Stolen Powerbook

My 6 month old Powerbook got stolen yesterday and im gutted. Could anyone tell me if there is any kind of tracking device, if anyone was to access the internet.

I have no hope of getting it back but would love to have the %$%&^%$ behind bars.
Cheers

Posted on Jul 30, 2005 9:53 AM

Reply
15 replies

Jul 30, 2005 10:26 AM in response to Appledup

I'm so sorry...

The same thing happened to me about a month ago. However, my Powerbook was stolen from a Mac repair shop. Luckily their insurance covered replacement. I tried, and failed, to find much support for stolen laptop owners. I might try posting notice on your local craigslist. If anything, it was a harsh lesson in backing up my data.

I, too, hope they find the @#$%!& that stole our laptops!

Best of luck to you!

Jul 30, 2005 10:29 AM in response to Appledup

Welcome to Apple Discussions, Nitin.

Sorry to hear your PowerBook has been stolen. The answer to your question, I'm afraid, is no (at least nothing I'm aware of). Even if there is, you need to have had it installed BEFORE the PB was stolen.

Obviously you need to report the theft to police. If you have insurance (which is something I always advocate for notebook computers), then you should also contact them.

It is worth noting that some credit card companies offer insurance protection on goods purchased with their card.

Jul 30, 2005 10:54 AM in response to Appledup

There may be a rare, outside chance that you could locate your PowerBook depending upon how you have it configured and how bold or computer illiterate your thief is.

If, for example, you have have an iChat or other chat account set up, or other internet-based service (FTP upload, etc.) and the thief is bold enough to log in as "you" (you would have to have your password set to automatically log on), then you may be able to locate your account online. If this occurs, you could in theory ping the account and get the IP address of origin.

This is a longshot, but there was a similar post on these forums a couple of years ago that actually resulted in recovery of a Mac for another user...

Jul 30, 2005 11:14 AM in response to Appledup

You ought to change the password on your email and iChat accounts if your PowerBook was set to automatically login and retrieve email without you having to enter a password.

It might also be a good idea to change your password at any websites you have registered at.

If you use online banking you should be ok as they usually require you to enter your password at each login.

In future consider using FileVault.

Sep 25, 2005 9:04 AM in response to EddieC

There is a tracking software available for PC's that locates laptops provided the software was installed prior to the theft. Essentially this software hones in on the actual location once the theif logs onto the internet. It can be programmed to notify local authorities. Sells for about $100. It would be great if this "Lo Jack" software was also mac compatible. But currently i don't think it is.

http://www.gearlive.com/index.php/news/article/skyhookoffers_lojack_locate_stolen_electronics06211206/

SDMacuser

Sep 26, 2005 10:48 PM in response to Appledup

well, all these kind of software that says it can track it if connected to the internet is pretty useless. Just do a clean install of the OS and bye bye program that tracks you. Unfortunately I don't think there is a way to find out where it is at. If you have home insurance I am sure it covers theft. Other than that, maybe you'll be reunited with your PB if the user who stole it is stupid.

Sep 27, 2005 5:12 AM in response to Appledup

Wow. This brings back bad memories. My Titanium was stolen last year. Thankfully, I had backed up most of my hard drive and the agency I worked in reimbursed me for the theft. It was stolen at a high school, so some kid probably sold it and got a bag of peanuts for it.

In any case, I bought a new Aluminum Powerbook last November, and immediately purchased insurance for it. I recommend this company:

http://www.safeware.com/index.htm

Premiums are amazingly low, and you can add any peripherals to the policy. Full coverage, including theft and accidents.

I've been thinking of forming a bereavement group for people who have had their Powerbooks stolen (I'm a social worker). 😉

Joel

Sep 27, 2005 6:47 AM in response to joelzenny

Sorry to hear your sad tale! I'm scared to death of losing mine, even though it's all backed up and what-have-you.

I found insurance was cheaper if I used security marking. There's a product in the UK called SmartWater, a paint-on liquid containing "DNA" markers unique to each user. You register your details with the company; if the police ever recover stolen goods marked with the paint, they can not only trace the owner by consulting the database, but they also have criminal evidence against whoever was found in possession of the goodies. It wouldn't help you get your PB back in every case, but it helps with insurance premiums, it puts thieves off when they see the stickers, and there's the satisfaction of knowing the so-and-so's might, just might, get caught!

Kitty.

Sep 27, 2005 12:00 PM in response to King Jules 1

Hi there KJ,

I just added the laptop to my house contents insurance as a 'named item' (I also have an electric wheelchair, which was done the same way). They charged me an additional premium for it, but it wasn't a huge amount. I think I might run into probs with this cover if, say, the PB was stolen whilst I was carrying it around for work, but mine almost never leaves the house. If I did use it for work and have to take it around with me, I think I'd at least have a look round to see if the cover was better on specific policies for portable equipment.

The SmartWater company has a good website, which you'll find via Google. It's always a good idea to consult your local crime prevention officer as well - the police here are very keen on this particular security marking method (I got my stuff marked for free under a scheme run by the police and the local authority), but others may have different strategies or recommendations. It is worth saying that, if you use security marking, you have to put a sticker onto the items in question so that (a) the police know it's marked, and (b) for any deterrent effect to work. No-one has run off with my wheelchair yet, anyway! 😉

- Kitty.

Dec 21, 2005 2:22 PM in response to jaizai

Hi Jaizai --

I can't help you with your Safeware question (I've never used them), but this thread isn't the best place to post.

The last post here was almost three months ago (September 27), and even though Safeware was mentioned, the topic concerned stolen laptops, not damaged ones and Safeware's repair coverage.

The general rule in these Discussions is that "if your issue has any significant difference from a similar topic, then you're probably better off posting a new topic to focus attention on your particular issue."

If I were you, I'd start a new post.

But before I go, after rereading your post, I think there's a few things you ought to consider:

In previous posts, you've told us all about how earlier this month your new PowerBook fell off your desk and was damaged cosmetically (dents and such) and how disappointed you were to learn that Apple's warranty likely would cover such damage, both because it was cosmetic and because it was user caused.

Now you're inquiring about Safeware's insurance program in what appears to be the context of trying to decide whether you should obtain a policy and [then] have them [Safeware] repair once u file a complaint due to accidental damage or should [you] just shell 6 bills to get [your] laptop fix due to minor damage...

You should know that insurance policies generally don't cover damage incurred outside the coverage period. So, if you were to obtain a Safeware policy today, the damage you suffered early this month likely would not be covered. (You should check with Safeware to verify this.)

Now, sometimes people in such circumstances sometimes try to obtain coverage under false pretenses, such as by purposely misrepresenting the date the damage was sustained so that it falls within the coverage period. To so proceed would, of course, be to to commit insurance fraud and to subject oneself to potentially substantial civil and criminal liability if the fraud is uncovered.

Good luck.

-- JDee

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