How Not to Steal a Sidekick 424
timmit was one of many readers to point out the story of a stolen Sidekick, writing with this excerpt from the site: ""When my friend realized that she had left the Sidekick in the taxi she asked me to immediately send a message to the phone saying that we would give a reward for the phone. There was no response. After a day of waiting, she had to go to the store and spend over $300 on a new Sidekick. When she put her SIM card in, she saw that the person(s) that had taken the phone had not only signed on to AOL leaving their name and password in the phone, but they had taken pictures of themselves." I can sympathize, after someone with the address Rmluckyguy@aol.com tried to sell me back the Visor Deluxe stolen from my car last year in Philadelphia. I hope Evan has better luck.
Not the brightest people on the planet (Score:5, Interesting)
Ok, let's give the alleged thieves the benefit of the doubt. No matter what their story (and isn't it interesting to see how their stories change), it should be quite clear to them now that the Sidekick does not belong to them, and whether purchased from someone or found, they now have an object that has been reported stolen, making them accessories, no matter how you cut it. IANAL, but it doesn't take a shark to smell blood.
What makes this truly outrageous is that it doesn't occur to them that they've been found out. Thanks to Evan's website, everyone and his uncle knows about this:
From the web site:Update #12: June 7th, 7:00 p.m. eastern Sorry for the lack of updates...I answered emails till 1 p.m. and then had to leave to work...But I made it a short day so I could come back and give everyone an update..Wasn't that nice of me :-) Anyways.... I see that I have over 900 emails since 1 p.m. I will try and answer as many as I can. I will also add all the links you sent me to the ones below...I quickly scrolled though and must have counted at least 100-200 new links. I also have received emails from people offering me ISP hosting...As of right now, I should be good. I have unlimited bandwidth with this company...and so far I have not gotten the "digg" effect.(almost 3,200 at least count!). I have also talked to some radio stations. New York's 1010 WINS being one of them. Interviews are being scheduled for this week.
They might have been able to save face once they were "caught," but now it's going to be impossible. What's worse, they're stupid enough to keep using the thing, compounding their trouble!
It goes to show the power of the Internet though; once something is out there, the information is global in minutes. And there are pictures! These folks are not going to be able to hide for a long time... unless they wind up in a penitentiary somewhere.
myspace visibility (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Slashdotted already (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:one question on this (Score:5, Interesting)
They're scum for not returning it. They're idiots for not returning it when a reward was offered.
Beginning to wonder if this is a fake (Score:5, Interesting)
Hear me out
The guy continually writes that he's not looking for fame and fortune, but goes on to list all the people who have pointed this out and what news outlets are looking to interview him. Bemoans the fact that he isn't on TV yet, and says he's not looking for fame in the same breath. Hmmm...
He then goes on to state over and over that he's not looking for money. That people suggested putting up a donation link, but he won't do it.... yet he doesn't hesitate to supply information regarding what everything costs over and over. Now, finally, that the number of people viewing has grown large enough he springs the 'Okay, you can donate, but only if you can afford it.'
Maybe I'm too cynical, but what's to stop someone living in corona (maybe it's the girl in the pics!) from pulling something like this? Set up a few phony myspace accounts and boom, good to go. You can make thousands off of the internet donation effect... why not?
Re:Shame, and Shaming the Shamer (Score:3, Interesting)
It wasn't like she bought a brand new phone, and the first message she ever received was from some whack-job harrassing her.
Mr Army and Ms Booty and Mr Tubs McGee brought this onto themselves... I say turn over everything to the cops, and allow it to run its course.
harryk
Re:Beginning to wonder if this is a fake (Score:3, Interesting)
I was born in 1975 in Manhattan and raised in Greenwich, CT. I left home at the early age of 14 and moved to NY. I lived in Brooklyn, Queens, Switzerland, England, and Israel...though not in that particular order. At the age of 19-20 I moved to Battery Park City in Manhattan and started working in Wall St. I lived there for the next 7 years designing the market data and trading technologies for places like CIBC Oppenheimer, Bankers Trust, and on the floor of the American Stock Exchange.
After surviving 9-11, I wandered about a bit trying to find myself. On Jan 25th of this year, I moved to Miami, FL. I still go back to NYC about twice a month for business and to visit friends.
Questions and Answers:
Question: Why do you have this website? Are you a narcissist?
Answer: Yes, I am actually. Also, a lot of my friends always want copies of the pics I take. This website makes it easy for them to grab them.
Question: What do you do for a living? Are you working now?
Answer: Well, for the last decade I have worked in Wall St designing and supporting technology on trading floors. As of right now, I am co starting a technology consulting firm.
Question: What's with all these girls? Did you date all of them?
Answer: Get your mind out of the gutter. I am a friendly guy and was able to meet a lot of great people. I will not respond to people who ask me who I dated and who I haven't. That's between me and the girls.
Question: Why do you have a whole section dedicated to parties?
Answer: In the past, I was a party boy. I would go club hopping all weekend, as well as throwing my own parties. I would go from renting the penthouse to renting the entire top floor of a hotel in Manhattan. These pics are just the ones where I actually had 2-3 min to take pictures.
Question: Are you dating anyone now?
Answer: Why? You interested?
Question: What's with the donation page?
Answer: Camera's, web hosting, parties, etc don't come cheap. I have no shame in my game and am willing to accept any and all offers. I have had people in the past donate for parties. Well, now you too can have that honor and privilege.
Question: Can I meet any of these girls?
Answer: What do I look like? A cyber pimp? Well, if you think you're all that, post a comment under the girl of your dream's picture with your e-mail address and sit by your PC and wait. You might just get lucky.
Question: What's with the private section? Can I get in there?
Answer: Wow. You make no donations, yet you want to see my private pics. Contact me and we'll see.
Question: I can't think of any more questions right now. Can I e-mail or IM you?
Answer: Sure. Go to the "contact" page on the top menu. I always respond back.
What _ a _ player.
Theives taking photos of themselves! (Score:5, Interesting)
committing other crimes.
One of them was caught a few days later, with my camera. The police returned my camera, and when I checked the memory card, I found that it contained a number of pictures of the two guys who had taken pictures of each other, breaking into cars and houses, all very clear and recognizable. It was obvious that the police had not inspected the camera memory.
The guy that was caught, had tried to claim that the camera was his, and when they pressed him with the evidence they had, he eventually admitted to one car break-in, and insisted he was alone. The date-stamped images on my camera told a different story. It was actually very satisfying to show this stuff to the detective. But, he made it clear to me that thieves doing stupid things is not at all unusual.
Probably a stupid question, but it's bothering me. (Score:3, Interesting)
Isn't posting these pictures without permission strictly speaking a copyright violation? I mean, they're not his photos ...
Although fair use, I guess, could be argued, and damages (if any) would be minimal. Plus, of course, the guy could cross-sue with all sorts of neat stuff ...
But even so, technically ... isn't this arguably a violation?
Something doesn't make sense... (Score:1, Interesting)
Re:Probably a stupid question, but it's bothering (Score:3, Interesting)
To extend that out, does a music recording made with a stolen guitar become the players, or the owners?
In this case, though, since the photos are uploaded as part of a service (T-Mobile) and that service belongs to the legal owner, I would think the EULA and TOS of T-Mobile would apply. I wonder if those would shed a better light on it.
Or it may be even easier to answer. The service copies the works to anywhere the legal user of the service wants, so in effect, the one who took the pictures has given copy rights to that legal owner, I would think. Even if they didn't know the TOS, i don't think they can claim exception to it by another crime (their theft). Just as you can be help responsible to crimes you commit while under the influence of a drug.
Does that make any sense?
Re:Army dude is toast if he is reported to his CO (Score:3, Interesting)
Depends on that particular chain of command, really. I've seen CO's not do a damn thing if they figure it won't come back to bite them. The guy definitely doesn't sound like an officer, so a wise move above and beyond reporting the incident(s) to his CO would be a few well-placed phone calls to his First Sergeant and Sergeant Major (this is all if you can find out what unit he's in, of course) to help get the ball rolling.
One of my chaplains once said in a new soldier orientation: "In a world of good things and bad things, if the battalion Sergeant Major has to talk to your NCO about you, that is a very bad thing."
I had my Verizon Razr V3C stolen last week... (Score:5, Interesting)
Here's how it went down. A week ago I was at a gas station talking with my fiancee in the car while the tank was filling up. My phone was on the sidepocket of the door (the armrest thing on the door) and the door was open. I know, stupid move. But I had been really paranoid about losing it cause I had just bought it so I was checking on it every 30 seconds ago so I figured it was safe enough. The tank finally finished filling so I exited the car and that's when I noticed that my phone was missing.
I did that whole thing where you check the ground and your pockets and begin to freak out. Then I remembered some dude had walked right by our car maybe 30 seconds before I saw it missing. I looked on the other side of our pump and there was this 40+ something Hispanic gangsta dude with tattoos all on his neck asking some people for money for his "Car that broke down."
In his breast pocket I could see what appeared to be the outline of my phone. He saw me looking at him and approached me and gave me some cockeyed story about how he ran out of gas and if I could only spare a dollar or so it would really help him. I told him I was busy at the moment if he would wait for me "over there" (out of earshot) I would be with him and maybe I could help him.
I looked at my fiancée and said, "Call my cellphone."
She asks what's going on.
I tell her just to do it.
So she calls my phone.
As I approach the guy I hear, clear as day, the techno ringtone coming from his breast pocket.
Damn I love how loud that thing is.
I get in his face and tell him to give me my phone back.
He looks confused.
I point at his pocket and say, "You stole my phone, give it now."
He pulls it out of his pocket, gives it to me, and says, "Oh no man, I found this over there." (points to the opposite side of the gas station).
"No you f*cking didn't. You stole that phone from me asshole. Don't play stupid fess up."
"No man, I don't know what you are talking about. Look, can you spare me some money or what?" [he's trying to avoid the discussion]
"You just f*cking stole my cell phone. You know how much that thing cost me? What, you think I'm rich or something?"
At this point everyone in the gas station is looking at us cause I'm berating this punk and getting ready for a showdown.
"Dude, if you don't want to help me that's fine."
He starts walking across the street to another gas station to evade me.
I look at my fiancée and say, "Call 911."
I chase after the guy and call 911 myself and explain to the dispatcher what is happening. I'm no more than 5 feet behind this guy at all times while he's trying to evade me and people are wondering what's going on. At one point he comes at me in a threatening manner saying, "Man- Who you on the phone with!?" I tell him I'm calling the police.
The dude runs back across the street and I run back after him weaving through traffic. He gets in a nice newer Nissan Maxima and I jump in front of the car and read off the plates to the dispatcher. The asshole tries to run me over with his f*cking car, peels out, and speeds away.
By this time everyone in the gas station is in total awe looking at what unfolded before them.
It takes forever to get the Sheriffs there but I'm pleased with the way they respond and handle the situation. They take a report from myself and witnesses. They later call me and tell me the license plate was registered to this guy's daughter. They went to her address and she told him to check at the ex-wife's. When they get there they find the dude. They discover heroin paraphernalia in his vehicle.
They book him with Theft, drug, and assault with a deadly weapon (his car).
What a day.
The dude picked the wrong guy to f*ck with. In two weeks I'll be in police academy.
Watch out for your stuff people. People are not always as they seem.
Re:Slashdotted already (Score:2, Interesting)
Believe it or not, these guys found my friends Cell phone, used it, and when they were contacted by "Us" they would only return it if we promised to pay a certian sum of cash... So we called the cops, they had us set up the meeting, they staked it out, and when the thieves took the money... I shit you not atleast 10 cops came out of the woodwork including one undercover in street clothes and 4 squad cars... Kewlest thing I've ever seen on a friday night.
All for a cell phone... Moral: Don't steal phones in oklahoma cause the OKCPD gets bored...
Re:I had my Verizon Razr V3C stolen last week... (Score:1, Interesting)