Stolen T23 [Indianapolis Area]

[morgie]

Hi guys,

I'm not quite sure where this post belongs so mods please move if this is not the most appropriate area.

Long story short my girlfriends T23 was stolen from the Indianapolis area sometime near the end of last week (we had been away on vacation). I know it's a long shot but I wanted to do something and I thought a post here couldn't hurt in case whoever took it tries to sell it on etc. Good news is the machine has a HDD password as well as a BIOS password and the majority of data is backed up. I can't remember the type off the top of my head and don't have the serial to hand at the moment, but some details about the machine (obviously parts may have been stripped to some degree):

* IBM ThinkPad T23
* 384mb RAM (1 x 256mb stick, 1 x 128mb stick)
* UK Keyboard (this may help to make it more distinctive in the US, e.g. the " is on the 2 key instead of the @, Return key is different size)
* Intel 802.11b WLAN card
* 60gb Western Digital Harddrive (with HDD PW on)
* Ultrabay battery in the ultrabay at the time, note no CD/DVD drive was taken with the machine at the time.
* Power cable and adapter

I know the machine isn't worth a huge amount, but that is really beside the point. I also realize the chance of recovering it is very small, but again just wanted to post here as I thought it couldn't help.

Also - does anyone have anymore advice on what to do when a laptop is stolen? Obviously it has been reported to the police.

Thanks...

[mgo]

Hate those kinds of creeps...hope they rot.

Meantime, good for you about having HDD and other password.

From what I've read, you would have to pay money to some service to crack those passwords, and it would require proof of ownership to get it done...so the theives will be out of luck in trying to get to your personal data.

Also...smart move on having backups...that pays off so BIG in so many ways for people!

If you have insurance, you might be able to get your machine replaced...there's lots of good deals here on these forums...

[morgie]

Hate those kinds of creeps...hope they rot.

Thanks for the reply mgo, at the moment I can only agree with your comments and try and make the best of a bad situation.

[JHEM]

Also - does anyone have anymore advice on what to do when a laptop is stolen?

You've done all that one can before and after a theft, time to move on and find a replacement.

Good on ya' for putting PWs on the system and HD, the thief stole a doorstop!

James

[ryengineer]

Sorry to hear about your loss, I would've been pretty [censored] too if something like this had happened to me.

As James said you have done what you could. However you could've reported the stolen laptop to Lenovo if you had the serial number so that lets say if somehow the laptop were to go back to them after circulating from different hands they could've atleast known it was a stolen property. But chances of that are slim too as the thief will probably strip it into pieces and sell it on popular auction sites like ebay.

[rkawakami]

I too was a victim several years ago while on vacation. Although in my case I didn't have the system protected with any passwords. That's NOT my M.O. now...

Also, check your inbox for a message from me.

[morgie]

Thanks for the replies guys, appreciated. I know this machine is gone, but as a complete long shot just a few more details about the machine. I realize all of this can easily be changed and the machine stripped...but anyway....

* The track point mouse cover was the "out" style - see this external image (http://www.clickykeyboard.com/2005/trac ... oftrim.gif)

* The Intel WLAN 802.11b card is as pictured at this external ebay link (http://cgi.ebay.com/Intel-Pro-Wireless- ... dZViewItem)

rkawakami - thanks for the IM, I have dropped one back.