtual hug. I would cry if my 12in Powerbook was stolen.

If it makes you feel better. A few years back my Dad was working at the head office at a major bank in our area. Some guy came off the street, walked through all the offices, into the far back, went into his, then into his jacket, and took his wallet. Lucky for him my father only carried $5 in cash at any given time. Oddly enough a week or so later some guy called him up. The guy was trimming his hedge and found my Dad's wallet in it, minus the $5.

Long story short, maybe you'll get lucky.

historylme · 04:03 PM

Just got off the phone, Apple can't track serial numbers, they were able to send me a copy of my receipt.

edit: Oh, and I live in Berkeley.

Double Edit: oh, and thaks everyone. People at my work don't really understand how much I live through my baby. You guys do... well, at least there are more people here that are power users.

Fred_Cokebottle · Jul 21, 2005, 04:21 PM

May be some one should start a registry for depositing all stolen laptop serial numbers? Like how you can check about a car with VIN.

lavar78 · Jul 21, 2005, 04:40 PM

That sucks.

ghporter · Jul 21, 2005, 04:44 PM

Originally Posted by Fred_Cokebottle

May be some one should start a registry for depositing all stolen laptop serial numbers? Like how you can check about a car with VIN.

Excellent idea. I'm sure there are at least several of these online. The problem is that none of them are apparently linked to each other, so you have to first find them and then submit (often with a copy of the police report) to each and every one. A NATIONAL database of stolen, serially numbered items (not just computers, but iPods, cameras, anything with an S/N) would be very useful. The issue is getting someone to fund setting it up. Washington has bigger fish to fry, unfortunately.

History1me, I'm very sorry for your loss. And believe it or not, you are going through the same sort of trauma that you would if your home had been burglarized. Talk to someone about it-do NOT just bottle it up.

nonhuman · Jul 21, 2005, 04:49 PM

Originally Posted by ghporter

Excellent idea. I'm sure there are at least several of these online. The problem is that none of them are apparently linked to each other, so you have to first find them and then submit (often with a copy of the police report) to each and every one. A NATIONAL database of stolen, serially numbered items (not just computers, but iPods, cameras, anything with an S/N) would be very useful. The issue is getting someone to fund setting it up. Washington has bigger fish to fry, unfortunately.

History1me, I'm very sorry for your loss. And believe it or not, you are going through the same sort of trauma that you would if your home had been burglarized. Talk to someone about it-do NOT just bottle it up.

Well, we have people all over the country and beyond. Everyone here probably knows Mac users who aren't on the forums. If we started our own database, we could probably get pretty wide-spread acceptance of it, perhaps even enough to become the de facto standard.

We also definitely have the talent and resources to do it.

E's Lil Theorem · Jul 21, 2005, 04:59 PM

Whoa! While at work?! That's beans, man, all around beans. It really sounds like they should cover it.

Hope you recover it. Good luck.

PurpleGiant · Jul 21, 2005, 05:10 PM

I had my PowerBook stolen from work a few weeks ago. However I was only out of the office for two minutes.

Security cameras caught it all and he's been arrested. Had been doing burglaries all over the city so he's been busted for all of them.

Your workplace have any cameras?

Fred_Cokebottle · Jul 21, 2005, 05:45 PM

Originally Posted by nonhuman

Well, we have people all over the country and beyond. Everyone here probably knows Mac users who aren't on the forums. If we started our own database, we could probably get pretty wide-spread acceptance of it, perhaps even enough to become the de facto standard.

We also definitely have the talent and resources to do it.

Perhaps if one can talk to SJ about this? After all that will another reason to buy powerbooks/ibooks/ipods!

RAILhead · Jul 21, 2005, 05:55 PM

Dude, that totally sucks man -- I hope you find it! Did you ever officially report it as stolen?

Maury

JustAnOl'Broad · Jul 21, 2005, 06:18 PM

Originally Posted by nonhuman

Well, we have people all over the country and beyond. Everyone here probably knows Mac users who aren't on the forums. If we started our own database, we could probably get pretty wide-spread acceptance of it, perhaps even enough to become the de facto standard.

We also definitely have the talent and resources to do it.

Why not add a section to the NN with this stuff? (Mods?)
(items we can read about and keep an eye out for)
Where's Karent? She's the expert here on getting things back?

Sorry about your 12", hope it coems back in one piece with
nary a scratch!

mitchell_pgh · Jul 21, 2005, 06:20 PM

They take the bag so they don't look inconspicuous.

Sorry to hear about you PB

ASIMO · Jul 21, 2005, 06:55 PM

You mean conspicuous.

And history1, tell us when you have stopped lamenting enough so that we may admonish you for not securing your precious with a cable.

historylme · Jul 21, 2005, 06:59 PM

No, no cameras at work.

The thing that sucks the most is that I just got back from Vacation and money is tight.

[This is not to elicite more symphathy] but when it rains it...
well, yesterday I got a ticket for $36. That's not a lot, the thing that sucked was that I got it on a technicality. On the right side of the street, it's Thursday (street cleaning) and on the left hand it's Wednesday. I knew one, but not the other.

Anyway, back on topic. If there was such a serial directory, I would so sign up for it. I'm now going through the anger phase.

Link · Jul 21, 2005, 07:09 PM

Oh ouch dude! I'm so terribly sorry to hear about this! Hopefully you get your laptop back somehow..

I have to say though, this is why even when I just walk from class to use the bathroom, I stick my PB in its case and keep it with me, after waiting that long to get one I'm not letting it go anywhere! >_>

pathogen · Jul 21, 2005, 07:51 PM

This is my worst nightmare (for my Powerbook), so my condolences and I hope you catch the bastard.

Essentially, fear of theft is what brought me to use File Vault on my Powerbook and to get a lock for home, too. All that, and I have offsite (away from home) monthly backups too. And I try to tell myself that at least I'll be getting a newer, faster model if it ever gets stolen (I'd rather not get it back if it's gonna have scratches and gunk in the keys... I suppose that makes me doubly weird!).

jonasmac · Jul 21, 2005, 10:28 PM

Dude, that sucks....hope you get it back.

The Godfather · Jul 21, 2005, 10:30 PM

Originally Posted by budster101

You could sue them...
Do they have a clause, stating "not responsible for lost or stolen personal property"?

Stupid litigious society

budster101 · Jul 21, 2005, 10:35 PM

His work should have some sort of basic security, or it's insurance should take care of him right?
If not then why not sue them? You think that is overly litigious? Because, I'm not so inclined, but if it is what I use for work, then what choice would I have?

Is that all you got from my several posts? You just have to pick on that one specific comment?

I offered other advice in addition to this, as it was just thinking out loud....

Lighten the flock up.

jcadam · Jul 21, 2005, 10:43 PM

Looks like you can't trust the people you work with.

ManOfSteal · Jul 21, 2005, 10:44 PM

I got a brand-new Dell D610 today at work...I hope somebody nabs it immediately actually.

SSharon · Jul 21, 2005, 11:30 PM

I saw this site recently, maybe it can help you. http://www.powermax.com/cgi-bin/sn_browse.cgi

JustAnOl'Broad · Jul 21, 2005, 11:37 PM

Originally Posted by SSharon

I saw this site recently, maybe it can help you. http://www.powermax.com/cgi-bin/sn_browse.cgi

They advertise alot in the Mac mags.
I got my G3 350 from them years ago.
Good company.
Saved a chunk of change on tax.

JoshuaZ · Jul 22, 2005, 12:02 AM

insurance?

iMOTOR · Jul 22, 2005, 01:33 AM

Yikes, Sorry about your notebook.

Whenever I buy used camera gear, I always punch the Ser# in on Google since several stolen gear registry pages get indexed by Google (like photo.net for instance).

If you can find your Ser#, get it online asap, just in case.

historylme · Jul 22, 2005, 11:06 AM

Thanks guys.

Still in the anger phase, mixed with "what the hell is the world coming to" phase.
Actually, I always felt the second.

I was telling my housemate that I could get a cheap PC desktop for $400 with a flat screen and all... but no way... however, the mini might be a posibility.

Still, this blows chunks.

mitchell_pgh · Jul 22, 2005, 11:28 AM

I wonder why Apple doesn't offer a phone home service for their laptops? How hard would it be to place a "phone home" tool in the firmware? I'm sure they would have thousands of people signing up for the service.

Severed Hand of Skywalker · Jul 22, 2005, 11:55 AM

If you were at work can't you hold them responsible for not having security or something?

karent · Jul 22, 2005, 11:59 AM

Originally Posted by JustAnOl'Broad

Why not add a section to the NN with this stuff? (Mods?)
(items we can read about and keep an eye out for)
Where's Karent? She's the expert here on getting things back?

Sorry about your 12", hope it coems back in one piece with
nary a scratch!

I'm here, I'm here, sorry, I was actually getting "real" work done...

I'm not an expert, just got lucky, but yes, do monitor eBay, it took about 3 weeks for our stuff to show up. Ask for SN from sellers if it looks like a match. Call the cops and have them retrieve the ibook. eBay has nothing in place for the victims to report stolen goods, cops have to. I still think ebay should require SNs posted on all items that have one.

Sorry about your ibook, too. Been there, I empathize.

k-

(full story below)

historylme · Jul 22, 2005, 04:03 PM

Will do all I can.

My boss said that he'll give me 6 to 7 hundred for a new one.

Now the question I have to answer is: Laptop or Desktop (the mini). I'm still looking at another week without a computer.

budster101 · Jul 22, 2005, 06:17 PM

15" powerbook. 100 gb 1gb ram, SuperDrive...

nonhuman · Jul 22, 2005, 06:39 PM

Originally Posted by history1me

Will do all I can.

My boss said that he'll give me 6 to 7 hundred for a new one.

Now the question I have to answer is: Laptop or Desktop (the mini). I'm still looking at another week without a computer.

What do you do with the computer? Do you really need the portability?

spacefreak · Aug 15, 2005, 06:54 PM

Originally Posted by nonhuman

Mental note: next time I steal an Apple laptop, wipe the hard drive and reinstall before connecting it to the internet.

They got that covered, too... http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106482

When turned on, Open Firmware Password Protection:
Blocks the ability to use the "C" key to start up from a CD-ROM disc.
Blocks the ability to use the "N" key to start up from a NetBoot server.
Blocks the ability to use the "T" key to start up in Target Disk Mode (on computers that offer this feature).
Blocks the ability to start up in Verbose mode by pressing the Command-V key combination during startup.
Block the ability to start up a system in Single-user mode by depressing the Command-S key combination during startup.
Blocks a reset of Parameter RAM (PRAM) by pressing the Command-Option-P-R key combination during startup.
Requires the password to use the Startup Manager, accessed by pressing the Option key during startup (Figure 1).
Requires the password to enter commands after starting up in Open Firmware, which is done by depressing the Command-Option-O-F key combination during startup.

Gankdawg · Aug 15, 2005, 09:42 PM

Originally Posted by Severed Hand of Skywalker

If you were at work can't you hold them responsible for not having security or something?

OK, I will be the devil's advocate here. What about personal responsibility? Like a lock, insurance (out of your own pocket), or taking the laptop with you when you leave? Gone for a half-hour and leave the laptop just sitting there? Nothing says that it was co-worker either. Could've been the UPS guy for we know.

I understand that the laptop is used at work for work purposes, but did the original poster ever ask BEFORE the laptop was stolen if anything was covered?

What if someone spilled coffee on the laptop at work? Should the employer pay for that?