Laptop Theft and Occam’s Razor
Laptops are a favorite target of thieves. Users who take them along in their cars take sensible precautions by keeping these computers well of of sight, preferably stowed under the seat or kept inside the trunk.
Apparently, these hiding places not safe anymore:
“PETALING JAYA: Laptops tucked under car seats or placed in car boots are no longer safe.
“Using a special gadget, thieves are able to pinpoint a laptop hidden in a car.”
A report from the United Kingdom says that this “special gadget” may be as simple as a Bluetooth-equipped mobile phone programmed to look for other nearby Bluetooth-installed devices. I don’t understand, however, how a Bluetooth-equipped laptop computer that’s powered off or in hibernation can even respond to a scan.
So, is this “special gadget” just another urban legend? Some say that this phenomena can be easily explained away as nothing more than just a matter of astute thieves who keep a sharp eye out for people carrying the tell-tale padded laptop bag and trailing them until the time is right to strike.
Police have only one surefire solution to this problem: keep your laptop computer with you at all times.
