Stolen Laptop

PostStolen Laptop by **Blue Eyes** » Mon Jul 13, 2015 9:46 am

Hello guys,

a friend of mine had his laptop stolen from his house a couple of weeks ago. The bloke's gutted as it was brand new and he had saved up for it for ages.

Anyway, he's been looking on Gumtree just on the off chance that it would appear for sale on it. Two days ago, the same model of laptop, with a stock promotional photo of the thing used to advertise it appeared and the guy selling it says it was an unwanted gift. Like someone just gives £1,000 laptops away as gifts. He has a few other adverts that look dodgy too.

Anyway, my mate is in a quandary. He obviously cannot be sure it is his, but at the same time doesn't really want to pass up any possibility to get his laptop back. He knows the serial number, so could identify it. He's already told the police, who have done nothing so far. Should he tell them this? Or - suspecting that they won't follow up on an investigation based on a Gumtree advert - should he respond to the advert himself and go along with a knife to wrestle the banana split back off him?

Your advice will be greatly appreciated.

PostRe: Stolen Laptop by **Death's Head** » Mon Jul 13, 2015 9:52 am

Can he make an arrangement to view it? If so, turn up and if it is the same, pay a deposit and then say he needs to draw out the balance and arrange to come back later with it. But come with the Police, not the balance. :datass:

PostRe: Stolen Laptop by **Blue Eyes** » Mon Jul 13, 2015 9:59 am

Death's Head wrote:Can he make an arrangement to view it? If so, turn up and if it is the same, pay a deposit and then say he needs to draw out the balance and arrange to come back later with it. But come with the Police, not the balance.

That's certainly a possibility but it's not without problems. The bloke could just disappear with the deposit money and the laptop when they come back. What if the police take ages? He could just as well take the thing off him once he's seen the serial number. That could turn nasty too of course!

PostRe: Stolen Laptop by KK » Mon Jul 13, 2015 10:01 am

While this doesn't help now, my advice to everyone would be to register your expensive devices at www.immobilise.com, and also to purchase one of their property marking kits.

PostRe: Stolen Laptop by **massimo** » Mon Jul 13, 2015 10:18 am

By any chance, is it a MacBook? If so, it does have that Find My Mac feature enabled if you're signed in with iCloud. You'll be able to track it's location, lock it, etc. Works a charm.

PostRe: Stolen Laptop by **Blue Eyes** » Mon Jul 13, 2015 10:21 am

massimo wrote:By any chance, is it a MacBook? If so, it does have that Find My Mac feature enabled if you're signed in with iCloud. You'll be able to track it's location, lock it, etc. Works a charm.

No, it's a Dell unfortunately.

PostRe: Stolen Laptop by **massimo** » Mon Jul 13, 2015 10:26 am

No problem. How about asking the guy to send a picture of the laptop with the screen on maybe the user login screen, or something identifiable?

PostRe: Stolen Laptop by **Blue Eyes** » Mon Jul 13, 2015 10:32 am

massimo wrote:No problem. How about asking the guy to send a picture of the laptop with the screen on maybe the user login screen, or something identifiable?

I'm pretty sure the only real identifier will be the serial number, and I do believe my friend will be asking him to send a picture of the laptop from all angles.

PostRe: Stolen Laptop by **Lex-Man** » Mon Jul 13, 2015 11:20 am

Just meet somewhere public. Check the serial number and if its your mates walk off with it. Its not like the guy can do anything you have all the proof of sale stuff.

PostRe: Stolen Laptop by **Blue Eyes** » Mon Jul 13, 2015 12:20 pm

lex-man wrote:Just meet somewhere public. Check the serial number and if its your mates walk off with it. Its not like the guy can do anything you have all the proof of sale stuff.

That's up for consideration, but things could get a bit tasty that way. My mate has now asked for pictures of the laptop. Hopefully the bastard will reply and foolishly photograph the serial number.

PostRe: Stolen Laptop by **bigcheez2k3** » Mon Jul 13, 2015 12:33 pm

Meet in public, couple of you stand out the way so it looks like you're nothing to do with it. Your friend walks away with the laptop, thief tries anything you all step in.

PostRe: Stolen Laptop by KK » Mon Jul 13, 2015 12:41 pm

Problem is this bloke selling it may have been given it by a third party; you don't necessarily know the guy selling it is the same one that stole it, even if it is likely.

PostRe: Stolen Laptop by **Lex-Man** » Tue Jul 14, 2015 7:12 am

Blue Eyes wrote:
lex-man wrote:Just meet somewhere public. Check the serial number and if its your mates walk off with it. Its not like the guy can do anything you have all the proof of sale stuff.

That's up for consideration, but things could get a bit tasty that way. My mate has now asked for pictures of the laptop. Hopefully the bastard will reply and foolishly photograph the serial number.

I think the guy who has it will just let it go, he might shout a bit but if he attacks and the police gets involved he's just going to add an assault charge to handling stolen property. Attacking you just really isn't in his interest.

PostRe: Stolen Laptop by **Green Gecko** » Tue Jul 14, 2015 9:57 am

KKLEIN wrote:Problem is this bloke selling it may have been given it by a third party; you don't necessarily know the guy selling it is the same one that stole it, even if it is likely.

That doesn't matter as it's still handling stolen property which is a criminal offense. That would get sorted out later.

PostRe: Stolen Laptop by **Yoshimi** » Tue Jul 14, 2015 10:07 am

I'd be inclined to round up some mates for back up and walk out with the laptop.

However if the guy nicked it, he knows where you mate lives, and it could get messy.

PostRe: Stolen Laptop by **Green Gecko** » Tue Jul 14, 2015 10:30 am

I've been told previously by the police that if it does show up on gumtree or eBay you can report it to them, but my thing (a graphics tablet) was nicked on the street. In the meantime all you can really do is get a stolen property report no from them.

I did this and insurance paid back more than I paid for something. Unfortunately most insurance won't cover items stolen if you let someone into your house.

PostRe: Stolen Laptop by **Death's Head** » Wed Jul 15, 2015 9:00 am

Need an update on this story!

PostRe: Stolen Laptop by **Blue Eyes** » Wed Jul 15, 2015 9:29 am

Death's Head wrote:Need an update on this story!

Hah! I wish I had something interesting for you, but nothing has happened with it really. My friend asked this guy to send photos of the laptop a couple of days ago but he hasn't responded. I'm trying to get him to tell the police about the gumtree advert, but he's reluctant. Hopefully your advice won't go to waste.

Thanks all!

PostRe: Stolen Laptop by **Herdanos** » Wed Jul 15, 2015 11:16 am

Blue Eyes wrote:I'm trying to get him to tell the police about the gumtree advert, but he's reluctant.

Why? What would he have to lose?

PostRe: Stolen Laptop by **Blue Eyes** » Wed Jul 15, 2015 11:33 am

Dan. wrote:
Blue Eyes wrote:I'm trying to get him to tell the police about the gumtree advert, but he's reluctant.

Why? What would he have to lose?

He feels embarrassed. I don't know why, and he even admits he doesn't either.

Stolen Laptop

Who is online

Affiliates