Protecting Your Device from Theft

Mobile devices are popular because they are portable and powerful. Unfortunately, this and the fact that they are relatively expensive make them prime targets for thieves. In the 1980s and early '90s, thieves targeted camcorders for the same reasons (they still do, actually), but now a stolen laptop or PDA can offer more return for the risk taken.

Smart thieves prefer snatching this high-tech, high-value devices instead of picking pockets or robbery because the penalty in most states is usually much less severe. Snatching a laptop or PDA is a crime against property and that usually carries a significantly lighter penalty than picking a pocket, which is a crime against a person.

The amount of cash that a thief can get for a stolen laptop is significant. With some high-end laptops costing as much as $3,000, a thief can expect to collect as much as 50 percent of the laptop's value when he sells it. That's a lot of money for grabbing one unattended laptop and slipping away unnoticed.

Criminals look for an easy score; they don't want to take unnecessary risk. They look for unattended computers that they can grab and then disappear into the crowd. They don't want to spend a lot of time committing the theft because the longer they linger, the more likely they will be caught.

Thieves often target travelers because they are in a hurry and distracted, and because busy airports, convention centers, and other places those travelers congregate make the theft easier because of the confusion created by noise and crowds. Like magicians, thieves and con men rely on misdirection to accomplish their intended goals, directing the victim's attention elsewhere while they slip in and commit a crime.

One popular scam involves stealing laptops while the owners are passing through security, Two thieves wait until they spot a traveler carrying a laptop bag. Then they move into position in line directly ahead of the victim. The first thief goes through the metal detector and the second one creates a delay by setting off the detector, usually with coins or keys located on their person.

At this point, the victim has placed his laptop in the X-ray machine and patiently waits to get through the metal detector. The first thief grabs the victim's laptop as it exits the X-ray machine and then moves on. When the victim finally gets through security, the laptop is gone.

Even with the recently heightened security in airports, this scam still occurs. While security is only supposed to allow ticketed passengers through checkpoints, a thief who can collect thousands of dollars for a few laptops has no problem buying a cheap ticket, often for less than $100, just to get through security. Screeners seldom pay attention to which bag belongs to whom, so there isn't much of a deterrent for career thieves.

Things aren't all hopeless, however. There are things you can do to protect your laptop and your data. The best defense is vigilance. Never leave your laptop unattended and pay close attention to it whenever circumstances force you to part with it, such as when you go through a checkpoint. Thankfully, it doesn't take much to deter thieves who want a quick and easy snatch, and your vigilance, along with the following measures, will reduce the likelihood of you becoming a target.