My sisters stolen laptop & Ipod

Kimkimkim · 28th May 2006, 09:55 PM

My sister lives in New York and her laptop & Ipod were stolen at the end of April. She reported it, but wanted to do more.
She was told about a website that police officers developed to recover lost & stolen property and it's free. She posted her items but did not include in the description where she had reported this theft.
She received a phone call from one of these officers and he explained that if you are posting stolen property you must include all police information.
My sister has not even received a call from the department she reported this theft to. She was very impressed that this is not just some website attempting to obtain your information. I suggest everyone have a look at

Juststolen.net

Kopji · 28th May 2006, 10:41 PM

Quote:

When you sign-up for a JUSTSTOLEN.NET registration you will be asked to provide certain information, such as your name and contact information. JUSTSTOLEN.NET or its affiliates may use this information to tailor presentations and offers to you, facilitate your use of the service, provide personalized services, and communicate separately with you. Personal information will NOT be shared, distributed or viewable by any parties outside of JUSTSTOLEN.NET.

...
I think it would be crazy to register something like your credit card numbers with this.

tim · 29th May 2006, 01:09 AM

In principle this seems a good idea. In the UK loads of stolen stuff is recovered by police, but it never gets back to it's rightful owner, 'cos nobody knows who they are.
That said, I would want to check the site out thoroughly before registering. They don't ask for your credit card details, which is good. They don't ask for your name and address - just a description and serial numbers of the goods, and an email. Whether they could trace you from that, I don't know.
I would want to know, for instance, how they were funded.

geni · 29th May 2006, 05:17 AM

A first post advertiseing a website. Hmmm probably a scam. No point in looking further.

tkingdoll · 29th May 2006, 05:18 AM

Originally Posted by tim

I would want to know, for instance, how they were funded.

Perhaps they charge for reuniting the owner with the goods. Which would be cheeky.

tim · 29th May 2006, 05:31 AM

Probably not a good decision, posting on a skeptical website..........

Bikewer · 29th May 2006, 07:45 AM

If your sister had the serial number of the laptop, it will be entered into NCIC, a national database of stolen items. Likewise the IPod.

Alas, we take almost-weekly reports on stolen computers at my university, and only rarely can the student provide these numbers.
We also have a "Stop-Tag" service. For 10 bucks, we register the numbers on the machine, and apply a clearly-visible tag (using industrial super-glue) stating same to the outside. Attempts to remove the tag will either break the case, or leave a chemically-etched "stolen" message on same.

Very few students avail themselves of this service. We have had a number of unfortunate victims loose term-papers, semesters-worth of notes, and in one case, a novel; all without any backup.

There are also commercial programs which you can purchase. These "hide" on the hard drive and if the machine is stolen, a call to the service activates the program. If the machine is connected to the Internet, it sends a message to the service as to the IP location so that police can be called.

tim · 29th May 2006, 08:23 AM

Neat!

Dog Boots · 30th May 2006, 01:28 AM

Originally Posted by tim

In principle this seems a good idea. In the UK loads of stolen stuff is recovered by police, but it never gets back to it's rightful owner, 'cos nobody knows who they are.

You make me think of an insane related fact about the Danish legal system, I heard a few years back from a friend of mine, whom worked a the local police station at the time.

When in Denmark recovered stolen property isn't retrieved from the police station by the rightful owner within a certain time slot, the goods rightfully belong to the THIEF!!

What the **** were they thinking!?

In practice, though, he said that the staff/officers saw to it that this never happened....but still.

TobiasTheViking · 30th May 2006, 01:35 AM

Originally Posted by Dog Boots

You make me think of an insane related fact about the Danish legal system, I heard a few years back from a friend of mine, whom worked a the local police station at the time.

When in Denmark recovered stolen property isn't retrieved from the police station by the rightful owner within a certain time slot, the goods rightfully belong to the THIEF!!

What the **** were they thinking!?

In practice, though, he said that the staff/officers saw to it that this never happened....but still.

afaik it is auctioned off.

Abbyas · 30th May 2006, 05:41 AM

I would not be surprised if the original poster was, in fact, an only child.

Jorghnassen · 30th May 2006, 12:24 PM

And I thought that the registration procedure for the JREF forums made it harder for this kind of spammer to post...

28th May 2006, 09:55 PM	#1
Kimkimkim New Blood Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 1	My sisters stolen laptop & Ipod My sister lives in New York and her laptop & Ipod were stolen at the end of April. She reported it, but wanted to do more. She was told about a website that police officers developed to recover lost & stolen property and it's free. She posted her items but did not include in the description where she had reported this theft. She received a phone call from one of these officers and he explained that if you are posting stolen property you must include all police information. My sister has not even received a call from the department she reported this theft to. She was very impressed that this is not just some website attempting to obtain your information. I suggest everyone have a look at Juststolen.net
Kimkimkim New Blood Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 1

29th May 2006, 01:09 AM	#3
tim Lasiorhinus latifrons Combat Division Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Bedfordshire, UK Posts: 11,329	In principle this seems a good idea. In the UK loads of stolen stuff is recovered by police, but it never gets back to it's rightful owner, 'cos nobody knows who they are. That said, I would want to check the site out thoroughly before registering. They don't ask for your credit card details, which is good. They don't ask for your name and address - just a description and serial numbers of the goods, and an email. Whether they could trace you from that, I don't know. I would want to know, for instance, how they were funded.
	__________________ I think we should be grateful that somehow the material in the universe came together and gave us consciousness. It was statiscally improbable. We won the lottery. We had a life. Hubbard's Law: Don't take life too seriously; you won't get out of it alive.

29th May 2006, 05:18 AM	#5
tkingdoll AKA TEEK Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Up Myself Posts: 12,471	Originally Posted by tim I would want to know, for instance, how they were funded. Perhaps they charge for reuniting the owner with the goods. Which would be cheeky.
	__________________ www.stormmovie.net Official website of Tim Minchin's Storm Movie

29th May 2006, 05:31 AM	#6
tim Lasiorhinus latifrons Combat Division Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Bedfordshire, UK Posts: 11,329	Probably not a good decision, posting on a skeptical website..........
	__________________ I think we should be grateful that somehow the material in the universe came together and gave us consciousness. It was statiscally improbable. We won the lottery. We had a life. Hubbard's Law: Don't take life too seriously; you won't get out of it alive.

29th May 2006, 08:23 AM	#8
tim Lasiorhinus latifrons Combat Division Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Bedfordshire, UK Posts: 11,329	Neat!
	__________________ I think we should be grateful that somehow the material in the universe came together and gave us consciousness. It was statiscally improbable. We won the lottery. We had a life. Hubbard's Law: Don't take life too seriously; you won't get out of it alive.

28th May 2006, 10:41 PM	#2
Kopji Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Mogollon Rim Posts: 7,697	Quote: When you sign-up for a JUSTSTOLEN.NET registration you will be asked to provide certain information, such as your name and contact information. JUSTSTOLEN.NET or its affiliates may use this information to tailor presentations and offers to you, facilitate your use of the service, provide personalized services, and communicate separately with you. Personal information will NOT be shared, distributed or viewable by any parties outside of JUSTSTOLEN.NET. ... I think it would be crazy to register something like your credit card numbers with this.

29th May 2006, 05:17 AM	#4
geni Anti-homeopathy illuminati member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: UK Posts: 26,561	A first post advertiseing a website. Hmmm probably a scam. No point in looking further.

29th May 2006, 07:45 AM	#7
Bikewer Philosopher Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: St. Louis, Mo. Posts: 9,519	If your sister had the serial number of the laptop, it will be entered into NCIC, a national database of stolen items. Likewise the IPod. Alas, we take almost-weekly reports on stolen computers at my university, and only rarely can the student provide these numbers. We also have a "Stop-Tag" service. For 10 bucks, we register the numbers on the machine, and apply a clearly-visible tag (using industrial super-glue) stating same to the outside. Attempts to remove the tag will either break the case, or leave a chemically-etched "stolen" message on same. Very few students avail themselves of this service. We have had a number of unfortunate victims loose term-papers, semesters-worth of notes, and in one case, a novel; all without any backup. There are also commercial programs which you can purchase. These "hide" on the hard drive and if the machine is stolen, a call to the service activates the program. If the machine is connected to the Internet, it sends a message to the service as to the IP location so that police can be called.

30th May 2006, 01:28 AM	#9
Dog Boots Thinker Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Copenhagen, Denmark Posts: 193	Originally Posted by tim In principle this seems a good idea. In the UK loads of stolen stuff is recovered by police, but it never gets back to it's rightful owner, 'cos nobody knows who they are. You make me think of an insane related fact about the Danish legal system, I heard a few years back from a friend of mine, whom worked a the local police station at the time. When in Denmark recovered stolen property isn't retrieved from the police station by the rightful owner within a certain time slot, the goods rightfully belong to the THIEF!! What the **** were they thinking!? In practice, though, he said that the staff/officers saw to it that this never happened....but still.
	__________________ The Christian god is not only the most evil character in all of fiction, he's almost the most evil character imaginable. He creates billions of beings, gives them the capacity to suffer and then sends the majority of them to eternal suffering. A minority make it to Heaven, and that's why he is only close to being the most evil character imaginable.

30th May 2006, 01:35 AM	#10
TobiasTheViking Resident Viking Autist Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: With your mother Posts: 6,923	Originally Posted by Dog Boots You make me think of an insane related fact about the Danish legal system, I heard a few years back from a friend of mine, whom worked a the local police station at the time. When in Denmark recovered stolen property isn't retrieved from the police station by the rightful owner within a certain time slot, the goods rightfully belong to the THIEF!! What the **** were they thinking!? In practice, though, he said that the staff/officers saw to it that this never happened....but still. afaik it is auctioned off.
	__________________ He pricked me with his prick that prick - NobbyNobbs Endearingly Obnoxious - Rebecca Watson

30th May 2006, 05:41 AM	#11
Abbyas Muse Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: New York City Posts: 686	I would not be surprised if the original poster was, in fact, an only child.
	__________________ www.abbyscott.blogspot.com 911 Conspiracy Wars: Nutters at Ground Zero

30th May 2006, 12:24 PM	#12
Jorghnassen Illuminator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: The realm of ideas Posts: 3,881	And I thought that the registration procedure for the JREF forums made it harder for this kind of spammer to post...
	__________________ "Help control the local pet population: teach your dog abstinence." -Stephen Colbert "My dad believed laughter is the best medicine. Which is why several of us died of tuberculosis."- Unknown source, heard from Grey Delisle on Rob Paulsen's podcast