an interesting diliema. what would you do

[rdking647]

a friend of mine had his macbook stolen. he has back to my mac installed so he knows where its located.
he called the cops but they havent done anything to retrieve it yet. (its been 24 hours). its located in a seedy part of town

what would you do?

1. wait for the cops for who know how long
2. retrieve it yourself using force if needed.

[Skinner]

1. Uh, is this even a question?

You wait for the cops.

It's just a computer.

[Ian David]

2. Pay a private investigator to retrieve it? n/t

[yellerpup]

3. This is a job for the police.

Patience, please.

[rdking647]

9. how long do you wait?

[yellerpup]

21. There is no time limit.

Don't put your life in danger for a computer. Check with the police for an update on when you can expect your property to be returned to you and don't be surprised if it is not the first priority of the day for them.

[LanternWaste]

23. You wait until your...

"how long do you wait?"

You wait until your safety is less important than a gadget...?

[MineralMan]

4. Handling it himself is a very bad idea.

For many reasons. Keep bugging the cops about it. Do they know how he knows where the computer is?

[rdking647]

7. he has told them repeatedly

[pipi_k]

5. People who take

the law into their own hands are playing with their lives.

[slackmaster]

6. I'd get a few friends together and do "The Old Surprise Visit" as in A Clockwork Orange

[TexasProgresive]

18. What if it turns out like Big Bang without Penny for backup? n/t

[Arkansas Granny]

8. Wait for the cops. It's OK to call them to check on progress.

Be polite, but be aware that they may have more pressing matters than recovering a computer.

[FSogol]

10. What would Batman do?

Wait for the police. What good is a Mac full of bullet holes?

[Nye Bevan]

11. Remember when OJ Simpson went to that Las Vegas hotel room,

to "retrieve his own stuff, using force if necessary"? That didn't end well.

[ecstatic]

20. That's what I was thinking nt

[socialindependocrat]

12. I would call my state representative

You have knowledge of where it is and you have reported it to the police.
As always, time is of the essence.

The people who have it may be associated with other crimes (B&E)
and the police may be accumulating info for a bigger sting.
Of course - they won't say anything to you about that!

You may tell the police that this is the 4th time you've called and if they don't
do something you will get friends and go get it yourself and report the incident to
the newspapers.

That's an idea! Call the newspapers and go over there with some friends and the
news cameras. How can you get hurt with them filming the whole thing?

[Ian David]

24. Call the company that makes the software used to locate the computer...

... and have THEM contact a local TV station, to do a story about how their software finds stolen computers.

[myrna minx]

13. This is an interesting dilemma only if one is willing to die for a computer.

[ieoeja]

14. Dial 911. "I am on my way to {insert location} to retrieve my computer from the people who stole it"

911: "Do not do that. It is not safe."

You: "I reported it's location over 24 hours ago. I have called repeatedly. The police have refused to pick it up. So I am going to retrieve it myself."

911: "Seriousy, sir. That is a really bad idea. You may get badly injured."

You: "I guess that will be partly the police department's fault. I am leaving right now and should arrive in about N:NN. If you don't want me getting it myself, then the police need to get there before me."

Hang-up.

Drive to location. If you do not see the police, call them to see if they have retrieved your computer. If not, inform them you are at the location and going in. If they tell you the police are on their way, wait. If not, try to bluff them.

This should work. If not ... depends on a lot of factors. Is it unfriendly territory? Do you believe the thief to be violent (most are not)? If so, can you legally carry a firearm?

[AngryAmish]

15. Call my buddy in Cicero.

Justice will be served.

[quinnox]

16. Go in with guns blazing and

ask questions later. Duh.

Loving the John Wayne macho talk bullshit though.

Seriously, I would come to realize that a program that tracks your computer may have limitations, the police are not going to view a stupid stolen computer as a high priority. Most likely they won't do a damn thing, and you either buy a new computer or risk getting it back yourself like a total idiot, risking your life and freedom and being just as stupid as OJ Simpson was.

[HopeHoops]

17. Get a few beers and fuck somebody.

That laptop isn't coming back.

[lumberjack_jeff]

19. I'd make like Pee Wee Herman in Cheech and Chong's Next Movie.

"Look, I think they're Iranians."

[bighart]

22. I think I would write it off and go buy a new one.

I could be wrong but if the police recover it, it may end up being held as evidence for awhile as well. This will be pretty low on their priority list any way, unless you live in a very small town and they don't have anything better to do. Going to retrieve it is not going to end well.

[socialindependocrat]

25. So, what I hear most is that: the police won't do anythinbg

and it would be dangerous to go after it your self so give up and take the loss.

This is the problem: What do we pay police for if they never stop a crime, get there on time,
don't retrieve stolen items and don't protect the rights of the common person?

Let's come up with some solutions here instead of paying taxes and
getting nothing in return.