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i heard that recently some laptops have been stolen WHILE PEOPLE ARE USING THEM at cafe's and it happened at abir as well. kids just grab 'em and run. so...be aware and when using a latop, try not to sit next to a door cuz in most cases the ones ganked were right next to the entrance/exit of the cafe.
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SF Bay Area
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Re: laptop thefts in cafe's
Tue, January 31, 2006 - 3:09 PMyes this has been happening for the last few years - and i think it is getting worse.
and like you said, daVeeeeeeeeeeeed, they tend to be pulled right off of people's laps, sit in the back, be aware, watch out for each other, i'm just about ready to hide in the rafters and dive on somebody because my laptop is stupidly valuable to me - it makes me sad to know this is happening.
Often it's two guys - one waits outside, the other buys something and scouts it out, yanks and runs - often there's a get away car.
that is the word on the street.
laptop lifestylers unite!
~mycho -
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Re: laptop thefts in cafe's
Mon, November 27, 2006 - 9:15 PMThese robberies are becoming a dangerous problem, with at least one robbery/stabbing in an SF cafe. In the spirit of locking down your bike, i'd (sadly) like to suggest the same with your laptop. And since Cafe Abir finally fixed some of their (once wobbly) tables by bolting them to the floor, a potential thief probably won't even think about it.
And I'm not trying to plug Kensington by any means, but they make a few nice locks just to counter such thugs.
us.kensington.com/html/1427.html
M
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Re: laptop thefts in cafe's
Sat, December 2, 2006 - 10:45 AMMycho understands the personal attack that this crime really is. Marty makes a good suggestion. I have reported more portable computer thefts than I can remember. Its been happening for decades. It seems as if Café Abir has, indeed, bolted their tables to the deck. This makes using a cable more effective to control your laptop/notebook from a inexperienced thief.
Targus DEFCON CL Notebook Cable Lock
www.compusa.com/products/p...ct_info.asp
At least three of the thefts I made reports on had apparently taken place during busy conferences. One, I can remember, involved the thief simply yanking the notebook hard enough to break the lock. The weakest part of the link may be where the lock/lanyard attaches to the computer case. In this instance, it was the computer case that was damaged to steal the machine. I've noted other thefts that involved simply lifting a table to remove the lanyard from the leg it was attached to.
Addicts don't see a "computer worth stealing or not." They see, merely, another $25 to get them what they want. All your data is junk to most of them. Use password protection. Avoid using a computer case because it's too easily identified as "another $25" for their problem.
I've seen audible alarms that might alert everyone your things are about to be taken away. Then, upon sounding the alarm, Mycho could swing out of the rafters like Batman and save the day!
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Re: laptop thefts in cafe's
Fri, January 12, 2007 - 5:46 PMAt risk of repeating what two other people have said, yes, a laptop lock is the way to go... I lock it as soon as I sit down at the table, run the cable through a chair back (not a chair leg or table leg.) Above all I try to make sure the cable is VERY VISIBLE - I make sure it has length looped up over the table, that anyone can see. Any of these locks can be broken, so I figure it's primarily a visual disincentive. Anyway, for $25 or so, I wouldn't be without one.
I don't use my laptop at the outside tables at all, even with a lock. I think that's baiting trouble. I had a car stolen in this neighborhood last month less than 3 days after I bought it - I don't take anything for granted anymore.
