someone lost a laptop...

[pam123]

I've read about people doing strange things with their laptops.
Driving off with the laptop on the car roof and not remembering till they heard the sound of something hitting the ground, leaving them unattended in conference rooms while they go out to lunch, that sort of thing.
But I just did the right thing this afternoon and turned in an almost new Dell to the MTA lost & found.
It was on the seat next to me when I got on the bus.
I blinked at it several times, just to be sure I was really seeing what I thought I was, but it stayed the same.
If whoever left it has enough sense to call the MTA they can have their laptop back.
I just hope it isn't full of unencrypted personal data on 27,000 customers.

[Force Flow]

Originally Posted by pam123 I just hope it isn't full of unencrypted personal data on 27,000 customers.

heh.

I'm sure those 27,000 customers thank you

(and possibly saved the job of the laptop's owner)

[David M]

It's really nice to hear there are honest people in this world.

I was wondering Pam if you had gave any thought about booting up the laptop to see who the owner might be?....and if so, why you chose to give it to the MTA before investigating? Privacy reasons?

I lost my wallet a few years back. I walked away from it at Home Depot checkout stand. Someone placed it in my mailbox a few days later. (minus the cash, but so what)...I felt very grateful. I am glad someone looked through my wallet to see where I lived. Guess I was lucky it was not the wrong type of person.

[newbuilder14]

What is the MTA?

Edit: Google helps.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority

[David M]

Metropolitan Transit Authority?....New York's transit system I believe.

[pam123]

Originally Posted by newbuilder14 What is the MTA? Edit: Google helps. Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Yep.

[pam123]

Originally Posted by David M It's really nice to hear there are honest people in this world. I was wondering Pam if you had gave any thought about booting up the laptop to see who the owner might be?....and if so, why you chose to give it to the MTA before investigating? Privacy reasons? I lost my wallet a few years back. I walked away from it at Home Depot checkout stand. Someone placed it in my mailbox a few days later. (minus the cash, but so what)...I felt very grateful. I am glad someone looked through my wallet to see where I lived. Guess I was lucky it was not the wrong type of person.

No particular reason except that it wasn't mine and, since I was just past Center St. ( that's City Hall/Municipal Building/Police Headquarters territory ) getting it to the MTA lost & found was nearly automatic.
If I'd had to tote it around for awhile I expect I would have looked.
If it isn't claimed within 6 months and 15 days the MTA can give it to me

[HAL9000]

As easy as it would have been to walk home with it... you did the right thing... not many people would.

[Kareeser]

I think the MTA would look in the laptop and notify the owner anyhow.

At least, the Mississauga people did when my brother lost his cell phone

Nice to see there are still good people in the world!

[pam123]

If they can they will.
I know they've called others.

[Stuey]

I agree - you did the right thing. It might have been possible to find out who the owner was, but Windows probably has a password login, and I doubt Dell would have given away the user's telephone number and address.

Another MTA story: My father went into his bag once and randomly saw a phone in there. He asked the guy standing next to him if he had dropped his phone. The guy patted himself down and said he had lost it, so my father gave it back. People forget all kinds of stuff on the train - wallets, keys, and supposedly laptops hehe.

I found a cell phone in a parking lot during a heavy downpour once and later called Verizon. They said that the serial number would allow them to track down the owner and call them up, so I dropped it off at the nearest VZ store. Unfortunately, when my father lost my mother's phone and my sister lost hers, two people did NOT do the right thing.

[doubledragon5]

I lost a check book once and a few days later it showed up in the mail box with all the checks there.. Of course since I wasn't sure where I lost it, I cancled the account and opend up a new one just in case...