IOWA STOLEN COMPUTER RECOVERED USING ABSOLUTE SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGYDesMoinesRegister.comLaptop reports its own theft
Makers of anti-theft software on the machine trace the computer to Des Moines and call police.

By TOM ALEX
REGISTER STAFF WRITER


October 19, 2005

The e-mail to Des Moines police said: "Sorry to take the challenge out of this."

Detective Bill Boggs was happy for the help.

Boggs had been tracking a laptop computer belonging to William Penn University in Oskaloosa that was stolen from a church parking lot nearly two weeks ago.

The e-mail was from a software maker in Canada, which knew the hot laptop had been connected to the Internet from a telephone line in southeast Des Moines.

"They sent us the address, the telephone number, the name of the person who lives there," Boggs said.

The company, Absolute Software Corp. of Vancouver, British Columbia, is one of a growing number of technology suppliers selling anti-theft products that may lead police straight to the bad guys. The software costs anywhere from $25 to $60, and sometimes annual fees are involved.

After the e-mail from Canada arrived, police got a search warrant and contacted the occupant of 432 S.E. Pleasantview Drive, where the stolen computer was thought to be plugged in. A man was supposed to meet officers at the house.

After a half-hour, police broke in the front door.

"That set off a burglar alarm. How's that for irony?" Sgt. David Murillo asked.

Officers recovered the laptop, valued at $2,000.

No charges were filed immediately.