the original thread: [forums.macresource.com]

quick summary of previous info: I bought a 2009 mbp on ebay and when I got around to setting it up, was greeted by a screen from the Find My Mac app that locked out the machine telling me that it was stolen and gave a number for me to call. The number was to an ad agency in Minneapolis. Yes, it really was stolen and I was able to verify the legitimacy of the ad agency and the person I was speaking to independently.

I called the ad agency, gave them the details and asked for them to verify the serial number (they did) and get me the police report number (they said it would take a day or two)

I didn't hear from them for a day or two, then sent a note telling them to get moving else I'd just send it back to the original seller.

They came back saying that they couldn't find the number and that the police were slow to return their calls requesting the info. He told me to go ahead and return it since they had been taken care of by insurance.

Ok then...

The first ebay reps that I spoke to pretty much read me the handbook which says that without proof of a theft, ignore any claims of theft and proceed normally.

Apparently, an experience with a computer being shut down by Find my Mac isn't enough to go on, but I got a call from a supervisor a few hours later and HE WAS WONDERFUL!!

He called me every other day (just when he said he would) to ask how things were going. He's done everything right.

So in the end... things are still screwed up - I'm returning this machine to someone who isn't the real owner, but only because the real owner wasn't able to come up with the police report number. The ebay sup laid out an extensive plan of what was to happen once we got the police info and the police confiscated the laptop. Ebay's insurance covers my purchase and once I sent it back to the police in minny, I would have gotten my refund.

So, I'm about to pack the thing up and send it off...

so you send it back to the seller, right?

Hopefully the seller can get it resold locally before it gets "confiscated."

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MR/F Guestmap: [www.mapservices.org]

The seller may well get away with it, BUT I have his address (only 4mi from the ad agency) and will get it to the police if there is any way to do so. At the very least, he's been sweating bullets since I first contacted him...

and the seller may be an innocent victim too - entirely possible, BUT the fact that the ebay listings stated that the items were in NYC is very telling - If I was selling stolen goods on ebay, I sure as hell would NOT list the actual location. The first thing a victim should do is get on ebay and to a search by location.

Did you get the date, or approximate date the allegedly stolem MBP was reported to minipopo? Did you call minipopo to confirm a report filed based on that date? I mean how many MBP's are reported stolen in a given day to minipopo? NYC seller turns out to really be 4 miles from theft. Hmmm... I *hope* you're not actually sending the MBP back w/o proof of theft, or at least copy of police report claiming theft therein, AND written confirmation from ebay that you are covered by their insurance. Talk on the phone is cheap. You don't want that MBP out of your hands w/o actual reimbursement, or solid, written evidence that a reliable party to the ebay transaction is 100% guarantying payment. I'm sorry you have to go thru this hassle.

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Why aren't you turning it in at the local police station?

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Chakravartin
Why aren't you turning it in at the local police station?

because he wants to get his money back. and he does not have a police report yet. and his local police has other things to take care off rather than what happend in another state. just some random guesses

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space-time

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Chakravartin
Why aren't you turning it in at the local police station?

because he wants to get his money back. and he does not have a police report yet. and his local police has other things to take care off rather than what happend in another state. just some random guesses

He's in possession of stolen property and knowingly passing it on to someone who is not the legit owner.

That may be illegal in his state.

Hal, did you ask the police what to do with the laptop?

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Chakravartin
Why aren't you turning it in at the local police station?

Why would you assume the local police station would want anything to do with it? What a bizarre question.

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MR/F Guestmap: [www.mapservices.org]

without police report in hand, how can be 100% sure the item was stolen?

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Chakravartin

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space-time

Quote
Chakravartin
Why aren't you turning it in at the local police station?

because he wants to get his money back. and he does not have a police report yet. and his local police has other things to take care off rather than what happend in another state. just some random guesses

He's in possession of stolen property and knowingly passing it on to someone who is not the legit owner.

That may be illegal in his state.

Hal, did you ask the police what to do with the laptop?

I suggested something similar in the previous thread and received multiple beatings to the head.
Did you bother to read that thread?

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MR/F Guestmap: [www.mapservices.org]

Why not call the insurance company that paid the claim? The computer is actually theirs now, and they would likely have a copy of the police report on file. The insurance company would be the most motivated to give you the information, as recovery of the laptop might allow them to resell it and recover some of their costs.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/08/2012 08:46PM by Janit.

WOW! Lots of really weird responses...

I will try to answer all questions here:

"Did you get the date, or approximate date the allegedly stolem MBP was reported to minipopo? Did you call minipopo to confirm a report filed based on that date? I mean how many MBP's are reported stolen in a given day to minipopo? NYC seller turns out to really be 4 miles from theft. Hmmm... I *hope* you're not actually sending the MBP back w/o proof of theft, or at least copy of police report claiming theft therein, AND written confirmation from ebay that you are covered by their insurance. Talk on the phone is cheap. You don't want that MBP out of your hands w/o actual reimbursement, or solid, written evidence that a reliable party to the ebay transaction is 100% guarantying payment. I'm sorry you have to go thru this hassle."

Wow - you really want me to work... I did not call minny police - I have nothing for them to work with - need a report number...

According to someone that knows, LOTS of laptops are stolen from this area. Have you ever tried to call a big metro police dept? You can't just call and say, "hey, I have some info on that laptop that was stolen last month".

I file claims with ebay all the time (40 in the last 18mo) I know how the system works, I've read everything about everything on their website. I'm one of those few people that actually understands the agreement between me and ebay.

Most important - I have no REAL evidence of theft... it is possible (but very, very unlikely) that someone installed Find My Mac, sold the computer and then tried to claim ownership again. The police report is key to all of this.

"Why aren't you turning it in at the local police station?"

Because the locals have nothing to do with this - are you NUTS!?

"He's in possession of stolen property and knowingly passing it on to someone who is not the legit owner.

That may be illegal in his state.

Hal, did you ask the police what to do with the laptop?"

I tried to call them for advice, but there was no way to get through the phone tree without dialing 911. Wasted a good 15 minutes trying... And no one has proven to me that this is a stolen laptop - I have not committed any crime.

without police report in hand, how can be 100% sure the item was stolen?

Someone is paying attention! you get a gold star!

"Why not call the insurance company that paid the claim? The computer is actually theirs now, and they would likely have a copy of the police report on file. The insurance company would be the most motivated to give you the information, as recovery of the laptop might allow them to resell it and recover some of their costs."

They didn't report it stolen to the police did they?

The procedure is for me to return this machine (once it was proven stolen) to the police dept where it was reported. The rightful owner then goes to the police to recover it.

The Ad Agency should have gotten a business card from the officer that took the report that had his direct phone number on it as well as the case number. If they lost that direct contact or case number...yea, good luck getting through to anyone in the Minneapolis PD through the phone tree.

The insurance company requires a copy of the police report to pay the claim. They do have it, but it really isn't Hal's responsibility to track this down. As of right now, he has no proof it is stolen and has a short window to act. Without solid proof in a timely fashion he has no choice but to send it back.

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C(-)ris

It would seem to me that ebay is also complicit in this transaction and I'd be working with them to get my money back from/through them

I'd want my money back and hands clean and everything else morality included would have to sit in the back seat until the former was satisfied.

Unless you can afford to use it for parts and just drop the whole issue.

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The insurance company is now the legal owner of the computer, NOT the ad agency. The insurance company will have a copy of the police report because they would have required it to process the claim.

If you bought this computer for personal use, you could consider making a deal to buy it from the insurance company at a discounted price. This would require that they give you the police report so that you can get your original eBay payment refunded. It would also require that they do what is necessary to release the firmware lock on the computer and release the computer to you.

If you bought this for resale, then you would likely not want this complication.

Yes, this is all very annoying. The major issue is how to make you financially whole in a reliable way that also keeps you on the right side of the law.

If there is a time constraint, that is partly your doing, since eBay allows 45 days to file a complaint. For computers bought on eBay, it seems like a good idea to verify status as soon as you get them, so as to allow enough time to deal with this kind of issue. One price of getting a "good deal" can be this kind of problem, and that is part of the bargain.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/09/2012 01:50PM by Janit.

I would say that if the police report # in any way helps you, to call the ad agency's insurance company. You'll likely have an easy time getting hold of someone under the circumstances.

"I've recovered a stolen laptop you've paid a claim on." You'll probably also wind up with a detective's direct phone number, who can ensure it's received or whatever so that you get your money back.