I am switching to a Mac. Yes leaving the broken world of PC to a system that just works. But I am a cheap man. I started looking on Craig's list for a slightly used system. Some might cringe at the notion, but no one is stepping up to buy me one either. I found a great deal, $750 for a one generation old system. I offered $550.00 to make the hassle of dealing with a used system worth my time. Initially the seller emailed rejecting the offer but later accepted. The seller's email instructed me to contact his in town friend to make the purchase. I told the seller I would and also provided my cell number. Weird but the "in town friend" called me within minutes to arrange a meeting.
The next day I brought my Mac genius friend to check the computer out with me. Got to make sure it works, right. We meet the "in town friend" at his work just outside of down town and drive him to his house. After a battery of tests on the recently cleaned machine my friend looks in the system profile for the name of the computers owner. The name that appeared was not that of the "in town friend" or "out of town seller". When asked about the name the "in town friend" said he had gotten the Mac from his friend and had checked his mail on it a couple of times. With no system disks and open questions as to actually ownership I told him we would be in contact.
I remembered that he mentioned his girlfriend at UT and his "out of town friend" the seller went to UT also. I figured that he might have permanently borrowed this computer from a UT student. Another guy in my office says I should check face book for the possible victim's name. Guess what, the possible victim did have a face book account and lived in Tampa.
I called campus security and asked if they kept records of thefts on campus. After a dismissive operator told me that is confidential info, I told her I might know where stolen goods are. She passed me along to the night time security guy. He took the important info; possible victim's name from the Mac, and Mr. Thief's info: names, phone, address, and email, said he would call me back. I thought for sure this was the end of the story. 10 Minutes later the phone rings with a dumbfounded campus security officer. "Your right on the money; the computer went missing a few days ago." I am going to get on the phone with Tampa P.D. and you call "Mr. Thief" to buy the machine.
Dialing phone, ring, answer "Hello" "Mr. Thief, I found the system disk and want to buy that computer" I said. He replied that he already had another buyer, I could barely hear him because some sirens rang out in the background. I told him to call me if that sale does not go through and that I still wanted it.
I called campus security back with the report and the idea came up to offer more money. "Mr. Thief what if I paid you $700 for the computer? Can you call the other buyer and tell him your selling it to me instead?" "Mr. Thief" then calls this other buyer, to get a better price out of him I guess, but he could not get him. "Mr. Thief" calls me back" Hey, man I only have the other buyers home number and could not get him. He is on his way here to meet me now. I am at this intersection where an accident took place so he might be held up." I told him "let me know what happens."
By this point, Tampa PD contacted me getting an updated story. All I could tell them was "Mr. Thief was selling to another buyer as we speak and if you want to catch him you could check the police scanner for an accident in Tampa Heights. I just heard sirens in the background no more than 10 minutes ago." Tampa PD asks, "What's he look like?" "He is a white guy with really big ear rings. Like 50 ring gage." I told them.
I was on my way to Jimmy Buffet, soon to forget the entire day, especially the part about missing out on a half price computer. The phone rings again. "Tampa PD here, We got him. He had the stolen property with him."
After seeing the computer this entire exchange occurred in under 3 hours. Pretty crazy ey.
Here is the article
Front page ayout
Story from the UT Student Paper
http://media.www.theminaretonline.com/media/storage/paper1025/news/2007/11/16/NewsFeatures/Ut.Security.Tpd.Set.Up.Craigslist.Sting.Return.Students.Stolen.Laptop-3101590.shtml
Posts
