In general, for all owners of any computer.
Download and run Belarc Adviser (www.belarc.com) and print out the results.
This free program will record every hardware serial number and every software Product Code number in
the computer.
File this printout for reference.
It certainly will help if the computer is actually located to prove that it is yours.
Also if you do have insurance coverage, you now have proof of value.


"Phil" wrote in message
...
| db,
|
| All good ideas (except fighting fire with fire). Taking the law into our
| own hands would probably work - I'm just not prepared to do that for
| something like this. The "punk" is a young adult professional thief and drug
| addict - known to the police. He lives in an inner city ghetto - tower
| blocks where even the police don't like to visit - shootings are common
| place. They target students - there have been over 30 laptop thefts from
| student residences since Sept. - which is why my son had a desktop PC but
| that didn't stop the thief. So far there is no violent (against a person)
| crime involved but he is known to associate with others who are violent.
| This is an area of society that I don't belong in - I support our police and
| community workers who are trying to solve these problems, I don't want to be
| part of the problem.
|
| My son is a student - no credit cards, no online banking or other accounts.
| Adding passwords is not really an issue (and won't slow down a thief) - doing
| regular backups is and he has learnt that lesson. Losing these files is an
| inconvenience rather than a financial loss. Actually the only file which has
| cost him money is an assignment that was due - he had to pay for a copy of
| the police report to prove to his professor that the PC was stolen in order
| to get an extension on the deadline. (No-one trusts anyone anymore.)
|
| To pursue a civil action we would have to serve the thief with a summons,
| have proof of the stolen goods and the thief would have to show up to court.
| Failing to show up is not a criminal offence and even if judgement went in
| our favour there would be no way to collect. Bailiffs would not be able to
| sieze any property (as there is no way to know what property the thief owns)
| and our stolen goods have most likely been pawned off already for rent and
| drug money. The police and courts are losing this battle in all our inner
| cities - whilst my son met with our detective friend over a 20 minute period
| he was handed three crime reports - one arrest of a 14 year old youth with
| sub-machine gun and two arrests for homicides. A stolen PC does not figure
| on his priorities. The solution is with education, employment, housing,
| health and other social services - then the police might have a chance.
|
| Phil
|
| "db.·.. ))) ·` .. ." wrote:
|
| well, as far as everyone
| is concerned the pc also
| has credit card numbers
| and other account data.
|
| so you might want to ensure
| your creditors are made aware
| of the compromise.
|
| -----------
| your son and his friends
| don't have to knock the door
| down, but isn't a bad idea.
|
| however, one has to fight fire
| with fire.
|
| perhaps, your son and friends
| should develop a plan, like order
| a pizza for the punk and when
| he opens the door, the gang can
| boldly walk in and retrieve the
| stolen property.
|
| might also get the dean
| of the college involved if
| the punk is a college student.
|
| -----------
|
| remember to put passwords
| on the new computer, like
| on the bios, the disk and
| of course the administrator.
| --
|
| in regards to civil action,
| all it requires is a witness
| to confirm that the punk
| has the computer and then
| you would send a letter to
| the parents demanding the
| computers return or you will
| sue them.
|
| if the punk is a student
| then it is likely the school
| administrators will provide
| you with assistance.
|
|
| db·´¯`·...¸)))º
| DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
| - Systems Analyst
| - Database Developer
| - Accountancy
| - Veteran of the Armed Forces
|
| "Phil" wrote in message
...
| DatabaseBen,
|
| Thanks for the advice. The case officer is not getting a free ride (but
| pretty close to one). I, very politely, chase him every few days - the thief
| is proving difficult to catch (my guess is that he is not at home during the
| case officer's shift or doesn't answer the door bell). This is a big city
| and the amount of time an officer can put to a simple robbery is very small.
| I'm not making excuses just stating facts. Very few robberies of this nature
| are investigated - this one has been only because my son tracked down the
| thief and we know a detective at the station.
|
| As to civil action - I don't know how we would do that - we have no real
| proof. It took me an hour persuading my son not to go round and make a
| citizen's arrest. He (and half his college football team) wanted to kick the
| guys door down and recover the stolen goods (the PC being the most important
| as it contains hundreds of photos and personal documents which can't be
| recovered - no recent backups of course). It is frustrating that the only
| solution seems to be to behave as badly as the criminal (he did kick my son's
| door down) - which I'm not prepared to do.
|
| Anyway this is a whole different issue - maybe the police in your area are
| able to deal with these types of crime (I'd be very surprised and if so we
| should all move there).
|
| Thanks again,
| Phil
|
| "db.·.. ))) ·` .. ." wrote:
|
| in one respect i understand
| what you are stating.
|
| however, i disagree with
| giving your local law enforcement
| a free ride by not forcing them
| to do their job.
|
| all thefts must be reported and
| the police must take action.
|
| therefore, you should raise hell
| with them and your councilman.
|
| in addition, since you have an
| idea of who the culprit it, then
| this would make the job of the
| police easier.
|
| the value of the item is based
| differently than for insurance
| purposes.
|
| therefore, if your machine was
| purchased for several thousand
| dollars, then this is larceny.
|
| if there was breaking and entering
| or trespassing, then this is also
| a crime.
|
| in addition to the above criminal
| charges, you also have rights in
| civil court.
|
| --
|
| db·´¯`·...¸)))º
| DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
| - Systems Analyst
| - Database Developer
| - Accountancy
| - Veteran of the Armed Forces
|
| "Phil" wrote in message
...
| Thanks for the help.
|
| Sadly insurance is not an option - what with excess, depreciation and loss
| of no claims it makes no sense. Police are not interested - we know who the
| thief is as he advertised some of the stolen goods and we traced it to him -
| informed the case officer but it seems it is too small a crime for them to
| bother. Who says crime doesn't pay?
|
| Just checked the link given and it says that if your PC is stolen then the
| Windows software is gone too. That's a pretty unfriendly business practice -
| why would they do that? There must be a tiny number of people who get their
| PCs stolen and legitimately want to reinstall Windows on a new PC which
| doesn't have Windows already preinstalled. This just adds insult to injury.
|
|
|
|