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Ask HN: How can I get this guy who stole my laptop?

12 points by JacobIrwin ↗ HN
PreyProject caught all his info and the NYPD haven't done anything in 6 months (despite repeat follow-up conversations with the case detective).

PreyProject took a screenshot of him logging in, which pretty much gives us his name: M. Negron.

His address in the Bronx is also pinpointed, etc.

Here are the PreyProject shots:

  Guy: http://pasteboard.co/23CbPOHj.jpg

  Guy's credentials: http://pasteboard.co/23CTuOhD.jpg

  Report 1/2: http://pasteboard.co/23CdMkBL.png

  Report 2/2: http://pasteboard.co/23CgR5It.png

  Address 1/2: http://pasteboard.co/23CixKln.png

  Address 2/2: http://pasteboard.co/23ClgLtJ.png
Any ideas? Best course of action now?

6 comments

[ 267 ms ] story [ 1476 ms ] thread
rl3
That sucks, but how do you know that this person is the thief, and that you're not doxing some guy who was duped into buying your stolen laptop?
candeira
It's kinda difficult to buy a stolen laptop without knowing it's stolen, unless it's at a reseller shop and it's been wiped.

There has to be some willful blindness.

jacquesm
That may be true but there is definitely room for error here and in that case this kind of attack may actually be a worse crime than the theft of the laptop. This guy may very well be the thief but if he's not and he loses his job over this or has something else happen to him then the OP may be in pretty hot water.
jeffmould
IANAL and I am not familiar with NYPD protocol, plus without knowing all the details of the case (not to be rude, but I don't really care to know), it is hard to give a specific answer. Some ideas you may try though:

1. Request the detective's supervisor 2. Contact the victim advocate or an ombudsman for the department 3. Contact the district attorney's office and ask options 4. Speak to an attorney and get the attorney to put pressure on the police and/or city

If they haven't done anything for 6 months as you say, there is something else going on. The individual could be part of a bigger criminal investigation that they have not shared with you. Or you are just stuck in a legal limbo of sorts. There could be some gray area around how the individual's information was found using that software that prohibits the police from acting on it. They could have also filed paperwork to investigate further and it is stuck in some bureaucratic red tape or on some desk somewhere. You are probably better off just speaking with an attorney and letting them handle it.

Now if it were me, I would probably just cut my losses and chalk it up. Unfortunately in the big scheme of NYPD, a stolen laptop is probably a non-priority case and collecting dust somewhere. As frustrating as that sounds, by the time you hire an attorney, waste your time pressing forward, etc.. you could have purchased a new laptop and moved on.

Sorry I can't be much more help. I have been there myself. My house was robbed about 15 years ago and I had a laptop and desktop stolen. Was able to track it down, but still took close to 2 years before it was finally returned to me. By then it was pretty much worthless and anything of mine that had been on them was long gone.

marvel_boy
Yes, I think you must contact the district attorney. It is the most quick option.