My Macbook Pro was stolen: How I'm getting it back
65 replies, posted
Two days ago, I was leaving Georgia State University where I attend school. I had two friends with me, one of which I was going to drive back to their dorm, and the other I was going to take back to their house which is on the way to mine.
GSU students are allowed to park for free in the Turner Field parking lot. Well, I have a small car ('98 Camaro) so I had to clear out the back seats to make room for one of them to sit back there. I take my bookbag off my back and I set it down next to the car so I can clear out the back seats. (Here's the part where I'm a complete dumb ass) I leave my bookbag on the ground and drive off without it. Inside were my textbooks, Macbook Pro Mid '11 model with all my files in it including pictures, videos, music, and password information, and my school work, and new Flip Video Camera UltraHD.
I don't realize it until I get home which is about 20 minutes South of Atlanta. But it had been hours since I left the school. It's about 8 at night and I decide to call the police and rush back up to the parking lot. It's gone. Obviously. Blah blah blah file a report blah boring part.
I realize that whoever stole it... in ATLANTA... is not going to return it to the police or they would have done so by then. So I begin to search for ways if I'm able to track it.
I find that there is no way to track it unless you installed tracking software. I didn't.
So I go do some extremely in depth searching and find an interesting video and article.
[video=youtube;U4oB28ksiIo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4oB28ksiIo[/video]
This video explains how a hacker acquired his macbook back from a thief. It got me thinking about how I could possibly do that stuff without the technology he has.
I keep searching and find this article.
[url]http://crapdoesntpay.blogspot.com/2011/07/how-to-recover-your-stolen-mac-with.html[/url]
I was able to use some of the skills from the advice given on the article.
I checked my gmail account access and the dumb ass had for some reason gone onto my gmail (but not my facebook) and I got the IP address from his log in from MARIETTA, GEORGIA. That's about 20-30 mins north of Atlanta.
Bingo. From the IP address, I was able to acquire the ISP (Internet Service Provider) of this guy.
But I've called the cops that I filed the report to and their taking their dandy fucking time.
If they call the ISP they can acquire the exact address of the IP address. And they can catch the motherfucker.
TL;DR Here's some info on how you can possibly get your stolen electronics back.
Also, install tracking software NOW. Don't wait.
[b]UPDATE[/b]: Office hours of PD are only during weekdays. Going to try calling back on Monday. Just called the major Pawn Shops in Atlanta and no one's sold any Macbook Pro's to them in the past two days.
And okay... I understand I'm late.... -_-
[b]UPDATE[/b] I've posted the ip address for you all to see if you guys know anything more than me or can help me with this. tracings have been giving me Lawrenceville and Marietta so I believe he's somewhere in between. I know it's not accurate. but here's the ip
71.22.201.144
[b]UPDATE[/b] The Police have officially gotten back to me. They asked for my serial number and they're going to check out all the pawn shops and try to track it down. Who knows... something might come out of this.
[b]UPDATE[/b] Damn, it's been a struggle so far, but who would have thought that I have a special homeowners insurance where they cover computers and electronics. With a $100 deductible, the whole thing gets covered. I'm getting a new one, boys, and this time I'm installing every piece of god damn tracking/security software available.
But I'm not letting this case end here. The cops have decided to step it up today. They're getting all involved with this shit because they've never had anyone give this kind of info to them before (supposedly). So, who knows where that will go. I'll continue to update you all on finding the guy, because that's all it really comes down to now.
Should have installed [url=http://preyproject.com/]Prey[/url].
[QUOTE=toaster468;33551166]Should have installed [url=http://preyproject.com/]Prey[/url].[/QUOTE]
I know now....
[QUOTE=Chubbles;33551174]I know now....[/QUOTE]
Yeah I just left that there for other people, a lot easier than the ordeal you went through.
And don't you mean TL;DR?
[QUOTE=toaster468;33551189]Yeah I just left that there for other people, a lot easier than the ordeal you went through.[/QUOTE]
Oh okay haha. Yeah, I wish I would have known about those programs before this whole thing happened.
and nothing of value was lost
Cool story bro.
Really.
Oh. I'll install that tracking software now.
Ha, I go to Georgia State too. My friend did a similar thing where he left his backpack with all his stuff in it at the Student Center. Luckily one of his friend's spotted the backpack and returned it to him later. He was freaking out over that for a couple of days though.
Honestly don't expect to get anywhere with getting his IP address translated into an address. That can take WEEKS to get the paperwork through, and even then an ISP can stall or refuse to disclose its customer's data and jam the case up.
And even if, after three weeks, the ISP does give the police a home address, an IP address is not necessarally proof that a person at a specific home address is guilty. When the cop shows up, the guy can easily play computer illiterate, and blame the confusion on an unsecured wireless router. Even if the cops have a search warrant, if he sells the computer on Craigslist, guess what? no proof.
Did you enable SSH, VNC, or ARD? If you can get access to the computer remotely you have a shot at getting his name by looking at what he's done with your Mac. In order for this to work, certain conditions have to be met. The computer has to be running, and it has to be either connected directly to a cable modem (as in, no wireless router) or the guy has to be on dial-up. This would allow you to connect directly to the laptop. If he's using wi-fi, he would have to actually set up the router for port forwarding, which is highly unlikely as most people don't even know what port forwarding is.
I would try to find a way to expedite the process of getting a court order sent to the ISP. Maybe try a private investigator (can be costly, and you'd need one with the "connections" to get court orders), or get in touch with an officer or detective more experianced with dealing with computer crimes. A Google search found this: [url]http://www.atlantapd.org/specialenforcement.aspx[/url]
Shit man, Atlanta is the worst place to even leave a car unattended. My exgirlfriend's sister parked on the street down in Little 5's for a show and came back to find it had been broken into with her radio and boyfriend's bike stolen. I hope you get it back, you must be in a panicked frenzy right now.
[QUOTE=WhatTheKlent;33551222]and nothing of value was lost[/QUOTE]
Except the 1k+ computer you know, with all the data this guy may have had.
[url]http://www.youtube.com/user/DaRealMelvinGuzman1[/url]
his youtube page i think.
imma go try some of those passwords :v:
Why are you talking about the guy who stole the computer from the guy at Defcon 18.
Also, I find it funny how his channel banner says "Defcon 18, the real shit". It's like he respects the guy for hunting down the PC
[QUOTE=Clementine;33552302]Except the 1k+ computer you know, with all the data this guy may have had.[/QUOTE]
I'm curious, if you're a student, why would you buy a Macbook if you can (not meaning to start a shit storm here) buy a PC with the same specs for cheaper?
Or you could use MobileMe, which you can use on any Apple device. The second he connects to a wifi network MobileMe can tell you its exact location.
[QUOTE=~ZOMG;33552661]I'm curious, if you're a student, why would you buy a Macbook if you can (not meaning to start a shit storm here) buy a PC with the same specs for cheaper?[/QUOTE]
Good fucking question, I have no god damn idea honestly, but either way its loss is still something to be noticed.
A Macbook was stolen? Good. He was doing you a favor.
Just don't take it into your own hands as in when you find thperson who stole it, don't go shooting. Just let the cops do their job and not get yourself into Shit or killed.
My friends roommate took his macbook pro. He denied all the way, but the computer was in his room, and the only other person that lives there is HIM. I guess he gave it to a friend, that friend traded it to a tattoo artist in exchange for a tattoo. He then traded the macbook pro into a pawn shop.
He obviously filed a police report, and upon investigating they found the macbook at the said pawn shop. When he got it back, it was in perfect condition, but only somebody uninstalled OSX and put Windows 7. Now my friend dual booted and put back OSX. It ended up working out in the long run.
Long story short, call up the local pawn shops.
[QUOTE=SPESSMEHREN;33551971]
And even if, after three weeks, the ISP does give the police a home address, an IP address is not necessarally proof that a person at a specific home address is guilty. When the cop shows up, the guy can easily play computer illiterate, and blame the confusion on an unsecured wireless router.[/QUOTE]
If he still has the computer though, all you have to do is tell the cops the serial number of it. If any computer(s) the suspect has match that serial number, it's obvious that's the stolen one.
I'm trying my best to get the cops involved besides having already filed the report, but they're really not giving a damn. No one's picking up the office phone at the PD. It's bothering me.
Eeeh. Before the shitstorm started I was only having a joke. I have used Macs in the past.
Okay found out their offices are closed on weekends -_- will update you all on Monday.
IPs are generally a bad form of ID but I wish you luck
What if I posted his IP address on here? Would anyone be able to assist me with this? Or would be posting his IP be a bad idea?
[url]http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/find-my-iphone/id376101648?mt=8[/url]
works with macbooks too.
[QUOTE=stupid10er;33555576][url]http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/find-my-iphone/id376101648?mt=8[/url]
works with macbooks too.[/QUOTE]
Two problems. I never upgraded to lion on my macbook so I didn't have iCloud. Second problem, it's already been stolen. So that won't work now. For future reference, yes! Of course haha
Getting your laptop back will be very tough. Good luck with the ISP and police. Person could've sold the laptop to someone else who is using right now.
Whatever, lesson learned I hope? Btw, I go to Georgia State University too.
Man I really do hope you eventually get your laptop back.
By the way, nobody really cares if you dislike Macs.
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