We've been robbed

[Sir Fredrick]

This is really freaking weird. All of our laptops have been stolen, along with a very expensive projector. Over $8000 in equipment. What's really bothersome is that this happened a while ago, and we didn't even realize it until today.
My birthday was February 3rd, so I took a personal day on the 4th. My laptop was in my office on the 1st when I left, and when I got back on the 5th it was gone...I noticed right away, and asked several of my co workers if they knew what happened to it. They were clueless, so I assumed that my boss had taken it. It was computer #3 in my office, used very infrequently, so I didn't think much of it and I never got around to asking her about it.

There is only one way to get in, and you have to get through two locked doors if you come in at night. It seems highly unlikely that this was an outside job; nothing else was disturbed, they found all of our laptops including those that were tucked away in the closet, there's no sign of forced entry (obviously, or we would have noticed sooner).

We all feel really dumb for not noticing sooner. Argh!

 

[SyahM]

sorry Sir, hopefully you guys will recover the loss soon .. call the cops.

 

[BooneRebel]

Cleaning crew?

 

[Sir Fredrick]

<< sorry Sir, hopefully you guys will recover the loss soon .. call the cops. >>



Boss is calling the cops, insurance will probably cover it, but I'm willing to bet the cops are going to want to have a talk with all of us, all signs point to an inside job. This is a very small business and I trust all of my coworkers, it would suck if it did turn out to be one of them, I would feel so betrayed. I don't really suspect any of them of doing this though, so I don't know what happened.

 

[Sir Fredrick]

<< Cleaning crew? >>



They don't have keys to our area.

 

[spanky]

that sux. so with insurace... what will they do? replace the exact same laptop, or replace for the value of the laptop when u bought it? if that is the case.. it'd sorta be like a free/cheap upgrade do u have to pay a deductable?

 

[SpecialEd]

really sorry to hear that.. Maybe it will turn up... my boss is always taking program install CDs out of my office... I always freak out thinking i've lost them, but them my boss come in and hands me a pile of CDs two weeks later. I hope you find it! I'd call the cops... and if you purchase another notebook, get a lock.. you can never be too safe!

 

[SyahM]

i've been thinking .. does your boss going to fire anyone soon? or anybody with the less secure position? maybe that somebody is trying to get back at the company .. well, it's too early for April fool and certainly not a prank anymore with the cops involved.

 

[Sir Fredrick]

<< that sux. so with insurace... what will they do? replace the exact same laptop, or replace for the value of the laptop when u bought it? if that is the case.. it'd sorta be like a free/cheap upgrade do u have to pay a deductable? >>



I think they depreciate the value. Plus we had a lot of code and data on those laptops, most of which was backed up, but not all of it. That can't be replaced.

 

[Sir Fredrick]

<< i've been thinking .. does your boss going to fire anyone soon? or anybody with the less secure position? maybe that somebody is trying to get back at the company .. well, it's too early for April fool and certainly not a prank anymore with the cops involved. >>



Actually, yeah, two of the employees here *might* be getting laid off soon. One of them was planning on quitting anyway, so he's happy because it means he gets to collect unemployment, the other is not too happy about this, but I can't imagine her stealing anything. There's another guy here who's pretty new, he's only been here for a month...but again he seems trustworthy.

 

[kranky]

Since it's clearly an inside job, at least ONE of the people you say are trustworthy is the thief.

Did you conclude the stuff was taken over the weekend?

And everyone has keys so they can get in at night?

 

[Ornery]

Can they force you to take a lie detector test or something? How would the cops track down the culprit? If they do find him, what would be the penalty? What would you wish to have happen to them? If somebody stole my stuff and got caught, I'd want them to pay HORRIBLY! Do you look at it differently when somebody steals from the company, rather than your own personal stuff? Should their penalty be more or less?

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

You were robbed, and, yet, you found the lappys hidden in the closet? How is that robbery?

nik

 

[DaiShan]

anyone can beat a lie detector test, I even fooled a professional, he came in for my psych class to demonstrate, I stepped on a tack the whole time to raise the normal levels, it confused the hell outta him and the machine, this guy used to be the head guy for the fhp too, that is why they aren't admissable in court. oh and btw if you find this guy... HANG HIM you don't steal a man's computer parts!!

 

[Amused]

<< You were robbed, and, yet, you found the lappys hidden in the closet? How is that robbery?

nik

>>



Nik, reading comprehension is your friend

Read this again:



<< It seems highly unlikely that this was an outside job; nothing else was disturbed, they found all of our laptops including those that were tucked away in the closet, there's no sign of forced entry (obviously, or we would have noticed sooner).
>>



The ROBBER found the laptops that were tucked away in the closet, and STOLE those too.

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

<< Nik, reading comprehension is your friend >>

Forgive me... I was up late and got up early. I've been doing that for about a week and it's really getting to me. Working 10-hr days doesn't help either.

nik (ZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz............)

 

[Amused]

<<

<< Nik, reading comprehension is your friend >>

Forgive me... I was up late and got up early. I've been doing that for about a week and it's really getting to me. Working 10-hr days doesn't help either.

nik (ZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz............) >>



That's OK, Freddy coulda been a little more clear about what, where and who.

 

[Gunbuster]

Lie detector?

I thought police involvment was more along the lines of taking a report, and maybe calling you if they happen to find some laptops when they pull someone over.

If the man gave lie detectors, dusted for prints, bla bla bla.... every time a laptop went missing from an office we would need a lot more cops

 

[Sir Fredrick]

<< Since it's clearly an inside job, at least ONE of the people you say are trustworthy is the thief.

Did you conclude the stuff was taken over the weekend?

And everyone has keys so they can get in at night? >>



It had to have been taken either late friday night, over the weekend, or monday night. I don't think anyone would have the balls to try to steal stuff from us while we were here (and I'm pretty sure someone would have noticed).
I have keys and most of my co-workers have keys, the new guy does not have keys, and he left before I did on friday.

Note that we share this building with several other companies, which means a large number of people would be able to get past the first locked door, which has an alarm.
The lock on the second door (the only way into this section of the building) doesn't seem like a great lock. I don't know anything about picking locks, but it seems like there would at least be marks on it.
There is the very slight chance that someone forgot to lock the inner door when they left, but that seems pretty slim, as it locks automatically when you close the door.

edit: I haven't heard anything from the police yet, I don't know if they're coming or anything. I'll keep you guys updated.
I doubt they'll make us take a lie detector test, but I certainly wouldn't mind if it would help.

 

[clarkmo]

Aha!

<< Note that we share this building with several other companies >>


It was an outside/in job. Someone with the management office, maint, etc.!

 

[Sir Fredrick]

Quite possibly. We looked into this a little further and discovered that it is *extremely* easy to break in through our door, all you need is a ruler or something thin and inflexible.

 

[kranky]

If it's that easy to get in, chances are it was someone from one of the other companies. They probably did it on Friday night to buy some time before it was noticed.

I think it's safe to say those laptops are gone, and the person will get away with it.

 

[Sir Fredrick]

<< If it's that easy to get in, chances are it was someone from one of the other companies. They probably did it on Friday night to buy some time before it was noticed.

I think it's safe to say those laptops are gone, and the person will get away with it. >>



Yeah, that's what I figure. Hopefully we'll get reimbursed for most of the cost of the laptops at least, and the boss is now looking into getting a better lock/security system for the door.

 

[bigshooter]

It was professor plum in teh observatory with the candle stick.

 

[Ornery]

I was just asking about the lie detector, because my wife mentioned one was brought in when money turned up missing at a bank she works at. I don't know what could come of it anyway. I asked what would happen if she refused to take it. She said they might be able to fire her. Beats me...

After she took the test, she asked the operator how she had done. He asked her, "Don't you know?"