MBP stolen. Worth it to contact Apple?

[Grimace]

I would definitely contact Apple. I worked at a store and a technician was looking at a computer & iPod brought in for repair. The notes (referenced from the serial number) said that the owner called it in as stolen. We called the police and recovered the stolen stuff.

It's a long shot, but definitely worth doing.

 

[bankshot]

If they had taken all 5 of my external drives, I would've lost all the pictures and film projects from the last 3 years.

Yikes!

Next week: shopping spree.

And hopefully start thinking about an offsite backup strategy. Thank goodness you were somewhat "lucky" this time and they didn't take the hard drives, but I'm sure other people haven't been so lucky. We all hate to do it, but any critical data should be backed up to protect against any unforseen disaster -- whether drive failure, user error (oops, delete by accident), theft, physical damage (fire, flood, drop), etc.

It's probably a long shot, but hopefully the police can help recover some or all of what was taken. Good luck!

 

[cobravap]

I would definitely contact Apple. I worked at a store and a technician was looking at a computer & iPod brought in for repair. The notes (referenced from the serial number) said that the owner called it in as stolen. We called the police and recovered the stolen stuff.

It's a long shot, but definitely worth doing.

Do u know if the owner reports this? or does the police have to do it?

TIA

 

[md11]

PEOPLE SUCK.

And Apple... they could probably care less. I suspect they would be more concerned with someone using your serial number for obtaining a discount upgrade to Jag. That would effect them personally!

Anyone here use LoJack for the Mac?

Someting similar to LoJack: Undercover
Harry

 

[Cromulent]

Yeah, with the exception of WWI, WWII and Hitler, those Germans are upstanding world citizens!

WW1 (as in One, I'm not having someone misread that bit ) was not some major evil on the Germans part. It is was something that all the major European powers were doing in different areas of the world. The only reason it was so terrible was because of technology and the fact that war time strategy had not advanced enough to deal with things such as machine guns, tanks and aeroplanes.

 

[coledog]

Someting similar to LoJack: Undercover
Harry

I use both LoJack and have used Undercover. I also have iAlertU running to take a picture. Plus a script to then send that picture to my email and upload it to my website.

LoJack is a "tracking" program. If your laptop gets stolen you report your computer ID number to their database and they will then look for your computer to access the internet. Your computer will be sending out its' location every 6 minutes when it's connected to the internet. (IP address, etc.)

Hope this helped explain LoJack a bit!!

Undercover is pretty much the same thing, but it brings more "confirmation" if you find the thief and decide to press charges. I believe it will also contact the police if you wish...can't remember correctly.

 

[unixfool]

Yeah, with the exception of WWI, WWII and Hitler, those Germans are upstanding world citizens!

WTF does this have to do with jng's response. And yeah, this is serious stereotyping, and definitely not factual.

To the OP, you have my sympathy. I've never had a laptop stolen but I've had my vehicles broken into 6 times in the last 20 years...it hurts every time. I'm now so hardened that I never install anything that didn't originally come with my car/truck and I never leave anything of value in my vehicles. I can't say that you can do the same for your home, but home/renter insurance certainly helps.

 

[majordude]

Someting similar to LoJack: Undercover
Harry

That is seriously cool! Thanks for the link!

 

[BenF]

This sounds like an inside job. Who knew about your work? The timing is too uncanny.

I hope you recover everything. I hope those who did it repent and are found, and after law enforcement is done with them, start a better life over again.

Ben

Long story short, everything is going to be covered by insurance (after an $1800 deductible).

I'm a film student so my parents homeowner's insurance covered me.

The Juicy Details:
I left at 6:30 to have dinner. My roommate came back at 7:30 and found the house a wreck. They broke in right after I left (they were staking out). It was broad daylight.

In all, they stole...

4 laptops (2 Apple, 2 Dell)
5 cameras
- my Sony handycam
- my Canon 20d (w/ 28-135 EF lens, and battery grip attached)
- my Canon p&s
- the school's Canon XL1 (which we had rented out all semester and were returning the next morning)
- roommate's Canon digital elph
DVD player
Gamecube
25 of my DVDs
iPod Shuffle
roommate's portable hard drive

The short film I had been working on since January was being duplicated from one of my hard drives to another when they broke in. The ripped the laptop off the desk (consequently pulling my 20" LCD, keyboard and mouse with it). That must've freaked them out so they forgot to grab the drives. If they had taken all 5 of my external drives, I would've lost all the pictures and film projects from the last 3 years.

All I have left right now are my harddrives and my Canon GL2. As long as I have my harddrives, I'm a happy camper.

Next week: shopping spree.

 

[trudd]

We've thought about the possibilities of it being an inside job, but we've come up with another logical theory.

The day before the house was broken into, we were finishing up a last minute scene for my short film. We were filming in some alleys near the house, as well as the front yard.

Anybody driving by could've seen the mic, boom, XL1, GL2 and any other equipment we were using for filming.

Note to self: never cop out and use your own house as a film location.

I've thought about purchasing something like Undercover. Might have to do that next time around....

 

[sthpark7791]

Ouch man, hope you find those guys. Like someone said, I'd be most worried about personal info being on the computers, especially since I have all my passwords saved on my MBP

 

[The General]

I have SSH, VNC, Apple Remote Desktop, FTP, personal filesharing and all of that good stuff enabled. I have a script that checks my IP address every 30 minutes and updates an RSS feed that only I have access to.

If someone were to steal my computer, I would know their IP address, city, ISP and what they look like (if they take the laptop or iMac), etc. I would be able to control my computer remotely and backup and data that I may have forgotten to back up.

If they don't get on the internet, they WTF would they steal a computer for?

But yeah, those programs like LoJack and Undercover are a really great tool for recovering stolen laptops. Most of the time, if you're in college, it's another student on campus who stole it. Look at his picture, find him. It's that simple.

Then once you find him you beat the living piss out of him and take your stuff back.

 

[Ibjr]

Yeah, with the exception of WWI, WWII and Hitler, those Germans are upstanding world citizens!

Ya and with the exception of the anti Semitic crap during WW2, racism, and the extermination of the American Indians you Americans are all upstanding citizens.

(for the record I am a proud American citizen but i hate blaming descendants for the mistakes of earlier generations)

 

[majordude]

(for the record I am a proud American citizen but i hate blaming descendants for the mistakes of earlier generations)

We are waaay off topic now but I feel compelled to respond.

First of all, a mistake is writing 15 instead of 51. That is a mistake. World conquest is a plan.

If you are Islamic, Christian or Jew you know that we are inheritors of our fathers' sins. You are tied to your past whether you like it or not.

If you are a white American, you have have been given a head start. You don't want to admit it but there you have it. Unlike England where inheritance is treated differently, in America, families can amass wealth. Your grandfather moved away from the inner city. Your father moved to the suburbs. You went or are or did go to college.

If you are an African-American, your family did not come into the mainstream until the late 70s. As late as 1972, Richmond, VA had separate bathrooms for blacks and whites. I know. I lived there.

You just disn't pop out of your momma and land on your feet. Your history has provided you with your present.

It sounds good to forgive your ancestors for their wicked ways. "I didn't do it! I'm innocent!"

True.

But you are reaping the benefits of your forefather's actions.

You are tied to your past whether you like it or not.

Until you realize that you and your family were given a head start compared to minorities like me there will never be equality.

And, lastly, you don't sound like you are proud to be an American. You expressed a lot of pent-up guilt and rage.

 

[DVNIEL]

In all, they stole...

....my Canon 20d (w/ 28-135 EF lens, and battery grip attached)

They stole your Canon 20D?!!!!?!?!






Bastards

 

[majordude]

They stole your Canon 20D?!

Thieves suck. Especially the ones that stalk you. Thats nuts.

 

[Chimaera]

Facts aren't a stereotype. And I switched to Mac because I am tired of PC.

How about incorrect facts? Hitler was Austrian

 

[Apple Architect]

Springtime in Paris

Yeah, with the exception of WWI, WWII and Hitler, those Germans are upstanding world citizens!

Correct me if I am wrong, but wasn't Hitler born in Austria.

 

[Henri Gaudier]

What?

It sounds good to forgive your ancestors for their wicked ways. "I didn't do it! I'm innocent!" True. But you are reaping the benefits of your forefather's actions. You are tied to your past whether you like it or not. Until you realize that you and your family were given a head start compared to minorities like me there will never be equality.

And, lastly, you don't sound like you are proud to be an American. You expressed a lot of pent-up guilt and rage.

Nonsense. We are all born brand new. This inheritance crap is religious guff of the first order. It's just chance that you are born in the first place. If you look into the genetic history of people then no-one is purely anything. I saw a programme where a genetic history of French Nationalists was taken and every one of them had genes from far away regions of the world. E.g. Ostensibly white European looking people had strong genetic links with Siberia, Pakistan etc. Get over it. Wearing your race is dull. Where's my beef? Am I a Frank or a Goth? A Gaul, a Moor, a Viking, a Magyar? Who? What? If I'm, say a Viking, do I pursue and sue, hold a grudge against all the others listed? Blame my failings on them. Boo hoo ... I'm not a pure Viking ... you've robbed me of my heritage and my lands. Get over it. People who argue for reparations should be prepared for the counter suing. I'm looking forward to my big cheque from the Jews, Catholics, Saracens ... oh and the Romans! They were real slaughtering, oppressing, culture destroying bastards. I'll get a big pay out off them. I just hope I receive more than I have to pay out. After all, WE Vikings were a bit naughty too ...... drowns in own saliva.

 

[majordude]

Correct me if I am wrong, but wasn't Hitler born in Austria.

I didn't say he was. He was Germany's leader, he was elected, and never overthrown.

 

[majordude]

People who argue for reparations should be prepared for the counter suing.

Your Honor, when slavery was abolished, my family lost a lot of money. Why, do you realize how much we had to pay for them slaves?! They were our property! I am sueing the United States Government for my losses.

Give me a break.

(I'm stopping now guys. We are way off topic. We can carry this on in another part of the board. Sorry for taking part in hijacking this thread.)

 

[Cybergypsy]

Guys back on topic.......

 

[otayandy]

Can Airport ID be tracked?

My powerbook was stolen by folks who live nearby (I'm pretty sure)...is there any device that can detect the airport card ID if they are using my Powerbook via a wireless connection?

Is this even possible?

 

[heatmiser]

The argument that's effectively hijacking this thread started after the numerous foolish statements to the effect of "people these days!". Let this be a lesson to you all - generalizations don't help any of us. Back to the OP, I'd give the serial to the police, and try to learn from the experience (you sound like you figured out the front-yard filming part already). Backup early, often, and offsite. Even if it's just emailing your term papers in Gmail; it can really save you some day.

 

[Digitalflick]

I have Under Cover installed on my MBP. When you get your mbp back/get another one. I would suggest getting something like Under Cover. I was only $40 and well worth it in my opinion.

Does undercover prevent someone from booting your machine in firewire mode and installing a OS from another machine?