[OPLINTECH] stolen laptop recovery success story and tips

[Chad Morris]

I've installed Prey on one of our laptops to experiment and so far it has
worked pretty well. I like how it can take a picture of the thief if the
laptop has a built-in webcam. We don't circulate any laptops but if we
start, I'll be sure to install LogMeIn Free and Prey. Hats off to catching
those thieves!

 

Chad Morris

Technology Coordinator

Franklin-Springboro Public Library

44 E. Fourth Street

Franklin, OH 45005

Office:  937.746.2665
Cell:     937.301.2465

Fax:     937.746.2847

Email:
<https://mail.oplin.org/webmail/src/compose.php?send_to=morrisch%40oplin.org
> morrisch at oplin.org
www.fspl.org



 

From: oplintech-bounces at lists.oplin.org
[mailto:oplintech-bounces at lists.oplin.org] On Behalf Of Chip Kruthoffer
Sent: Friday, February 03, 2012 10:05 AM
To: oplintech at lists.oplin.org
Subject: [OPLINTECH] stolen laptop recovery success story and tips

 

We circulate laptops for in-library use at one of our locations, chiefly due
to a lack of space for more workstations there. Unfortunately, around the
holidays we experienced a rash of thefts
<http://www.journal-news.com/news/crime/laptops-reported-stolen-from-library
-1310178.html> . Despite the requirement that we hold their driver's
licenses, we lost 3 Dell Vostros in a series of days. We have been
circulating these at this location since 2008 without any incidents like
this, so this was new to us.

We realize now that we could have been a little better prepared, so I wanted
to share a couple of things we have done. I am happy to report that we have
recovered 2 of the 3 machines as of Feb.2, and we have a bead on the third
one.

Shortly after the computers were stolen, we realized that because we had
LogMeIn Free <https://secure.logmein.com/products/free/>  installed on them,
we could still connect to them whenever they were connected to the Internet.
Changing a few default settings, we could connect without too much risk of
detection. We use LogMeIn Central
<https://secure.logmein.com/products/central/>  [coupon
<http://www.retailmenot.com/view/logmein.com> ] in conjunction with LMI
Free, but any remote control option would serve the same purpose as LMI
Free.

Once connected, we were able to install Prey <http://preyproject.com/> ,
which automates the tracking process and provides a bunch of additional
functionality, including geo-info the police can use to pay your thief a
visit. The vendor offers steep educational discounts. It is already
inexpensive anyway, considering the value of the items you'll be protecting
with it.

If anyone has dealt with, or is dealing with, a similar situation, I'd be
glad to compare notes off-list. I just wanted to mention Prey here in
particular.

Chip Kruthoffer, Systems Manager
Lane Libraries ~  <http://www.lanepl.org> http://www.lanepl.org
1396 University Blvd. (Admin. Center)
Hamilton, Ohio 45011
P: 513.785.2706
E:  <mailto:c.kruthoffer at lanepl.org> c.kruthoffer at lanepl.org

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