By Will Sturgeon, 18 May 2007 14:52
NEWS
Carrying a laptop in a laptop bag could increase your chances of joining the growing number of people falling prey to laptop thieves.
Just consider these police reports from some of the laptop thefts in the UK.
- While walking along the road [the victim] is approached from behind and knocked against a wall banging his head. Offender then pulls [the victim's] laptop case off his shoulder making good his escape.
- During the hours of darkness two unknown male offenders approach from behind, remove laptop case containing laptop and mobile phone from [the victim's] right hand. Offenders then make good escape with same in unknown direction.
- Offenders during darkness hours approach [the victim] while getting out of his vehicle and proceed to snatch laptop bag from his shoulder and make off.
These incident reports, obtained by a Freedom of Information Act enquiry, are indicative of the types of theft and robberies happening in alarming and increasing numbers on UK streets as more people carry expensive laptops which are attractive to opportunist criminals.
And the fact the three above all involved laptops carried in a laptop case may be no coincidence.
Research conducted by silicon.com has found the vast majority of laptop users believe carrying their computer in a branded and conspicuous laptop bag puts them at far greater risk than if they use a sports holdall or backpack to carry their hardware.
Criminals are looking for easy targets and a straight choice between a laptop bag, boasting a manufacturer's logo, or a backpack which could contain nothing more exciting than a gym kit or lunchbox, makes the person with the laptop bag more likely to become a bag-snatch target.
In all, 85 per cent of respondents to a silicon.com poll said they believe laptop bags make them more likely targets for criminals. Less than two per cent said they don't believe that to be the case, while 13 per cent said they believe the risk to be the same whatever type of bag you carry your laptop in.
Comments
There are 6 comments. Join the discussion
1. Mark Kobayashi-Hillary
It really goes without saying, if you have a laptop-shaped bag with Toshiba or Dell stamped on it then you may as well add a sign saying 'mug me please'... I had a laptop bag nicked at Moscow airport - quietly though and without violence, they pulled it under the chair while I was sitting waiting for a flight. Now, my trusty laptop slides into a backpack!
2. G Slater
If you are worried, use a grocery shop plastic bag with a newspaper to each side. It's easier to swing too, as a weapon to assist your get-away.
3. James Button
Elementary common sense - don't advertise goodies in a neatly labeled package.
Same goes for laptops as went for cameras such as Nikon, Hasselblad and Olympus etc. in the 70's.
Is there much difference between people carrying goodies in a well labelled bag, and waving a wad of £10 notes as they walk along the road.
4. Silly to give name!
I've never used a laptop bag - if I take my notebook anywhere it goes in a rucksack or whatever. The nice leather laptop case I got with this one does make a great briefcase, though! I just wish I could get my wife to realise the same thing, especially as she uses public transport more than I do.
5. anonymous
A few years back I had purchased an expensive new SLR camera and wished to try it out whilst to a from various locations whilst on other business, the travel involving train journeys. I had deliberately packed the camera carefully into a non-descript backpack.
On the homeward journey and having had to rush for a train due to road traffic hold ups and the post Hatfield accident rail chaos (the train I caught was, unusually the last that evening) I suffered a cardiac arrest as the train moved off. I did not appreciate what was happening to me and those near in the carriage kept well away probably thinking my gyrations were those of a drunk etc.
Two stops later I managed to gather my wits and back pack, exited the train and promptly collapsed on the platform.
The back pack stayed with me, this I knew because knowledge of its contents kept me alert and pevented me taking the easy path into sleep, from which I would probably not have awakened.
The paramedics who attended, and the station staff who did a stirling job at the scene, were all puzzled about my repeated request as to the wherabouts of my back pack.
Think, you never know what turns the day may bring. Using a non-descript back pack makes sense.
6. anonymous
You can get anonymous backpacks with padded internal laptop compartments
(Spreading the weight centrally over both shoulders has got to be better for your back too!)