Finding stolen MacBooks.

[emtnick]

Hi everybody.

My 16 year old brothers best friend, who also happens to be one of my good friends and my best friends little brother, was walking from Emanual College to his brothers apartment in Mission Hill in Boston on Friday night to go to their grandfathers funeral when he got mugged. After being stabbed in the face and chest six times, they took his wallet and his brand new MacBook Pro. Luckily they didn't take his cell phone and he was able to call 911. He's recovering from surgery now to repair a bilateral pneumothorax (2 collapsed lungs) and it sounds like he's going to be ok. I know there's nothing I can do, but I'm looking for some peace of mind. His family isn't that well off and for them to spring for a top of the line computer like that only to get it stolen by some ignorant thugs really ****** me off. How easy is it to find a stolen MacBook? I thought I read somewhere that it's really easy. I'd love it if the computer was the reason these kids got caught.

Thanks!

 

[pigoo3]

How easy is it to find a stolen MacBook? I thought I read somewhere that it's really easy. I'd love it if the computer was the reason these kids got caught.

Thanks!

It would be great if the guys that did this could get caught & punished...but unfortunately...it is not very easy to track down & find a stolen Macintosh laptop...sorry.

If the bad guys are caught (via good police & detective work)...this is the best way of recovering the Macbook (if they haven't already sold it to someone else).

Hopefully your friend will recover quickly,

- Nick

 

[inetworkmobile]

I am real sorry to here that, U can locate a iphone through mobile me because of the GPS feature, but the MBP I am unsure if it can be located, but I hope there is a way, I will keep my ears open for any way to locate a stolen computer.

 

[miles01110]

Make a police report and include the laptop's serial number. I believe you can also call Apple and inform them that such-and-such MBP was stolen.

 

[emtnick]

what would calling apple do? can they remotely disable the computer?

 

[farmdreads]

If you file a police report and let Apple know about it, they won't service the computer under Applecare. I read an article about someone who had a stolen computer serviced because it was still under warranty but the original owner didn't report it stolen to the police.
About your friend, too bad that there are evil people in this world. Hope they die a slow, horrible death.

 

[~Darkseeker~]

i dont know how it works where you are - but some companies in europe will cover theft on your home insurance.

my friend has a macbook pro, he had some utility installed so he can remotely firevault it, now thats a good idea.

 

[Oneironaut]

It's a bit too late, but some people use Orbicule Undercover, which can track stolen Macbooks within 10 to 20 yards or something. You could also get LogMeIn which lets you remotely access and operate your Macbook and even take pictures of the thief. But unless anything like this was already installed on your friend's computer, all you can do is file a police report and hope they can find it, and notify Apple and let them know it was stolen. Sorry!

 

[Eric559]

The only way usually to track stolen laptops is if you have installed software before the incident.

There is nothing you really can do besides what has been stated above (police report and call apple). If it was really easy to locate stolen computers then everyone would get their computer back.

 

[emtnick]

Well thanks for the help. All this got me thinking... what if this was me? One program could catch who stabbed me. I want this program. What does everyone recommend? I'm checking out undercover right now... looks promising. Thoughts?

 

[pigoo3]

Well thanks for the help. All this got me thinking... what if this was me? One program could catch who stabbed me. I want this program. What does everyone recommend? I'm checking out undercover right now... looks promising. Thoughts?

Give these articles a read:

How To Prepare For A Stolen Mac Free Mac Blog

Undercover software tracks "stolen" Mac

MacTrak – Recover and Track your stolen Mac | AppYourMac.com

Hope this helps,

- Nick

 

[phantac]

Sorry to hear about your friend. I actually got my mbp stolen a week ago, and was wondering if it could be found as well. So thanks for putting this thread up, and answering my concerns. I'll probably inform apple now. But yeah, if he had the serial number, let the police know.

 

[kerstin]

Stolen Mac Book

Hi, my Name ist Kerstin.
Hope Im right here.

My friend's Mac Book was stolen yesterday between San Diego and Los Angeles (California).
There is everything on it.

He called the police, but they don't know who it was.


I hope, maybe you can find me...what can we do?
It's an Austrian Mac Book, so you can see that we have a different keyboard.
I don't know the serial number until now.

Maybe you can help me, that would be great.

Thanks Kerstin

 

[chscag]

No one here is going to be able to help you or your friend find or recover his MacBook. If it's been reported to the police and the police were given the SN and they can recover it somehow, it will be returned to him.

 

[EvenStranger]

From my experience, Apple's stance is if a person has possession of a computer, they must be the legal owner. Computers change hands too easily, legitimately and illegitimately, and Apple doesn't want to be the computer police. Exceptions have been made for computers formerly owned by Apple, such as stolen floor units, but as a rule, Apple doesn't want to get in the middle of a potential stolen property battle. There's too much to lose and little to gain, as a company.

 

[kerstin]

Thanks for your answers.
I just thought that you may have an idea.


So, we just hope, that the computer comes back.
Maybe, it's also possible, that you - cause I told you all the story - have positive thoughts about the coming back.

I know, might sound a bit strange, but a lot of positive thoughts will help us to find it.
And, its just a thought, doesn't matter, doesn't cost anything.


Thanks a lot for your help.

 

[iggibar]

This reminds me of when my friend and I thought he bought a stolen computer. If you go to an Apple store, you can use the account the macbook was registered with, assuming its serial was matched with the account, apple will put a notice in their records so they will know when the serial number goes through them again. The only problem is that you have to show some kind of proof that it was indeed yours, something like the original box, or order receipt will have the original serial number on it. I'll be wishing for a swift and speedy recovery.

This is a problem that will be answered when Lion comes out with FindMyMac.

 

[roflitskyle]

Thanks for your answers.
I just thought that you may have an idea.


So, we just hope, that the computer comes back.
Maybe, it's also possible, that you - cause I told you all the story - have positive thoughts about the coming back.

I know, might sound a bit strange, but a lot of positive thoughts will help us to find it.
And, its just a thought, doesn't matter, doesn't cost anything.


Thanks a lot for your help.

I'll think good thoughts for you

Good luck!

- Kyle

 

[Drama]

Open source anti-theft solution for Mac, PCs & Phones – Prey

the Prey project is an open source app made specifically to track your computer if it goes missing however it must be installed on your computer beforehand so is of little use in the case of your unfortunate mate.