Wednesday, June 27, 2012 • Andy Chapman
ALMOST 200 laptop computers and a similar number of mobile phones have been stolen over the past year for what police believe is a “ready market” in this district.
Another “sought-after” electronic item being sold-on are iPods, with almost 100 stolen here in the past 12 months.
Police are concerned at the number of electronic devices that are being targeted in Gisborne.
“There appears to be a ready market within the criminal fraternity for their disposal,” said Detective Sergeant Wayne Beattie.
“We would encourage all owners of these devices to record the make, model and serial numbers for all items of value, and store these records in a safe place. If these items are stolen, then these details will aid in their recovery,” he said.
“There are a number of ways the community can protect itself from such thefts. The simplest step is to ensure that these items are not left in your home or vehicle in locations where they are highly visible.
“If you are in a position where you have to leave one of these devices in your car then police suggest that they be secured in a locked boot.”
Homeowners are urged to store electronics in a place where they cannot be easily found.
“Most burglars spend only a very short period of time in your home so don’t get the time required to search for the less obvious items,” said Det Sgt Beattie.
“If your device is stolen, you can protect your stored information by having the device locked and only able to be activated with use of a password,” he said.
“If the device is protected by such a password, it makes it unusable by the offenders.”
With the advent of the GPS (Global Positioning Systems) and current developments in technology, there are now various computer programs available to help police track and locate stolen devices.
“This technology, once downloaded to your device, enables the owner to remotely track down where their stolen equipment is being used,” said Det Sgt Beattie.
“The software not only enables you to obtain an accurate location but you can also turn on the device’s webcam, enabling you to record the activities of the offender.
“You are also able to take a screenshot when the offender is checking his facebook page or similar identifiable social network page.
“These programs all offer different levels of protection. Some are available free. Others with a higher level of protection can be purchased online for as little as $50 per year,” he said.
Police here have already recovered stolen electronic items using one of these tracking programs “much to the delight of the laptop owner and dismay of the offender”, says Det Sgt Beattie.