Wifi and Laptops Adds Up To Theft

Ant writes to mention an SFGate article about the increase in laptop theft in the world of ubiquitous wifi. From the article: "San Francisco police statistics show a disturbing trend. Just 18 laptop computer robberies were logged in 2004, but the figure jumped to 48 last year. There were 18 as of the end of March, a pace that could surpass 70 crimes this year. 'It's a changing culture, and crime is following it'"

Comments

Now I understand!

[MyLongNickName]

In a recent speech Negropante said: "You see. When I said we were building $100 laptops for developing countries, you people assumed I meant Africa. What I was referring to was Caliifrnia. Have you been to some of the neighborhoods in LA? You can get killed for your shoes. In order to make it safer for folks in cities like San Fracisco where, let's face it, they cannot defned themselves, I developed this idea. Give them an etch-a-sketch interface, and an off brand of Linux, and NO self respecting thief would even bother.
Sure, thre will be the occasional bully who takes your cheap computer just to break it and watc you cry. That is life. But there will be no secondary market for these computers. EVAR!
I fully expect to win a Nobel for this."

Re:Now I understand!

[MyLongNickName]

Please note that all typoes made in the above post were due to my typing on a $100 computer. The keyboard is attrocious.

That's it?

[cdrudge]

18, 48, and 70? In San Francisco? I would have guessed that number to be several times that.

Hmm...actually, for 2004, there was nearly 5 times as many murders as there were laptop thefts. Moral of the story is that if you carry a laptop, you are 5 times less likely to be murdered!

See my reasonably priced notebooks on EBay!

[InsMonkey]

Please check out my reasonably priced notebooks on EBay!

Re:Really? That's it?

[commodoresloat]

I don't see a group of thugs hanging out eagerly clicking away at their TPS reports.

Of course not.

They're working on the cover sheets.

Biometrics = increase in forced amputations!

[Itninja]

I have a Thinkpad (pre-Lenovo, so it'a good one) with wifi, and a biometric figerprint scanner. Can I assume that I am at a greater risk of being robbed and having my finger(s) cut off?

That would really be the only logical conclusion.

Re:Cost of gas!

[nelsonal]

Everyone knows that it's the lack of pirates. Lacking their true career in naval piracy our potential pirates are forced to plunder laptops.