L33_WRX

If I were you I would remote the pc, watch until it looks like the coast is clear (no mouse movement) and start destroying

there's a number of programs out there or you could just wipe the hard drive - if the they've picked the laptop up cheap I doubt they will want to spend out on an operating system

alternatively knock up a quick one page website with something like 'This PC has been tracked and reported to the police' and set it as the homepage.

Dr.No

If you've used web-based locator utilities to work out where the kit is, based on IP address, then it won't be there. Almost 100% guarantee it. It'll probably be within 30 or 40 mile radius of where it says, but even then possibly not. My home IP address resolves to "Swindon" and gives specific long/lats that point to a location about 5 miles away... quite specifically! My work IP addresses resolve to somewhere quite close to The London Eye - even though I'm in Reading. It simply can't be done like that...

So...

Just knock up a quick bit of HTML and stick it on the machine - set the homepage of IE to point to it.

Make sure the HTML says something like:

"CONGRATULATIONS! You've WON a major prize in the BT Broadband user lottery for Little Snottingworth (or wherever you think the lappy is located).

To claim your prize - simply send an email from your BT Broadband email address to our Competition Co-ordination Team:

- Send to: user-prizes@btbroadbandteam.co.uk (or find some other domain name that looks good and is available for £2.50!)

- Remember to quote your prize reference code of TGYA-1239-7102

- Although, for security reasons, we don't want you to quote your BT Broadband username, password or account details in the email IT IS IMPORTANT that you include the name and address of the account holder for verification purposes and it MUST be sent from your BT Broadband email address.

- Prize cheques will ONLY be sent, via Royal Mail Special Delivery, to the registered account holder at the registered address.


Well done... Thanks for being a BT Broadband Customer!"

...or some similar 'honeytrap' device. If you stick a few BT logos on (you have worked out he's a BT Broadband customer haven't you...?? I think so - and you should be able to rely on that!), and generally make it look quite authentic I'd put good money on you getting an email pretty quickly.

Easy and cheap to do, and almost guarantees a result. You'll then know exactly where the lappy is, who has it, and can give the police the email as proof.

Enjoy...

GC8

Make a complaint about the refusal to act to a uniformed inspector and take it from there: Im sure that action will then be forthcoming. Many Police officers seem to have forgotten that they are public servants and that they can not choose which allegations to investigate.

bob269

Lol, isn't this both fraud and entrapment .. altho i like your thinking

Supercue

iTrader: (1)

Who cares as long as they dont get away with it

ScoTTyB

quickest way to bork is this:

click start -> run
type in lusrmgr.msc
click users
right click on the user they are using and 'set password'
set password

reboot.

30 secs max.

ScoTTyB

alternatively, spend you evenings watching them, once you have their email if you see them log in then you can send a fake message to get their address, or wait for them to buy something and type their address.