Viva Lost Computer

It is a city of bright lights, massive hotels and bigger than life entertainment. Sin City beckons folks from all around the world to try their hand at winning large jackpots...it also entices thieves to lurk in the shadows, waiting and watching for their next hit. It seems, my mom was one of the latest targets in Las Vegas crime.

Yesterday, my parents checked out of their hotel and walked through a large parking garage to their car. They loaded up their luggage and then left to see some more sights and sounds before leaving town. As they left the car, my dad locked the car using the car remote.

Several hours later, my parents returned to the car to continue their journey to Laughlin. Nothing seemed askew upon arriving and entering the car. My parents safely arrived at their hotel in Laughlin. When my mom needed her phone charger (located in her computer bag) to charge her phone, to her horror, her computer bag was gone! After searching and searching for the bag and calling the hotel in Las Vegas to inquire if anyone turned in the bag, the computer backpack seemed to have vanished into thin air. Upon close examination of the rental car, there was no evidence of forced entry.

My parents went to the local police station and filed a police report. Measures were taken to track the computer and lock the computer the next time someone accesses the internet using my mom's computer. After a long, frantic night, my parents had no success in locating the computer or computer bag along with a number of other accessories stored in the computer backpack--a DVD player, computer storage backup, phone charger, etc. With a heavy heart and without her computer bag, my mom boarded the plane in the morning to fly back home.

In retrospect, the following is most likely what happened. After checking out of their Las Vegas hotel, my parents had to walk to their rental car in the parking garage. Pulling luggage and wearing her computer backpack, it is very likely a thief saw his target. My parents loaded up the car with their bags. My dad locked the car using the keyless remote. The criminal very likely had a skimmer which intercepted the signal sent from the remote to the car. When my parents left the parking garage to enjoy a few more hours in Vegas, the thief now had time to unlock the car using the electronic signal captured by his skimming device and easily steal the computer bag.

Lessons learned from this incident: NEVER use your keyless remote to lock your car. Instead, push the "lock" button located on the inside of your car door. Second, if you load up your car with luggage in a public parking area, move your car to a different parking lot or to a different level in the parking garage if you plan to leave your car. (This will make it harder for thieves to know if you have luggage in your vehicle.) Third, take your valuables with you. (Yes, we are all told this, but even "hiding" your items in your car will not prevent theft. If the criminal knows you have an item, they will search your vehicle to find it.) Fourth, know everything is from God. What seems like a complete loss and catastrophe may become your biggest blessing. Stay positive and know that in the end, God will render the ultimate judgment.