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Ask Slashdot: Protecting Tech Gear From Smash-and-Grab Theft?

rstory writes "I seem to be hearing about more smash and grab thefts lately, from low-tech purse snatching to thieves after laptops and cameras. Bold thieves are even snatching stuff in church/day-care parking lots in the 5 minute window while a parent goes in to pick up their child. I often drive around with my laptop, and want to find the best way to protect against theft. Besides the obvious 'don't leave equipment in the car' solution, what else are people doing? Right now I just use a regular backpack instead of a fancy laptop case. I don't have a trunk, so when I leave the car I put the backpack on the floor of the back seat, sometimes throwing other junk on top. The only interesting thing I've found while googling is a couple of 'anti-theft' backpacks which have wire mesh to prevent cutting them open and a (thin looking) cable for securing to a stationary object. What do you do to protect your gear?"

5 of 514 comments (clear)

  1. Get a dog? by ion++ · · Score: 5, Funny

    Get a dog and keep it in the car.

    1. Re:Get a dog? by tripleevenfall · · Score: 5, Funny

      What you need is a trunk monkey.

  2. Use a Diaper Bag by Slashdot+Parent · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's an old photographer's trick to keep gear in a diaper bag. Nobody wants to go near that (literal) shit.

    --
    They don't grade fathers, but if your daughter's a stripper, you fucked up. --Chris Rock
  3. Re:you can track your laptops by walkerp1 · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm waiting to see someone combine these remote tracking and accessibility methods with semtex and finishing nails packed in the old optical drive bay.

    As a fun bonus, your vacations just became a lot more interesting.

  4. Re:My take by Bobfrankly1 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Go too Goodwill, grab a ratty looking Barney the Dinosaur. Cut a hole and insert.

    Wait, are we still talking about theft?