How to preventing laptop theft?

[Birdjaguar]

My daughter goes off to college this week with a new laptop. She will be living a coed dorm setting at a large college in St. Louis.

Where do laptops get stolen most frequently? Library, dorm rooms, etc?

What is the best way to prevent theft or recover a stolen machine?

Are the tracking software any good?

Is there a easy to use physical "lock to stationary object" device that is best?

Any experience or thoughts in CFC land?

Thanks,

 

[vbraun]

You know I was thinking about this last night. The best idea was straping the laptop to you whille you go to sleep.

 

[Birdjaguar]

You know I was thinking about this last night. The best idea was straping the laptop to you whille you go to sleep.

Why thank you. When I mentioned your answer to my daughter, she said "Sounds like a good idea to me." With sacasm. But she didn't insist on getting your emal address or inquire about whether or not I knew if you were good looking. Sorry.

 

[vbraun]

Why thank you. When I mentioned your answer to my daughter, she said "Sounds like a good idea to me." With sacasm. But she didn't insist on getting your emal address or inquire about whether or not I knew if you were good looking. Sorry.

Darn it...

 

[Perfection]

The absolute best way to prevent thefts:

Lock your dorm room whenever you are gone or sleeping.

 

[Birdjaguar]

The absolute best way to prevent thefts:

Lock your dorm room whenever you are gone or sleeping.

I will pass the little gem of wisdom on to her, and tell her it came from someone almost as smart as her.

 

[Perfection]

Yeah, as long as she does that and she just keeps an eye on it while she's in public she'll do fine.

 

[Comraddict]

not easy task... in my school everything gets stolen and laptops are probably #1 on thieves wish list...

When outside, she should have her laptop with her at all times. Like in library, she should take laptop with her to restroom.

When in dorm room, as other sugested, keep the door locked.

 

[Birdjaguar]

not easy task... in my school everything gets stolen and laptops are probably #1 on thieves wish list...

When outside, she should have her laptop with her at all times. Like in library, she should take laptop with her to restroom.

When in dorm room, as other sugested, keep the door locked.

Does anyone at your school use locking devices?

 

[Comraddict]

not everybody apparently. they mostly use it for bikes. I haven't seen anybody lock their laptop.

 

[Birdjaguar]

not everybody apparently. they mostly use it for bikes. I haven't seen anybody lock their laptop.

Thanks, that real world action tells me they are too much trouble for most to use.

 

[Moss]

Make sure she locks dorm room...

Don't let friends use the laptop...(actually, I say that for more reasons than just theft...personal things, papers, ect...)

and most importantly...make sure she keeps it with her at all times. Or locked safely in her dorm room. If she doesn't have a cary case or whatever, she should get one.

 

[Perfection]

And make sure her roomate locks it too!

 

[Birdjaguar]

Make sure she locks dorm room...

And make sure her roomate locks it too!

Yes and yes, Hopefully her roomate will also have a laptop and fully understand the issues here.

 

[Perfection]

Yes and yes, Hopefully her roomate will also have a laptop and fully understand the issues here.

If not make it very clear that to the roomate if she screws up you'll make her life a living hell.

 

[vbraun]

Thats why I suggested locking it to yourself when you go to sleep, you should do this when you can't trust your roomate.

 

[Birdjaguar]

If not make it very clear that to the roomate if she screws up you'll make her life a living hell.

My daughter could do that all by herself.

 

[GenMarshall]

I used to bring a laptop to school up to my second year in college when I got my pocket PC. I use Pocket PC more at school than my laptop (and its quite conveniant to be liberated from lugging around an AC adapter )

 

[Dabomb18359]

Well you could always get a room to yourself! Then no stinking roommate. =D

 

[shadowdude]

Paste stickers from little kid shows all over the laptop. Then no thief would want to steal it

There are metal plates that you can paste on the laptop that don't come off and can be used to track it as well I believe. I tried googling for it and got this