Lucky me, laptop stolen

[RemyG]

At around 2-4:30am in the early morning december 7th, someone decided to come into my dorm room and while i was sleeping, steal my laptop. The door was cracked open, due to my roomate going to another room. When i woke up around 4:30, the laptop was gone. I'm extremly pissed off at my roommate, and yes I think it's possible he could of had something to do with it, but I have absolutly no evidence with this.

I filed a police report, and a report with dell on a stolen laptop. It currently has all my notes for some classes, with exams for 2 of them next week. I have no idea what to do, except letting as many people know about what happened, and that I just would like it back. I have posted flyers and everything. Hopefully someone will feel good enough and come forward, but i'm not betting on it. I am currently checking e-bay, and craigslist for possible sellers, to alert the police department if one comes up. I plan on calling all pawn shops around this area asking if anyone has sold a laptop close to my model to them.

Now this is stressing me out to no end, as this laptop is valued at just under 2,000.00. I just would like my laptop back and don't want to deal with paying an insurance deductible.

Now my question is; I want to hear straight, non-sugar coated responses, and I feel I can get the truth and honesty from you guys.

1. What are the odds, from what you've seen, stolen laptops recovered (even better if it's from around college campuses)? If so, how long did it take to find them?

2. Is it wise to call and ask pawn shops to see if they have the laptop. Would it be better to seem interested in a laptop, or saying that it's stolen? I'm thinking interested, but I could be wrong.

3. Using NCIS what is the usual percentage things stolen are recovered from there, within a couple months?

Thanks for your responses guys, and early merry christmas...

[ChesCopPodz]

A laptop stolen at a college, my guess won't end up at a pawn shop. I'd be willing to bet it was taken by someone who wanted one for themself but didn't want to pay for one.

[highwayman]

I don't know if you'll ever see your laptop again, but I can tell you how to ID the thief and possibly press charges.

Tips:

1. The thief knows your patterns (neighbor, roommate, receptionist) so stay cool and act normal like nothing happened.
Don't raise hell around campus ( no ads in the paper, no gossip ).

2. Plant some juicy electronics (cellphone, camera ) around the same area you lost your laptop from and set up a motion activated camera (as small as possible) one facing your property (ceiling mounted if possible) and one facing the door, recording into a computer.
There are programs that let you record from multiple cameras at the same time.

3. The thief will take the bait sooner or later as long as you act normal.
As soon as you have him on video take it straight to the detective you filed the report with.

4. Take into consideration if all the above is worth your time and effort and if not, get rid of your roommate and put a dead bolt on your door.

[Hockey9019]

OK this sounds a bit wierd but check with Dell. I know some of their newer laptops have that program like 'lo-jack' for all laptops now. A lot more companies are getting it because, I guess, it works?


If your in someone else's dorm room, freely, if they invited you in, don't go looking around by digging but do a quick visual look to see if maybe they might. Never know. Start your own investigation too. Keep it on the DL and just search.