Help! Stolen MacBook. CRAZY update!

[tammymacb]

So, anyhoo. Yesterday my ex husband came into town and picked up DD. He's staying for a few days and booked a room at the Comfort Suites. He drove DD by last night, I saw her come downstairs with a change of clothes and her laptop. She had homework to do on it.

This morning, my ex put the laptop in the bottom of his suitcase and covered it with clothes. ( I know, how stupid ) He then drove DD to sLast month I made a big purchase for a 14 year old. I bought her a Macbook from Apple. It was $999 plus tax.

We're an Apple family, I was tired of DD taking mine. I also wanted her to have a good computer for homework as our only non Apple computer is our desk top which is a piece of crap.
chool and he went and walked on the beach. He came back at 12:30 in the afternoon and went to change clothes. The MacBook was gone.

STUPID ex then goes downstairs and reports it to the manager. The manager says, "Sorry, there's nothing we can do about it and we're not responsible for loses." Ex leaves it at that. 3 hours LATER, my oldest DD calls to tell me the news. Ex called her and asked her to call me.

I called DH ( who's in law enforcement ) and called the police. We all showed up at Comfort Suites. Filed a police report, DH and the other cop watched the video surveillance tape. Which of course didn't show the door to the room. Per the manager, the only person who should have had access to the room was the maid. And she "had her bag searched before she left". Of course I have no idea if this really happened as the manager never bothered to check the tapes until the police came.

Tomorrow, DH and the cop will be meeting the maintenance man ( who had already gone home for the day ) to "pull the record" on the room lock. I guess they can check who opened the door for the day. Maybe.

I've called my CC company ( haven't even gotten the bill for the computer yet ) and have no insurance coverage.

I called my homeowners. It is covered. But, here in coastal SC, hurricane alley, my deductible is $3500. So I get nothing. Except to pay a bill next week on a computer that's already gone.

Ex is now saying he's going to call his insurance company. He lives in Upstate NY and his deductible is far less.

If he calls and says he was traveling with his child and her computer was stolen, will his insurance cover the laptop?

I've got receipts ( in my name ) and will have a full police report.

Is there anything else you would do.

I'm just sick over this.

 

[mrsklamc]

Do you believe your ex? Is there any chance he took it himself? It may be covered by your credit card, too as such a recent purchase. I know Amex used to be great about that kind of thing. (Not from personal experience, just heard about how great they've been for other people.)

 

[Dizzy for Dsny]

I can't really give you concrete answers to your questions, but wanted to add possibly some useful information regarding my son's girlfriend who had similar instance in Texas over Christmas break. She ended up having her Ipod stolen out of the room along with a pair of Uggs, and something else too, well when they demanded that the front desk look at their surveillance tapes, it was discovered that the maids boyfriend would go into the rooms when she was cleaning them and take the goods. Because they had it on tape, the hotel was putting it against the hotels insurance policy. That of course was only after her mother pressed it big time and used the fact that her husband is a policeman and she wasn't going to play any games.

I'm sorry that this happened. I hope you have some positive resolution to this situation soon.

 

[tammymacb]

My ex may be a turd, but he's a wealthy turd.

He has more than enough cash on him to replace it, but he's never that easy.

But, he'd never steal her laptop.

 

[starry_solo]

1. Have the ex buy another laptop for your daughter;
2. Make sure your daughter knows to track her property herself and not to let anyone - and I mean anyone - touch it.

 

[Leajess99]

I know this won't help now but please look into Lojack for your future laptops. It may cost some to cover it but if it is ever needed than it is so worth it.

I only found out about this when I purchased my dell laptop 4 years ago and have used it since.

I am so sorry y'all are going through this and hope they can figure something out. It would make me very mad to find out someone was going through my suitcase too.

 

[mickeymaker2003]

Since it is such a new item, I would check with your credit card to see if they cover it. Some will cover an item for a little while after purchase.

 

[NYCDiane]

The only suspects here are:

Ex-husband

Maid or some other hotel employee


I would make a huge deal over it with the hotel. CALL THEIR CORPORATE OFFICE. Demand that action be taken. The manager says "there's nothing they can do and they're not responsible for losses??" BULL DINKY!!!!!!


I used to work for a large name hotel chain and stuff was constantly missing from guests' rooms --- mainly laptops, iPods, and cameras. Of course, it was 99% of the time, the cleaning staff.

 

[Green Tea]

Oh my goodness. I would be just SICK over that. That is awful. I think your ex filing against his homeowners is a good idea. And also your credit card company might offer an "insurance" on recent purchases. I have never called upon my credit card company, though in the literature they do mention that.

 

[angierae]

If your ex is wealthy, I'd be pushing him to replace her laptop. He didn't lock it up in the safe, it's his responsibility, and he owes it to his kid.

However, being divorced, I know it's not always that easy. I'm sorry this happened to you and DD

 

[GrnMtnMan]

The only suspects here are:

Ex-husband

Maid or some other hotel employee

There are plenty of other suspects.

The classic other scenario here is: while maid is distracted, cleaning the bathroom, or left the room momentarily, thief quickly enters hotel room (where maid has left door open) and thief swipes whatever s/he can. In and out in under 10 seconds - maid never sees a thing.

Thief could be a traveling businessman with an opportunistic klepto-habit, who does this wherever he sees maids be lax with the open doors.

Maid could also be working with someone, allowing them access to rooms. So when she gets searched she's clean....thief just gives her a cut later.

 

[Mom of 3 Princesses]

I know this does not help right now.

But.. for anyone that has a child in school that uses a computer, whether it is a laptop or desk top, you should look into getting it insured through a student insurance company.

I taught in a 21st century lighthouse school. We recommended this insurance for ALL our students. IT covers EVERYTHING for basically very little. Small deductible and is a very good company.

I do not work there anymore and my children not longer attend. But we still keep the insurance. As long as your child is a student this insurance covers it.

You just can't go wrong. We pay about 55.00 a school year and have a 100.00 deductible. It has more coverage than homeowners or private property insurance.

http://www.studentinsurancepartners.com/sip/policyFAQ

From their site:

5. How much does SIP's plan cost?

Our laptop insurance policies are very affordable. The cost will depend on the coverage amount you need and which deductible you select. We have many coverage amounts and deducitbles to choose from. Our most popular policy ($900 of coverage with a $100 deductible) has an annual premium of just $55. Compare our plan's deductibles to those of your homeowners policy ($500 to $1,000+). Click here for more information about our rates, deductibles, and premiums.

6. Are any other items of mine covered under my policy besides my laptop/desktop computer and its peripherals?

Yes, here at Student Insurance Partners, we are always looking for new ways to best serve our policy holders. In addition to your laptop/desktop computer, and its peripherals, you can cover these additional items, that you may own: cell phone/smartphone (excludes iPhone), iPod Touch, iPod, MP3 player, PDA (palm pilot), digital camera and gaming systems!

7. Does SIP's policy cover the laptop off schools grounds?

Yes. It covers the laptop worldwide including; in apartments, hotels, residence halls, and even during study abroad and property in storage.

8. If someone steals a laptop, will the PLAN cover that loss?

Yes, unless stolen from a vehicle that was not locked. There must be proof of forced entry into the vehicle to have the stolen item covered.

9. If a laptop is lost and is insured by the plan, is that covered?

No, laptops misplaced, lost, left behind are not covered. Items stolen by theft, burglary, or robbery are covered. A police report must be filed for these types of losses.

********************************************************

The school and its students have been using it for years, and many other schools both private and public recommend it to their parents.

Sorry to hear about the laptop.

 

[cjstarr]

A ? for the op, do you know if your DD had the laptop password protected? If so I would also call Apple and give them the Ser# of the laptop. There is always the chance that whoever took it will call support to try and solve the problem of logging into it. This would also go for any BB or Apple stores in your area.

 

[dawson5]

Can you see if they have surveillance on the dumpsters? I worked for a summer at a hotel. We didn't have a problem with theft of guest items, more of a problem with guests stealing hotel items (actually had a couple steal the bedspread and all linens, actually anything that wasn't secured they took). We did have a problem with them stealing the towels, brand new ones, putting them in a trash bag in the dumpster and getting them when their shift ended. If an employee stole something, they wouldn't have it on them and no way to prove they did it unless you caught them taking it out of the trash (or next to it).

 

[sillysmom]

Hopefully this will all be resolved with you paying no more money from your pocket, and your DD getting a replacement computer.

Just wanted to let you all know, I purchased a rider on my homeowners policy, It costs me $19 per year, it covers every computer we own for loss, damage, theft, and programs, it doesn't cover of course normal wear and tear, and intentional damage (duh), anyway its a $50 deductible, and a $5,000 cap. This my friends is a no brainer, you must add this to your policies. We are a 2 MacBook Pro family and can't afford to shell out thousands for replacements.

Good Luck OP!!

 

[tammymacb]

I can only assume that whoever stole the laptop became very nervous by the police presence.

Last night my ex to DD to dinner and shopping after all the other drama was over.

While they were gone, someone went BACK INTO THE ROOM!!

When they returned and got ready for bed, the laptop was sitting on top of the clothes zipped into the suitcase.

I've contacted Comfort Suites corporate and my husband is still meeting the other officer today. Now someone used the key to get into the room twice.

 

[Green Tea]

WOW! They will have to figure it out by the timing last night

 

[Mom of 3 Princesses]

WOW!! That is all I can say WOW!!

Great news tho!

 

[Whistle]

I am glad your daughter's laptop has been returned. I would still want an explanation from the hotel!!!

 

[angierae]

They totally need to look at their key system and see who was in the room.

But yay for getting it back!