Stolen PowerBook Forum

This page is basically the feedback after I asked the original question on the site, listed below. I hope you can learn some prevention techniques, how to protect yourself with different kinds of insurance, and what do do when your PB gets lifted.

Original Question/Post

It is probably no interest to readers, but I just had my brand new apple 266mhz powerbook stolen from my car in NYC this past weekend...not even 3 weeks old. I'm curious as to what kind of repercussion I can take as to car insurance, credit card purchase etc, but most of all I'm wondering if apple has some sort of contact about stolen merchandise? If so, I'd love to post the serial number so that the theif/buyers will never be able to get it serviced. Of course, on the flip side, if it IS ever found (doubt it) I'd still like myself to be able to have it serviced...

Responses

While I've never had a PowerBook stolen, I have had a bicycle stolen and
was able
to recoup some of the loss through home owner insurance.  At the time I was in
college and was able to get around 50% of the value through my mother's
insurance
company, apparently their willing to throw good customers a bone once and a
while.
I believe many apartment insurance policies would also cover at least some of
the loss.

The Stolen Computer Registry is a coalition of insurance agencies, 
corporate security departments and computer sellers which tracks stolen 
computer equipment nationwide. It keeps a database of serial numbers, 
makes, models  and configurations of stolen computers. Reach them in New 
York at (212) 777-1291.

If a PowerBook is stolen, the serial number should be immediately
reported to the Apple tech support center (800 SOS-APPL).  Apple keeps a
database of serial numbers for use in verifying a machine's warranty
status.  Every Apple Authorized Service Center checks with Apple to make
sure that any machine brought in for service has a valid serial number,
and that the machine is under warranty.  Apple will also tell the
service tech at that time whether a given serial number shows up as
being stolen.

It also may work to simply inform the service center of a stolen unit's
serial number, and the technician is supposed to contact Apple to have
that serial number entered into the database as stolen.  However, as we
all know, some technicians are better than others, and one runs the risk
of a busy or non-caring tech "forgetting" to contact Apple.  The best
bet is to contact Apple directly.

Of course, as usual, the user should contact her credit card company,
insurance company, police, etc., all the normal avenues for reporting a
theft.  Unless the thief knows of Apple's serial number service
database, however, reporting the stolen serial number to Apple usually
has the highest chance of getting the stolen product returned.  Note:
This procedure works for all Apple-branded hardware, not just
PowerBooks.

Have the customer call Apple Customer Relations at: 800-767-2775, option 
4 and ask for customer relations. Make sure he has
his PB serial number ready. Hope this helps.

this has been my experience with stolen property.  my car was broken into and
they tool a $275 radar detector.  the line from my auto insurance agent was,
they will replace and repair anything that was originally installed in the car
at the factory.  since a powerbook is not a factory installed option, most car
insurance companies will NOT cover replacement of the unit.

however, i was also in europe a few years ago.  during this trip, our car was
broken into and they stole about $2000 worth of camera equipment.  i have very
good homeowner's insurance and this policy covers theft of any personal property
anywhere in the world (less $250 deductable).  so, while this gentleman may not
be able to get the powerbook replaced with his car insurance, a good homeowner's
or renter's insurance policy should cover it.  i've always found it useful to
carry the extra expense of having the "replacement value" rider.  this way, they
cannot depreciate the value of the property stolen.  and, if the unit is no
longer available (say 1400 model PB), you are allowed to replace it with a
current model (G3 PB).

I too had a PB stolen, a 5300 last December. If you have renters or homeowners
insurance, you are probably covered. I had sent email to O'Grady's page
describing the PowerBook's configuration in case any used dealer came across
it, but nothing has surfaced. I suggest the bes thing to do is to put your
name on the startup screen with a reward notice, use password security, and
try putting a sticker underneath the keyboard which says something like: "To
whoever reads this: If this is being serviced by someone other than FIRST NAME
LAST NAME, then this is a stolen Powerbook. Call xxx/xxx.xxxx to report it
stolen. There is a reward."
Of course it cannot guarantee anything, but more than likely the thief is just
an opportunist and doesn't no diddly about PowerBooks. When he tries to get an
estimate from a computer guy, the guy may open it up privately, see the reward
notice and decide to call the police.
The other thing I would do is get one of those cable locks and whenever you
are in public, lock it  to an unmoveable object.

Re: the person whose PowerBook was stolen from their car in NYC....

First, auto insurance will likely NOT cover the loss, because
the PowerBook was not "permanently attached" to the vehicle.

As for hoping for recovery, that may be aided by a trip to O'Grady's
PowerPage (ogrady.com), as I believe they maintain a PowerBook registry.

Lastly, some time ago I read about a PowerBook that was stolen in
Australia.  It was recovered because the person had sent in their
registration card to Apple.  Hopefully, the NYC person did likewise.

I had a Powerbook stolen from my office about a year ago. I 
registered the serial number on O'Grady's Powerpage, but that didn't 
seem very effective. My insurance company, Allstate, did cover the 
loss by replacing the machine with an identical model (minus my 
deductible) within a couple of weeks. They were very, very good to 
work with, despite my own impatience! It was covered under my 
standard homeowner's insurance.

Written/Edited/Published by Doug B. Landry
Logo by Jon Iverson
Apple, Mac, Macintosh, Mac OS,The Apple Store, and Powerbook are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.
©1998 Doug B. Landry. All rights reserved. All or part may not be reproduced or distributed without prior consent.
Coded on a Apple Macintosh Powerbook G3 Series from Baton Rouge, LA