Archive for the ‘Recovery Stories’ Category

Absolute Aids Speedy Recovery
A customer’s laptop was stolen on Sunday. On Monday, the customer reported the theft to Absolute, who began their investigation. Absolute had identified the machine’s location and unauthorized user by Wednesday, allowing police to visit the suspect’s home and recover the laptop on Thursday. By Friday, the suspect had pointed to the original laptop thief who had sold him the machine, and charges were laid. All in a day’s work…

Absolute Helps Nab Repeat Thief
After a residential burglary left a Computrace customer one laptop lighter, Absolute launched its investigation. The Theft Recovery Team quickly identified the machine’s unauthorized user and passed the name over to police, who found it particularly familiar. As it turns out, the suspect had just submitted a statement which accused an officer of ‘roughing her up’ after she was caught shoplifting from a department store.

Theft appeared to be the trend for the suspect, as was discovered when police visited her home. Not only was the stolen laptop recovered, but a slew of other stolen items – enough to connect the suspect to the burglary and to support a number of charges.

Absolute Recovers Stolen Computers Abroad
Days after this laptop was stolen from a customer in Denmark, Absolute had located the computer and identified two unauthorized users in a nearby town. Police visited the residence of the first suspect identified – the suspect handed over the stolen computer and police reciprocated with a Possession of Stolen Property charge. The second identified suspect was visited next, revealing further loot: a second computer linked to a second burglary – and a second charge to be laid. 

Please note that indictments and criminal complaints are merely unproven accusations and the accused in all cases are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The Fast Track to Unemployment

A Pennsylvania company noticed a hole in their laptop inventory, prompting them to report a theft to police and Absolute. The Absolute Theft Recovery Team had no problems identifying the stolen laptop’s unauthorized user– a familiar name to the victim company. It seems that a long-time staff member felt he was owed a little extra compensation, and so helped himself to a company computer. As a police visit to his residence revealed, the laptop was not the only company ‘gift’ he heisted – in a stash resembling the company’s supply closet, the man had also taken a number of monitors, handhelds and other electronic goodies.

This laptop (which, along with the other items, has since been returned to the company) is now better known as a ‘parting gift’, as, needless to say, the suspect is now a former employee.

Proving Laptops Get Stolen Just About Everywhere

This laptop was stolen out of a Michigan church. Absolute identified the laptop’s new location soon after– a residence just a stone’s throw away from the churchyard. Police visited the residence the following weekend, resulting in a group of adolescents facing some serious scrutiny…The laptop has since been returned to the church.

Have Laptop, Will Travel

A recent residential burglary left one of Absolute’s New York customer sans laptop. The next day, Absolute was able to pinpoint the stolen machine’s location to a nearby neighborhood, although soon after, the laptop had jumped to a bordering state. Within days of this move, the laptop began connecting to the Absolute Monitoring Center from the opposite coast – its last stop before travelling to Korea.

Meanwhile, Absolute collected information on the laptop’s unauthorized user, and passed this over to police. As further investigation revealed, the unauthorized user had purchased the stolen machine on eBay before heading to Korea on business. A little coaxing from police resulted in the laptop being shipped back to New York to be reunited with its rightful owner.

Please note that indictments and criminal complaints are merely unproven accusations and the accused in all cases are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Most Recoveries by One Officer
Location: CA, USA
Scenario: Working alongside Absolute to track and recover stolen laptops, a California officer recently made his 277th recovery of a Computrace equipped machine.

In a rather dramatic recovery, Absolute identified an adolescent as this laptop’s unauthorized user, and so the officer visited the boy’s house to discuss the matter with his father. The father was not home at the time, although the officer was advised that he would be arriving soon. And he did – although fled upon seeing police. The officer then visited the boy’s school, where the father reappeared – this time to frantically direct his son into the car before fleeing again. Talk about suspicious…

A determined officer was able to track the father down – a parolee, as it turns out – and recover the stolen machine. We expect this officer will reach the 300 recoveries mark soon – great work!

Quickest Recovery
Location: BC, Canada
Scenario: An auto theft left a BC customer without a laptop – but not for long. The computer came online the next day, allowing it to send valuable user and location information to the Absolute Monitoring Center. The Absolute Theft Recovery Team was able to positively identify the machine’s unauthorized user and whereabouts, and passed this information to police. Just 8 days later, police were able to recover the machine and return it to its rightful owner.

Least Believable Story
Location: CA, USA
Scenario: After a laptop was stolen from a school district’s office, Absolute was quick to identify its unauthorized user, who, of little coincidence, was employed by said district. Police followed up with the suspect by phone, only to have her adamantly deny having any laptop in her possession. Absolute’s evidence contradicted these claims however, spurring police to visit the suspect’s residence. Again, she denied any knowledge of the case, but was then presented with the evidence. Suddenly, her story changed.

This time, she actually did have the laptop in her possession – though it was not stolen, of course. A friend had found it, she alleged, in a trashcan. Conveniently, the power cord also happened to be in the same trashcan, making for a great find. Needless to say, police did not buy the story and charges will be laid. The laptop was recovered and returned – marking the 49th Computrace-equipped computer that the involved officer has recovered. 

Please note that indictments and criminal complaints are merely unproven accusations and the accused in all cases are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Most Recoveries by One Investigator

Location: CA, USA
Scenario: Computrace lead this investigator to a desktop computer after it was stolen from an elementary school. One knock-and-talk later, and the investigator was able to successfully retrieve the stolen desktop – marking his 274th computer recovery facilitated by Computrace technology.
Most Collateral Recovered

Biggest Bust

Location: ON, Canada
Scenario: Absolute’s investigation of a laptop stolen in a recent break-and-enter lead to a long chain of criminal activity. In the process of using Computrace intel to track down the machine’s unauthorized user, police uncovered multiple other stolen items, including credit cards, wallets, weapons and bikes. In addition, a sizable quantity of narcotics was discovered, along with evidence of a fraud operation. Several arrests were made and over 10 charges laid. Not bad for a day’s work… 

Most Unlikely Thief

Location: MA, USA
Scenario: A terminated employee was the suspect in question after a company was left minus one laptop. A surprising thief of sorts, this suspect also happened to be a part-time police officer. Perhaps this is why he knew not to lie to the investigator who confronted him – he admitted that he had stolen the laptop out of spite for his former employer, and sheepishly handed over the machine.

Please note that indictments and criminal complaints are merely unproven accusations and the accused in all cases are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Learn more about the Absolute Theft Recovery Process.

Most Collateral Recovered: Over $100,000 in Stolen Property

Scenario: While its owner slept, a laptop equipped with Computrace LoJack for Laptops was stolen in a home burglary. Two days later, Absolute was able to track the machine’s location and unauthorized user – all of the information police needed to identify a suspect and produce a search warrant. The search warrant was executed and the victim’s laptop recovered. Also seized at the scene: car parts, motorcycles, additional computers, and electronics among other stolen items, with a total value in excess of $100,000.

Most Distant Recovery: South Africa

Scenario: With Computrace LoJack for Laptops ever expanding its recovery borders, a laptop was recently recovered in Cape Town, South Africa just weeks after it was stolen in a home burglary.

Speediest Recovery: 6 Days

Scenario: Less than one week after it was stolen from a university rec hall, a laptop was returned to a relieved student, and the two thieves involved were arrested.

Most Computers Recovered by One Investigator: 17

Scenario: A recent burglary left a US college 17 computers lighter. With the help of Computrace, a skilled investigator was able to recover all 17, each from different locations but all with a connection to a single suspect. The outcome was favorable: a thwarted suspect facing multiple charges, an investigator impressed by Computrace’s capabilities and a happy school reunited with what is rightfully theirs.

Learn more about the Absolute Theft Recovery process

Please note that indictments and criminal complaints are merely unproven accusations and the accused in all cases are presumed innocent until proven guilty

Fastest Recovery

Recovery Time: 65 minutes
Location: CO, US
Scenario: After a laptop was stolen from an elementary school, Absolute was able to promptly identify the name and location of its unauthorized user. This information was passed over to police that afternoon, who, just over one hour later, recovered the computer from the identified suspect. The suspect will be charged with receiving stolen property – the power cord with the victim’s name printed on it was a dead give away… 

Sketchiest Alibi

Location: WA, US
Scenario: Absolute identified a youth as the unauthorized user of a stolen laptop before passing the information onto police for further investigation. Police visited the youth’s residence, where his dad explained a rather interesting tale. According to the father, he had recently stopped by the local pawn shop to purchase a computer, but it was closed when he got there (actually, it’s been closed for many years). Out of chance, alleged the father, a guy happened to walk by said closed pawn shop and have a laptop in hand, which, kindly, he offered for sale. Police were suspicious at this point, and a quick search of the father’s name proved why – he had been listed as a ‘witness’ on the original laptop theft report, where he had claimed to have seen an older woman steal the machine. With his story failing to add up, the father was charged with theft. The laptop has since been returned to its rightful owner.

Most Questionable ‘Friend’

Location: FL, US
Scenario: After her laptop was stolen from her parked car, a distraught customer shared her story with coworkers and friends. She not only detailed the scenario of the theft, but also, that the machine was equipped with Computrace LoJack for Laptops and so police and Absolute were busily working toward the laptop’s recovery. Within days, a ‘friend’ returned the stolen machine to her, claiming to have taken it as a ‘joke’. Ha. 

The following recovery story was sent in by two happy Computrace LoJack for Laptops customers:

Dear Computrace LoJack for Laptops,
 
We recently completed six months of South American adventures and travels, researching the Inkan civilization based in the ancient city of Cusco, Peru. During our travels, our laptop was stolen while we were eating lunch at a busy cafe near Cuscos Plaza de Armes, a popular tourist destination en route to Machu Picchu. 

We would never have seen our laptop again were it not for the advanced tracking capabilities of Computrace LoJack for Laptops – which we purchased as a safeguard while traveling overseas – and the close coordination of Absolute with the Policia National del Peru. 

Shortly after the robbery, our laptop began emitting its signal to Absolute from Lima, Peru’s capital city.  The Cusco Policia transferred our case to the Lima Policia.  Upon the Lima Policia learning about the case, Absolute quickly provided the computer’s IP address, and through satellite technology, pinpointed the exact building it was located in. 

We conferred with the Lima Policia late in the afternoon.  We checked in with them late the next morning and to our amazement, they were pleased to report they had caught the thieves and found our laptop along with another stolen computer.  I am writing this from our recovered laptop.  

Needless to say, I am most impressed with the capabilities of Computrace, which tracked the movement of the thieves and enabled the Lima Policia to catch them red handed. We highly recommend this product.
 
I would especially like to thank the Absolute Recovery Team for their professionalism, quick responsiveness and ability to maneuver through the culture of an overseas country to retrieve our laptop.  Our sincere appreciation to the Recovery Team for your successful efforts on our behalf. 

Were it not for Computrace LoJack for Laptops, we would have never seen our laptop again.
 
Best regards,
 
Craig and Sharon Spry
Inka Travelers Company

Even when class isn’t in session, universities are a hotspot for opportunistic computer thieves.  Absolute saw a number of campus thefts over the summer months, helping to comprise some of this week’s top recoveries:

Location: Iona College, NY
Date Recovered: September 8, 2009

Scenario: Laptop stolen from student’s dorm room. Absolute determined that the stolen computer was still on campus and that the unauthorized user was in fact at Iona student. Campus security questioned the identified student and recovered the laptop.

Location: Kaplan University, IA
Date Recovered: September 9, 2009

Scenario: Laptop stolen from university common room. Absolute began tracing its unauthorized user – a fellow student who unknowingly received stolen property after purchasing the machine from a friend. When approached by police, the unauthorized user ironically reported that he had just purchased Computrace LoJack for Laptops and was planning to install it that evening. The laptop was recovered and returned to its rightful owner.

Location: University of Washington, DC
Date Recovered: August 26, 2009

Scenario: Days after it was stolen from a DC dorm room, Absolute traced a laptop to a Louisiana university campus. A visit from police revealed the computer’s unauthorized user had purchased the machine on the street for less than $200 – a scenario which landed the user charges for possession of stolen property.

Location: University of Houston, TX
Date Recovered: September 9, 2009

Scenario: Laptop stolen from the university loading dock and soon after traced to an unauthorized user all the way up in New York. The new user had recently purchased the computer from an online classified site and unfortunately, and unknowingly, received stolen property in the process. Police have a number of suspects, and continue their investigation.

Learn more about the Absolute Theft Recovery process.

Most Dishonest Employee

Date Stolen: August 9, 2009
Date Recovered: September 1, 2009
Location: United Kingdom

Scenario: Absolute launched its investigation after a town council reported a laptop theft. It was quickly determined that the laptop’s unauthorized user was employed by the council, and [of no coincidence] oversaw its IT department. Absolute passed this information onto police, who searched the employee’s residence. The laptop was seized, along with several other items belonging to the council – enough stolen property for the police to fill an entire evidence room. With ample proof that the employee had been stealing from council for quite some time, he was promptly arrested. The laptop has since been returned to its rightful owner.

Quickest Recovery

Date Stolen: August 13, 2009
Date Recovered: September 1, 2009
Location: Germany 

Scenario: Within 19 days of an office theft, Absolute was able to pinpoint the computer’s location, identify the unauthorized user and provide police with the information necessary to execute a search warrant and recover the stolen machine. 

Most Interesting Find

Date Stolen: July 27, 2009
Date Recovered: August 20, 2009
Location: Texas, US

Scenario: This computer was reported stolen after it disappeared from the back of the vehicle. Absolute was able to positively identify the unauthorized user, with closer investigation suggesting the computer was being used to facilitate drug transactions. This information was passed on to police, who followed up with a search warrant and recovered the stolen machine – along with over $5,000 in narcotics. Charges will be laid.

If purchasing a used laptop, it’s important to buy from a reputable source that you know and trust – or you may risk acquiring a stolen machine. When distinguishing a legitimate secondhand dealer from an illegitimate one, both common sense and intuition can go along way. If the circumstance seems suspicious – it probably is.

Most thieves are looking for a quick cash turn around, so will sell a stolen laptop to a naive buyer from almost any location. On a weekly basis, Absolute traces stolen computers to individuals that have purchased the machine from “some guy” at a random locale – and have unknowingly received stolen property. 

Although the scenarios may sound obviously suspicious, Absolute commonly recovers stolen computers from people who have bought them in alley ways, abandoned lots, roadsides and street corners; not your typical locale for a trustworthy transaction.

Of the week’s situations which should have raised a red flag in the buyer’s mind, Absolute has recovered laptops after the following shady transactions:

• Man buys computer from the back of a car, parked outside of a popular chain computer store. (If you don’t actually have to go into the store to purchase the computer – isn’t that a bad sign?)

• Computer purchased from a group of adolescents selling a variety of electronics in a convenient store alley

• “Some guy” on a busy downtown street sells a woman a laptop for $40 

• Boy buys laptop from a friend who claimed to have found it “in an alley”

Buyer’s beware (and be smart!).