I had my laptop stolen by a group of kids

[yoojimboo.livejournal.com]

I was using my laptop at Cambridge Galleria (their food court is providing us with free wireless Internet) this early evening. Then, one short black boy in a red jacket passed by, quickly lifted my computer and ran away. Some kids followed him, so they seem to be a group. Anyway,
1) I hope none of you guys will have a similar kind of trouble I had today
(the door which the kids went through says "please do not use this door -- that will ring alarms", but obviously the alarm didn't ring.)
2) Could you give me any suggestion about how to handle this type of issues? I talked with a police officer already. Is there anything you would do if you were on my shoes?
3) If you happen to see the laptop which is a Mac 12-inches Powerbook with metal/silver body (2004-2005 model) whose apple symbol on the lid has a googly eyes and some stickers (though all those features might have been taken off already), could you please report it to the police, or post a note here?
I really appreciate your help in advance.

Comments

[perspicuity.livejournal.com]

report it stolen to the mall security, the police, to apple (they even have a store there), (got apple care? ask for a credit or transfer maybe you get lucky), got renters/owners insurance?

if you want to get fancy, go through channels and get video from the mall to help out the police. go CSI!

perhaps depending, ask the mall to buy you a new one on the basis of their alarms not working/etc. report THAT ;P

that completely sucks.

#

[two-stabs.livejournal.com]

A short black kid in a red jacket stole my iPod from the CG. Go figure.

[yoojimboo.livejournal.com]

Thanks for your prompt response. Especially because this incident made me feel totally miserable and sleepless, your practical advice and sympathy to my situation mean a lot to me.

[yoojimboo.livejournal.com]

When did you have your iPod stolen?? Did you get it back? I'll certainly report this to the police. Thanks for backing me up!

[dystocia.livejournal.com]

the kid lifted your laptop while you were sitting right there typing on it?

I'm not sure I can visualize the events

[stagnicity.livejournal.com]

Is it that hard? It's like a purse snatching. Except it's yer damn laptop. I've heard of stuff like this w/electronics before (usually ipods or, with one friend, their iphone), but not a laptop. Still, with an escape plan and familiarity with the layout of an area and open space to dash out... makes sense to me. Sprightly little bastard.

[dystocia.livejournal.com]

I dunno....partially it's because I don't own a laptop. It sucks that it happened though...hopefully mall security will be helpful. i wasn't trying to be snarky or anything, i just couldn't visualize the encounter at 6am in the morning.

They should make some sort of security thingy for laptops....perhaps something that padlocks to the table so while you're using it in public, if someone tried to grab it they wouldn't get anywhere? I don't think I'd use a laptop in any of the gallerias around here; maybe in someplace small like Diesel or any other small place with WiFi, but I'd be too paranoid about this sort of thing happening in anyplace bigger. Just my opinon though.

[stagnicity.livejournal.com]

They've got those security locks that bolt into the laptop and around, say, the leg of the table you're working on. I had one in college so that if I ducked out of my dorm room I didn't need to worry about someone running off with it. But I'd never thought about needing to use something like that in a public space (or at least a wide-open one with clear get-away paths!). God knows I use my laptop in public spaces enough that I'll be thinking of such things from here on out...

[dystocia.livejournal.com]

it's sad that you have to though...


i hope the OP gets it back, or at least has some recourse to getting a replacement....

[wildflowersoul.livejournal.com]

How is this about Davis Square??

[two-stabs.livejournal.com]

It was in March, I was working there, I'd rather not say where, they did nothing about it.

[dylanesque29.livejournal.com]

.......this seems really inexplicable to me. Did you chase him/them? How well could he run with a laptop hindering his movement? Not that I'm trying to bust your balls, but this sounds kinda strange.

[dylanesque29.livejournal.com]

Plus, did you have the serial number of the laptop recorded?

bummer

[evenblend.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately its too late for this situation, but my friend told me about this software for mac that has some serious features to find the thief. Check it out... http://www.orbicule.com/undercover/

Sorry to hear about your laptop, my ipod got stolen out of my car a few months ago. It hurts.

[an-art-worker.livejournal.com]

just lifted it from in front of you? That's pretty bold. The mall no doubt has many surveillance cameras all over the place. I would expect/assume that mall security would want to identify these kids. Did they ask you to view any tapes?

Do you have apt. insurance? Sometimes it covers stuff like this (even though it didn't happen in your apt).

Drag.

[ron_newman]

This won't help you right now, but the Somerville police have a new program to register laptops, iPods, GPS, and other portable electronics, so they can return them to the owner if they recover them:

WRAP - Web-based Registry Anti-Theft Program

[hrafn.livejournal.com]

I had my bike nearly stolen from me by some damn teenager while I was walking with it (I had a flat, so no riding - and this was in Charlestown a few years ago). Fortunately, I had hold of it with both hands, so when I yanked back and yelled at the kid who was pulling on the other side, he fell on his ass and that was that. His friends laughed.

[tastyanagram.livejournal.com]

Ha, thank you.

[komos.livejournal.com]

Clearly, because he's part of the community, it must be of interest to us.

[ruxxell.livejournal.com]

this sort of thing happens all the time. some girl took my friends phone off the table at the boston common loews once and he immediately was like GIVE ME MY PHONE and she gave it back to him, tried to say it was "a joke". he didnt report her but i def. would have.

cambridgeside galleria. yeah, i got mugged near there about 4 years ago.

[yoojimboo.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much for all of your suggestions. I believed that kids in Boston area are given better educational opportunities and have better morals in general -- in fact I met many friendly kids here and there in Boston until yesterday. I should not be discouraged by this particular group of kids, but it caused me a lot of pain. Anyway, I really appreciate your support.

[derekp.livejournal.com]

If I were in your shoes I'd be doing a few things:

1. Cruising craigslist religiously, looking for listings of your computer. Macs are pretty popular so there will probably be a lot of them for sale, but you might be able to ask about software installed or some such thing to help narrow it down. Asking for a serial number would just be too obvious.

2. Going to that mall every single day at various times. They will be back. They're dumb.

[derekp.livejournal.com]

Forgot to add the last one...

3. Report the laptop to apple as stolen. They will take the serial number and if it's ever brought in for service it will come up as stolen. Chances are slim the thieves will bring it in, but it's possible whoever they sell it to will.

[yoojimboo.livejournal.com]

I tried this in person (at Mac store, Cambridge Side Galleria) and by on-line chat, but they said that they don't have that kind of flag system (i.e., they are offering technical services but not anything else). If you think I'm wrong, could you please correct me? Thanks a lot :-)

[makoshark.livejournal.com]

That so screwed up. Sorry about that!

[yoojimboo.livejournal.com]

Thanks for your suggestions.

As for the craigslist -- I'll certainly check it constantly and try the strategy you suggest whenever I find "selling Apple PowerBook laptop" ads. I also found several posts saying "I'll buy your old computers". I'm wondering whether they are willing to help people who are trying to recover their properties or rather happy to buy stolen items from criminals...(sigh)