Burglar Steals Laptop, Gloats via Victim's Facebook Account
Getting burgled is bad enough. Having a burglar strike, and then taunt you about it on Facebook, though, is just plain terrible. Unfortunately, that's exactly what happened last week to an East Sussex, England woman.According to the Telegraph, a thief broke into Victoria Richardson's home and took her iPhone, Nintendo DS, cash, debit cards, and a black Toshiba laptop. When Richardson later logged in to Facebook, she noticed the burglar had somehow accessed her account, posting status updates about the new items he or she had just 'acquired.' The burglar had posted messages like "on my new laptop," and "Listening to music on my new phone feels so good." The criminal ended the series of status updates with: "regards your night time burglar."
Sussex Police call the burglar's taunting a "sinister twist" to the crime, which is currently under investigation. Meanwhile, Richardson told the Telegraph that she felt "very spooked," and that the posts were "degrading" because her friends could read them. Richardson's troubles reaffirm the importance of online privacy. If your computer or phone is stolen -- much like if your credit card is stolen -- be sure to act immediately and change your passwords. [From: The Telegraph]
Busted... by Technology
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Comments
30
Subscribe to commentsCearralynAug 17th 2009 9:51PM
That thief is stupid...he can be tracked to where he is located...I hope that is what the police are doing. Lesson learned tho...never leave your laptop at home if possible...I take mine with me everywhere and lock it up at work.
JordanSep 1st 2009 12:23AM
What's so different about leaving your laptop at home vs your desktop? Or your tv? Or your dog?
If you're going to be that paranoid, you might as well lock yourself at home.
Not a white guySep 21st 2009 5:11PM
Never leave your laptop at home?
How the hell does that make sense
janAug 17th 2009 9:54PM
Seems to me that FACEBOOK is having a lot of problems lately. What's going on?
CarlAug 17th 2009 9:59PM
Lately?
EricAug 17th 2009 11:31PM
Doesn't seem to be a Facebook problem, really... if you stole my computer, you could log on to my account. Just go to Facebook and my login information would already be in place.
EdAug 18th 2009 1:54AM
So its facebook's "Problem" that this lady got her laptop stolen and the thief was able to access her account because her information was there on the laptop? Sounds like a security issue on the victims part to me. Pertaining to both computer AND household.
AcidicAug 18th 2009 1:21AM
A hacker's been getting into Facebook and Twitter, or so the rumor has it.
HughAug 18th 2009 4:12AM
Facebook, Twitter, MySpace etc, are all garbage. Here's an idea: Why don't you folks get a real life with real live friends?
b e 1 r u 7Aug 18th 2009 5:44AM
It's suffering from terminal failness.
NatoshaAug 18th 2009 1:01PM
I agree, this wasnt a facebook problem, it was the owners error. I will admit im bad about leaving my passwords up on my desktop, but I NEVER save my passwords on my laptop for this very reason. also I would never have a facebook account, that site is just plain old scary.
Jo-AnnAug 17th 2009 10:13PM
thats for sure I can't get on face book now for almost a month they reset password and that don't work . It's all screwed up can't be bothered
JaneAug 17th 2009 11:57PM
If someone stole my laptop they wouldn't be able to get in because I have a hard drive password and I certainly don't have my application passwords saved in my browser for goodness Sake!
ddj503Aug 17th 2009 11:27PM
He should have his thieving hands chopped off. Really.
strokinredneck48Aug 17th 2009 11:31PM
Facebook is so stupid anyway. those people absorbed by it need to get out and get a life
ddj503Aug 17th 2009 11:35PM
He should have his thieving hands chopped off. Really.
teresawayman13Aug 17th 2009 11:46PM
I got phished on myspace, had to delete everything; was sending porno out ot the masses. The only thing was the younger population that received the porn.
vegasgrl0228Aug 18th 2009 3:42AM
This story is nothing new. But, it's something to pay attention to. Luckily, no one can access or can even log on to my laptop because the only way to log into it is by using a finger print access code (and that was mine). Thanks Dell.
WesAug 18th 2009 4:54AM
Socia netwoeking sites are a waste. In the old days, you wanted to mate, marry, wtc, family, friends etc helped hook up.
KateAug 18th 2009 4:45AM
The same thing happened to me!!! Someone stole my iPhone out of my purse during class and later accessed my Facebook account via the app I had downloaded. The jerk left several status updates before a friend called me and told me what they were doing. I had to shut down my account then reactivate it with a different password and email address. Luckily that's all they did and I threatened/guilted whoever it was into turning it in anonymously. So it all worked out in the end.