Member Since: 28 Sep 2006
Location: Sydney
Posts: 142
Notebook Computer Detector?
Within a space of 3 months my brother has had 2 notebook computers stolen from his car. In both instances, they were in the boot of his truck and under cover away from prying eyes. In both instances, the exact rear quarter window was broken and the portable computer pilfered, all other items (or junk) in his truck was untouched. All other cars around his were untouched, only his was targetted. The computer was already in the boot when he parked.
It seems that these are able to see through a translucent material and know where a compter is located. He is forming an opinion, that those low-life have a "detector" able to sniff out portable computers. Thinking logically, is it possible that most portable computers have RFI tags left in them that may have been used for tracking during production?'06 Disco 3 TDV6 SE Buckingham Blue
15th Jan 2007 9:07 pm
Nigel Tracey
Member Since: 04 Nov 2006
Location: Lausanne
Posts: 395
Atom,
I like the idea but RFID tags are not frequently used in consumer products today, although tomorrow is another story. Even if they had an RFID reader it's likely that it would only provide garbled data that they wouldn't understand, unless they had product codes etc. Is it just bad luck and the fact that thieves today use the numbers game ? When in the UK we had around 10-15 stolen from a fleet of 35 cars in 1 year. All sales reps busting for a pee at the supermarket toilets. In the end they spent more than a penny as we imposed a "if you get it stolen then you pay to replace it scheme" funny we never lost any more.Mrs Jones ? We've come for your Liver
15th Jan 2007 9:15 pm
Duncster
Member Since: 25 Nov 2006
Location: Midlands
Posts: 755
I think you may be miss informed RFID is used in more than you may think, I had a notebook stolen from a boot and I think the fact you are suited and booted and go from you car without a laptop or case is enough to make you more than a 50% prospect for something good in the boot. Those Fxxxers have brains you know. "if you get it stolen you pay" is taking the why should somebody who hapens to drive a nice car wear a decent suit, have to pay for the scum who cant be arsed to find a job and rob people who they think can afford it15 3.0 RRS HSE - Silver
05 2.7TDV6 S AUTO Silver - Retro-fitted Leather.
15th Jan 2007 9:24 pm
Nigel Tracey
Member Since: 04 Nov 2006
Location: Lausanne
Posts: 395
I agree that the problem is with the nice people that borrow these laptops but it's difficult to stop them. However it's amazing that we never had 1 stolen since we employed this policy. It's a tough policy but it works. I estimated it costs up to £10k per laptop that gets stolen if you calulate the real cost (not just the fixed asset).
Basically if you carry you Laptop with you it's a fact. it can't get stolen from your car ! Sad but true.Mrs Jones ? We've come for your Liver
15th Jan 2007 9:37 pm
Duncster
Member Since: 25 Nov 2006
Location: Midlands
Posts: 755
I disagree, how many laptops have been pinched from bars, restaurants, trains, loos etc. taking a with a laptop is a hazard. I would never venture onto the underground with one in a normal case. I always use a rucksack or a briefcase.
I agree that the capital cost is only a small proportion, but why Tax the innocent in this loosing you DATA is bad enough, I know the pain it caused me.
Its the low life who need sorting out. If you leave it on your front seat then you have everything coming to you. But locking it away in the boot shouls be deemed safe enough.15 3.0 RRS HSE - Silver
05 2.7TDV6 S AUTO Silver - Retro-fitted Leather.
15th Jan 2007 9:49 pm
DiscoDunc
Member Since: 08 May 2006
Location: Bristol
Posts: 16390
We have had a number of laptops stolen from car boots.
There are devices which can detect the laptops which are in standby mode, ie they havnt been fully shut down. Also, its easier to steal from the boot than from inside the car.
Always "shutdown" the laptop. I cant guarentee it wont be stolen but it makes it less detectable !Duncan
-----------------------------------------------------
If I'd known I was going to be so thirsty this morning I'd have drunk more beer last night.
FFRR Autobiography 4.4 SDV8 MY17
D4 HSE MY13 SOLD
FFRR 3.6 Vogue TDV8 SOLD
D4 HSE MY10 SOLD
D4 SE TECH MY15 SOLD
D4 XS MY12 SOLD
D4 HSE MY10 SOLD
D3 HSE MY06 - Re-Cycled Worldwide
These are so desparate that they even stole a laptop which was Kingston locked to the car boot by destroying the laptop chassis to get it free from the cable.
This happened to one of our techs at work.
Chris2011 Discovery 4 (MY12) SDV6 HSE with General Grabber AT's, Traxide Aux Battery system, custom rear drawers and Autosafe half height cargo barrier
Gone - 2005 Discovery 3 TDV6 HSE
ARB Bull Bar, Warn 9.5XP Winch, IPF D/Lights, Cooper STT's, LR Raised Air Intake, Traxide aux battery system, custom drawers and half height Autosafe cargo barrier, Mitchell Bros 4x4 tow hitch
16th Jan 2007 12:23 am
DiscoAtom
Member Since: 28 Sep 2006
Location: Sydney
Posts: 142
Able to detect a portable in "standby" mode - must be using a sensitive electromagnetic wave detector to pick up the tiny EMF radiation when it is running. Just like what I read in a spy book sometime ago when the Russians were able to pickup what was being typed in a targetted US Emabassy computer by detecting the EMF radiation of the CRT computer screen.
Nigel - with my brother loosing two company portables, I sure his superior will be doing something to minimise his loss. I'll find out when I catch with my brother next.
Chris - I'm interested to know how they knew there was a portable in the boot of your teckkies car...unless they saw him putting it in.'06 Disco 3 TDV6 SE Buckingham Blue
16th Jan 2007 12:58 am
SN
Member Since: 03 Jan 2006
Location: Romiley
Posts: 13710
My laptop lives in a rucksack (not a laptop bag) - I use the underground every week with no issueSteve N | 21MY Defender | 08MY Discovery 3 (history) | 06MY Discovery 3 (ancient history)
Chris - I'm interested to know how they knew there was a portable in the boot of your teckkies car...unless they saw him putting it in.
Actually the boot was a wagon but everything was covered under the load space cover however prying eyes think load space cover pulled close equals valuable goods to hide. They got lucky when they smashed a window and broke in on a busy highway.
Therefore no high tech gadgets used just a bit of observation used.
Chris2011 Discovery 4 (MY12) SDV6 HSE with General Grabber AT's, Traxide Aux Battery system, custom rear drawers and Autosafe half height cargo barrier
Gone - 2005 Discovery 3 TDV6 HSE
ARB Bull Bar, Warn 9.5XP Winch, IPF D/Lights, Cooper STT's, LR Raised Air Intake, Traxide aux battery system, custom drawers and half height Autosafe cargo barrier, Mitchell Bros 4x4 tow hitch
Often thieves will re-target if they have been successful before, because most people don't change their habits.
The first time may have been luck. The second time may have been a punt that your brother had a replacement laptop and would put it in the same location.
And, I know it's not common, but I knew a bloke who had consecutive break-ins. In his case it turned out to be a 'mate' who he had been bragging to!!!Have a nice day!
2010 Cayenne Diesel with PASM & Off Road Pkg
2005 HSE D3 (Sold)
16th Jan 2007 9:06 am
freebie2disco
Member Since: 01 Jan 2007
Location: wantage
Posts: 334
Some laptops with built in wireless lan are setup to "wake up from lan " from standby. If you are technical enough it would not be hard to get these laptops to do that but how you would then tell exactly where it was is another matter.
Usually this is a driver setting on your wireless Lan adapters. Also BlueTooth is used to identify active devices at short range. This gives a better indication of location as the range is much shorter.
16th Jan 2007 9:35 am
DiscoAtom
Member Since: 28 Sep 2006
Location: Sydney
Posts: 142
They were stolen when he was parked in one of those large multi-storey car-parks deep in Sydney metro.
I guess he should have taken heed of old advice; Do Not Leave Your Valuables In Your Car!!'06 Disco 3 TDV6 SE Buckingham Blue
17th Jan 2007 3:07 am
CFB
Member Since: 02 Dec 2005
Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire
Posts: 6100
There was a similar story in our local papaer last week about theives being able to detect the presence of sat-nav units (eg. TomTom) even when in the glovebox etc. Claimed this was possible although I suspected it was bullsh*t personally.
And no it wasn't by looking at the docking unit stuck on the glass or the mark left by the suction cup, these were fully removed apparantly 2020 BMW X1 18d XDrive X-Line Auto
17th Jan 2007 12:01 pm
LRtuning
Member Since: 22 Feb 2005
Location: AUSTRALIA + UK
Posts: 468
We are all forgetting blue tooth has made laptops 'discoverable' simply by using a mobile phone
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
are able to see through a translucent material and know where a compter is located. He is forming an opinion, that those low-life have a "detector" able to sniff out portable computers. Thinking logically, is it possible that most portable computers have RFI tags left in them that may have been used for tracking during production?
| 08MY Discovery 3 (history) 
