Laptop stolen - Software has screenshots of thief & exact location.Guards do nothing

TheCardHolder · 23-02-2012 7:54pm #1

Hey guys,

Looking for advice on behalf of my friend.

His laptop was stolen last week. He has prey software installed on it so as soon as the robber went onto it two nights ago, prey took screen shots and google maps screenshots of exactly where he is. My friend went into the guards two nights ago with this exact information with all this on a plate for them and they do absouletely nothing, the thief is still sitting there using the laptop and googling things like 'How to format a laptop' and 'DoneDeal.ie'.

He is getting very frustrated as the guards know exactly where the thief lives and has several screenshots of him. Surely this is as good as CCTV footage?

Any advice for what his next step should be should the guards continue to do nothing?

AngryBollix · 23-02-2012 7:55pm

donuts come first

he should go around and get it himself. you sought the help of the gardai and they have failed.

Micky Dolenz · 23-02-2012 7:56pm

Call around to where the laptop is and take it back.

Defiler Of The Coffin · 23-02-2012 7:57pm

Can he call into the station and ask for a superintendent or one of the higher-ups? Maybe they can explain why nothing is being done.

Tell him to keep onto the guards about it - squeaky hinge gets the oil.

strobe · 23-02-2012 7:57pm

Have him inform the gardai that as they are doing nothing he is going over there with his brothers, uncles, cousins and friends to 'speak to them' at x time. Probably be a squad car there within half an hour.

Feeona · 23-02-2012 7:58pm

Tell your friend I'll do a strip for him later if he lets me keep the laptop

biko · 23-02-2012 7:59pm

Set off the atomic clock inside the laptop and low everyone to bits?

Fuhrer · 23-02-2012 8:00pm

Post the details here, nothing could possibly go wrong.

AngryBollix · 23-02-2012 8:00pm

buy a porno mag

Defiler Of The Coffin · 23-02-2012 8:01pm

biko wrote: »

Set off the atomic clock inside the laptop and low everyone to bits?

Atomic clock?! At least it will go off exactly when it's supposed to!

djk1000 · 23-02-2012 8:01pm

Go to the Garda station, refuse to leave without talking to someone above the rank of sergeant. Demand action or you'll take it to Joe Duffy, local TD, newspapers and Garda Ombudsman.

Seachmall · 23-02-2012 8:01pm

Does he have proof of ownership? A receipt? Records of the serial number?

Not much can be done if he can't prove he actually owns the machine.

Also,

(Skip to ~3:30 to when the real story starts)

Tim the Enchanter · 23-02-2012 8:01pm

There was a similar thread some time ago. Cant find it but i think the thief was caught.

longhalloween · 23-02-2012 8:02pm

This is what's going to happen.

nlgbbbblth · 23-02-2012 8:02pm

So the Gardai won't help?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1M8vei3L0L8

Standard Toaster · 23-02-2012 8:02pm

Post the pics!!!!!

Captain_Generic · 23-02-2012 8:03pm

Wait until he uses it for a **** and blackmail him with the screenshots

ShadowHearth · 23-02-2012 8:04pm

Buy few boxes of beer for your friends, then ask them to give you a hand to make a visit to that prick.

Sorted!

downwithpeace · 23-02-2012 8:05pm

Have all the proof that your friend owns the laptop then go to the Garda station and if they refuse to do anything then inform them that the pictures and details of the thief will be posted online and sent to the local newspapers with detailed information on the lack of Garda help.

murrayp4 · 23-02-2012 8:06pm

Wait till he goes onto facebook

Sephiroth_dude · 23-02-2012 8:06pm

Get a few people together and go round there and get it back

AngryBollix · 23-02-2012 8:06pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8k1d8uX9Gw

partyatmygaff · 23-02-2012 8:07pm

Ring up the Garda station and say that "A few friends and I are going to swing by the house where the laptop is currently located and intend on reclaiming it."

There's nothing inherently "threatening" about that that will get you in to trouble and you'll prompt action from them.

ColeTrain · 23-02-2012 8:07pm

Get Furio on the job. He'll get it back

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ywnn0jNmDIw

cruiser178 · 23-02-2012 8:09pm

Go to location where the laptop is, smash the windows then casually walk to the top of the street, wait for the thief to call the gards. When they call to the address, walk up to them and ask them to retrieve your "friends" stolen laptop, that is of course, if you dont have the balls to get it yourself.

TheCardHolder · 23-02-2012 8:10pm

Seachmall wrote: »

Does he have proof of ownership? A receipt? Records of the serial number?

Not much can be done if he can't prove he actually owns the machine.

Also,

(Skip to ~3:30 to when the real story starts)

He has absolutely everything and it is 100% his machine, otherwise he wouldn't have screenshots of everything the thief's doing!

His one concern with posting the photos is that the person will get spooked and ditch the laptop somewhere and never get it back.

JustAddWater · 23-02-2012 8:11pm

go into the garda station and tell them you're not leaving until they do something about this

Be prepared for a very long sit in

MagicMarker · 23-02-2012 8:13pm

Go around to his house, punch yourself in the face a few times, then ring 999 and tell the Guards you've been mugged and you chased after the guy to wear he lives.

hatrickpatrick · 23-02-2012 8:14pm

Neglect of duty IMO. He could complain here:
http://www.gsoc.ie/

But that obviously doesn't solve the laptop problem.

IMO get some mates together and call around to get it yourself.

Jim_Kiy · 23-02-2012 8:15pm

Call around show the thief your evidence..tell him you are going to cops with it unless you get the laptop back.
Cops prob cant act on this sort of 'evidence'..took years to get CCTV accepted.

Seachmall · 23-02-2012 8:16pm

TheCardHolder wrote: »

He has absolutely everything and it is 100% his machine, otherwise he wouldn't have screenshots of everything the thief's doing!

His one concern with posting the photos is that the person will get spooked and ditch the laptop somewhere and never get it back.

Tell him to get in touch with a solicitor to advise him.

The Gardaí should absolutely be following this up if he can prove it's his machine and a solicitor will know the best way to proceed if they're failing to do anything.

Gannicus · 23-02-2012 8:29pm

ring 999 say there's been a robbery and you've followed the person back to their house then have them show up in a squad car and present the evidence.

Capt'n Midnight · 24-02-2012 2:25am

downwithpeace wrote: »

Have all the proof that your friend owns the laptop then go to the Garda station and if they refuse to do anything then inform them that the pictures and details of the thief will be posted online and sent to the local newspapers with detailed information on the lack of Garda help.

maybe don't use the word thief for legal issues

just say it's pictures taken by the laptop

Jake187 · 24-02-2012 2:39am

And this is a good example why the gardai arent all 'shining' as people like to think. The laptop is located. He has proof. Why cant the gardai do something about it? ... But ...

AngryBollix wrote: »

he should go around and get it himself. you sought the help of the gardai and they have failed.

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

Call around to where the laptop is and take it back.

Not a bad idea. But if he went around demanding his laptop the gardai would sooner come out, on behalf of the thief, to make the owner get lost. Sure you can olny imagine what the Gardai would do if he forced his way in to retrive it. Its a mad world I tell you.

Biggins · 24-02-2012 2:43am

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

maybe don't use the word thief for legal issues

just say it's pictures taken by the laptop

Say "the removal of the laptop without your permission".

Also if you mention to the Gardi (for whatever reason) that you are going to go around yourself and get it, tell them that you are aware that you going there might lead to a breach of the peace - but seeing that they are unwilling to do anything, you have no choice.
Also explain to the Gardi that if such a breach of the peace occurs - you will be quite willing to testify in court and to the media as to the in-action of Gardi that forced you into this situation!

...State the above to them and then wait to see how quick they are willing to still sit around and do nothing!

Yakult · 24-02-2012 2:43am

Sometimes you have to take matters into your own hand. A group of you need to go around there, confront this lowlife and get he's property back. I would never encourage violence but if you have everything you need to prove its he's then I think you have nothing to lose. If worse comes to worse the guards will be called, you'll have proof that you own it and hopefully justice will be served.

Jake187 · 24-02-2012 2:55am

Op,
Your friend has a 3 choices.

1, Get a few realible mates with him and knock on his door. Rush him and get the laptop back and be down the road quick. No waiting on the gardai to arrive cause they will come out for his call if the scumbag rings them. (problem with this is, getting so called realible mates to help & as each day goes by the laptop is more likely to be sold on)

2, If getting the laptop back isnt likely. A baseball bat, a hood and catching him as he walks down the road one night is alright too.

3, Do nothing. Pretty much take it up the ass.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock · 24-02-2012 3:05am

There's an old urban myth than can be adapted.

"I want my laptop back, I know who has it and where it is."
"We can't help."
"But it's at (clearly gives address)"
"Okay. One second" Pause. (Talking to pretend person) "You have it? Great." (To guards) "No worries, my friends got some hunting rifles, we'll nip over and sort it out ourselvwes. Cheers."
Hang up.
Head over.
Wait for guards to arrive, apprach door, clearly unarmed.
"You said you had rifles!"
"You said you couldn't help."

frag420 · 24-02-2012 3:05am

Il happily volunteer to snap on the scumbag, who's with me??

Where you based??

micropig · 24-02-2012 3:30am

Gardai are too busy setting up road blocks in rural Mayo to deal with such trivial issues such as theft, even when they have the details of the thief....

Jimoslimos · 24-02-2012 3:42am

Problem is, the Gardaí can't do much without a warrant, and a judge (usually technophobe) has to sign off on one of those. Otherwise scenario is as follows when they call at the thief's door.

Scumbag: eh, wot yis pigs want?
Garda: Ah hello Declan, good to see you again, wondering if we might have a few words?
Scumbag: eh....I aint done nuthin....wot yis want.
Garda: Well, it has come to our attention that a laptop was stolen in the vicinity of (X). You wouldn't happen to know anything about that now would you?
Scumbag: I bleedin did not nick it
Garda: Do you mind if we step inside for a minute?
Scumbag: Yis got a warrant??? didn't think so....quit hasslin me. Dis is police brutality.

End result: Thief dumps/sells laptop on before anyone can search the place.

marcsignal · 24-02-2012 3:48am

TheCardHolder wrote: »

Hey guys,

Looking for advice on behalf of my friend.

His laptop was stolen last week. He has........

tell him to buy a new laptop

micropig · 24-02-2012 3:48am

Jimoslimos wrote: »

Problem is, the Gardaí can't do much without a warrant, and a judge (usually technophobe) has to sign off on one of those. Otherwise scenario is as follows when they call at the thief's door.

End result: Thief dumps/sells laptop on before anyone can search the place.

Or perhaps:

Gardai have screenshot etc of thief using laptop. Gardai show proof to judge. Judge agrees to warrant. Warrant is granted and laptop recovered. At the very least thief is done for handling stolen goods.

I know, I know, I'm a dreamer....:)

Jimoslimos · 24-02-2012 3:51am

micropig wrote: »

Or perhaps:

Gardas have screenshot etc of thief using laptop. Gardai show proof to judge. Judge agrees to warrant. Warrant is granted and laptop recovered. At the very least thief is done for handling stolen goods.

I know, I know, I'm a dreamer....:)

What does a screenshot prove? To a judge it's just an image of a random person in their own house - where's the link with laptop?

Jake187 · 24-02-2012 3:53am

Jimoslimos wrote: »

...... End result: Thief dumps/sells laptop on before anyone can search the place.

Your post said it best man.
Thats why I kinda hate the legal system. Sure I could go out tonight, jump and kick the living crap out of someone I dont like. They see its me. But I get off side before any gardai turns up.

I'll get away with it. My word versus his. Its pretty fu**ed up.

micropig · 24-02-2012 3:54am

Jimoslimos wrote: »

What does a screenshot prove? To a judge it's just an image of a random person in their own house - where's the link with laptop?

The prey software installed in the computer would establish that the laptop was used after the time of theft.

John Doe1 · 24-02-2012 3:54am

Nuke the bastard!!!

Athlone_Bhoy · 24-02-2012 3:59am

What software can you use to track a laptop?

Cavehill Red · 24-02-2012 4:00am

Go round to the cop shop and ask as people have said to speak to a sargeant. Get his name and explain the situation. While you're there, ask for the contact details of the Garda ombudsman, as you're concerned at the lack of motivation from the previous Garda you spoke with about this matter.
Previously, when I encountered reticence from Gardai to get off their flabby arses, put the donuts and the Daily Mail down and do their job, I've resorted to calling the ombudsman in front of them and requesting a complaint form.
Gardai started investigating quick enough after that.

charlemont · 24-02-2012 4:07am

Tell the guards you hid some weed in the battery component of the laptop and I'm sure they will be straight over...

Mully_2011 · 24-02-2012 4:15am

Go round with a few mates and a few hurleys and batter the **** take it back by force Its your mates propertyhe worked for it the gards aren't going to do a tap take back what is rightfully your mates and batter the **** while your at it so he thinks twice about begin a robbing little ****

Laptop stolen - Software has screenshots of thief & exact location.Guards do nothing

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