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Stolen Laptop - Page 2

post #21 of 44
6/9/07 at 12:02pm
Probably the box contains a (bar?) code which identifies the purchase, kind of like a serial number or service tag so they make sure you aren't using someone else's account to cheat them out of a new system.

HENCE THE REASON WHY YOU SHOULD ALWAYS KEEP ALL DOCUMENTATION YOU RECEIVE WITH YOUR COMPUTER SYSTEM AND SOFTWARE.

You'd be surprised how many people I get where I work at looking for support numbers, serial tags, drivers and *sigh* their retail software serial numbers just because they don't bother to check the little paper sheets that come with it containing all of this. No, it doesn't matter if the sheet says in BIG LETTERS to not to throw it away and keep it, after all, what is a serial number good for?.

So, when they need it, you have to look for it and give it to them. They're screwed with their retail software though because no company keeps that information so they have to contact the software maker to see if they will give them a new serial (or have to purchase the software again).
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post #22 of 44
6/9/07 at 2:13pm
Thread Starter 
When I first installed the LoJack software I had to give them a lot of computer and personal information for the registration. I bet the real reason they requested the retail box was to make it harder for an individual to get a refund if his/her laptop is stolen and it is not located within four weeks. They are not asking for the box now since the signal was picked up. Well...I am glad I threw away the box away, even though I will not get a refund for the software, they will continue to pick up signals for my stolen laptop.

The LoJack software costed me $49.99. If the laptop is returned in a damaged manner, I can still sell it making more of a profit than the software costed me.

And check it out here, it mentions nothing of the retail box within the qualifications of a refund: http://www.lojackforlaptops.com/mone...or-laptops.asp They mentioned the retail box over the phone to me when I asked about the refund. I still have the software retail receipt and the envelope the software came with the software serial number attached.
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post #23 of 44
6/9/07 at 2:34pm
The most annoying thing is that even thought your laptop gets the signal, police will not do anything.

I mean they will just say they have more important crimes to solve than stolen laptop. And plus, unless they have physical address of stolen laptop, they will probably laugh at you when you give them IP address.

Many policemen have pretty much absolutely no knowledge of computers, and unless the department is specific department that deals with internet (like child pornography unit, who actually know their stuff) chances are that regular police will just stare at you and ask: "What's an I.P. address?".
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post #24 of 44
6/9/07 at 2:48pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by AirForceElite View Post
The most annoying thing is that even thought your laptop gets the signal, police will not do anything.
I am going to have agree with you 100% on that one. But when I mentioned to the detective my stolen laptop has LoJack, he seemed excited. It seemed like he knew about LoJack already. He gave me a direct number to give to LoJack to reach him at. When I first called to report a stolen computer, I was shifted to a certain detective. I think he is the only one one who handles stolen computers in that city. If I feel he is not doing his job correctly, I will contact the chief of police and bring it up in the city council meeting. I will call him on Monday to see what is going on.
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post #25 of 44
6/9/07 at 11:58pm
i agree with his methods for keeping the lojack subscription. nail the guy if you can. secondly, even if your data on the laptop is gone so what? most people back it up routinely anyway so maybe he only loses a little data, and if the laptop is in the same working order as when it was stolen, then he really hasnt lost much. you may get lucky, and you may get your laptop back.

ev
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post #26 of 44
6/10/07 at 3:21am
except most thieves don't steal an item to use it, they do it for a quick buck and if you ultimately succeed in recovering the laptop (doubt it) you won't be catching the crook, just another victim who was scammed with a cheap purchase. the data on the laptop is most certainly deleted or altered by now, so if that was your only copy and it was important, hence the pursuit, then I wouldn't count on getting that back either. if you were offered a full refund back, that is always going to be more than what you can auction a used/possible abused laptop for. for a service that you paid to register for and can prove your identity, I highly doubt that it is impossible to retrieve your serial number from lojack's database and it is most ridiculous that you are being constrained by the absence of a colorful piece of cardboard. especially if you have the receipt and can scan it, I would try again to get the refund and not give up so easily without maximum persuasion. the prospects just don't look good otherwise.
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post #27 of 44
6/10/07 at 12:24pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by themessenger500 View Post
except most thieves don't steal an item to use it, they do it for a quick buck and if you ultimately succeed in recovering the laptop (doubt it) you won't be catching the crook, just another victim who was scammed with a cheap purchase.
There is a good chance you are right. It was probably bought last from a pawn shop. But none of know right now. Time will tell.
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post #28 of 44
6/11/07 at 7:59pm
People who thieve laptops are usually not the type that know how to use a bootable CD to bypass the Windows Password, if its a bios/hard drive password it would be even less likely they would know how to do it. Most likely they will sell it on Ebay or sell it to a pawn shop. I wouldn't count my blessings.
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post #29 of 44
6/11/07 at 8:44pm
Thread Starter 
I called the dectective today. He told me it would take him at LEAST two weeks to get the search warrant.

Today I drove up to the police department and spoke to his supervisor, a sgt. She told me he is a good detective. She told me she will talk to him and sometimes it does take them two weeks to get a search warrant. I told her I will call her back tomorrow. I also explained to her I will see the chief of that police department if I am not satisfied from talking to her tomorrow.

An attorney in a different forum mentioned the following:

"The delay may be due to the reliance upon an outside agency, such as the state police or a prosecutor's office, to track down the address where the computer is located. Lojack provides a date and IP address, but then somebody has to subpoena the information associated with that IP address from the internet service provider (ISP), get the address of the customer using the IP at the time Lojack detected the use, then get a warrant. The anticipated delay may be from the first part of that process - getting the required information from the ISP - as opposed to getting the warrant itself.

I would be concerned that by the time two weeks have passed, absent more use from the same address, the information may be deemed "stale" for purposes of obtaining a warrant."
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post #30 of 44
6/11/07 at 11:59pm
all i can say is i feel your pain, and stick with it. it cant hurt to try, and keep at it. good luck!!! for what its worth, you are doing exactly the things i would be doing.

ev
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post #31 of 44
6/12/07 at 6:35pm
From the first post, your computer was stolen right before October 15, 2006. Wasn't that 9 months ago? And still no luck?

Please try again to get the refund. Try to talk to a different customer service rep and see if they mention a box. If they don't, go get your refund. If they do, talk to a supervisor and let them know you have other ways to prove you bought the software.
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post #32 of 44
6/13/07 at 2:56am
you should install a backdoor in it,so when it online,you will know it's IP. lol
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post #33 of 44
6/13/07 at 12:56pm
Yeah man, I am with ya. I appreciate your sense of justice in wanting to get the crook. Stick with it and I hope that crook ends up behind bars.
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post #34 of 44
7/2/07 at 6:03pm
Thread Starter 
I went to the police department today to see where everything is standing. They told me they recovered the laptop on 6-29-07. It was located in a different city inside of a house. The problem is it has a different computer case with serial number. The LoJack system tracked down my computer's hard drive but someone put it inside of a different case. The detectives are going to take pieces apart and give me what is mine. There were no arrest made.
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post #35 of 44
7/2/07 at 6:50pm
Wow that took a long time to get resolved and you definitly stuck with it to the end but to bad no one was arrested and all you got back was the hard drive.
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post #36 of 44
7/3/07 at 2:25am
that is such bullshit. you should tell the cops hope it happens to them. see what they say when its their puter.

ev
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post #37 of 44
7/3/07 at 6:04pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dynamike View Post
I went to the police department today to see where everything is standing. They told me they recovered the laptop on 6-29-07. It was located in a different city inside of a house. The problem is it has a different computer case with serial number. The LoJack system tracked down my computer's hard drive but someone put it inside of a different case. The detectives are going to take pieces apart and give me what is mine. There were no arrest made.
Mistake. The detective told me it is the wrong laptop they picked up. He also told me he mentioned to the resident she will not get the computer they picked up back until she turns in mine.
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post #38 of 44
7/4/07 at 1:30am
thats why I do not have a BIOS password or Windows PW (except for my admin account). I prefer the person who steals my laptop to grab it & get on the internet. the second they get on it will transmit the IP to LoJack.

It's definitely an advantage to have BIOS based Lojack over the HDD embedded version since the BIOS version cannot be forcibly removed or modified once it has been activated.
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post #39 of 44
7/4/07 at 1:44am
Wow, that kinda sounds like shes between a rock and hard place, and that means you got a GOOD chance of getting your laptop back. man, i REALLY hope you get it back! youve gone through hell and perservered the whole way. i would LOVE to see you get rewarded for it.

It sounds to me like if he had to tell her that hed only swap her, that she obviously wants hers back. and since she has no impetus to keep yours, theres a better than fifty-fifty shot at getting it back. i just hope it comes back in exactly the same condition hard ware wise or maybe better. ( more ram or bigger drive, etc) wouldnt THAT be a hoot? lol

Still, i just really hope you get it back. If the law of karma has anything to say about it, you are due for some good to come your way.

keep us informed, we like hearing whats up. it gives us an insight into what we may go through someday, and learning from your experiences could be seriously INVALUABLE later on if it DOES happen to us. thanks for posting, dynamike.

ev
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post #40 of 44
7/7/07 at 6:56am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by SolApathy View Post
thats why I do not have a BIOS password or Windows PW (except for my admin account). I prefer the person who steals my laptop to grab it & get on the internet. the second they get on it will transmit the IP to LoJack. It's definitely an advantage to have BIOS based Lojack over the HDD embedded version since the BIOS version cannot be forcibly removed or modified once it has been activated.
That is a good idea. I'm surprised I never thought of it. After I read your post I set up my present laptop the way you described.
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