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A laptop computer containing proprietary software that the owner says is worth $500,000 was part of the take in a residential burglary of a home on Alamos Road in Portola Valley, deputies from the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office said.
The Nov. 15 report noted the theft of the laptop and software — software that was coded by the resident — along with a Glock 9 mm semiautomatic handgun with an estimated value of $1,200, ammunition, and a $1,500 Nikon camera, deputies said.
The thief or thieves entered through an unlocked bathroom window next to the master bedroom and left by the rear door, which they left unlocked, deputies said. The theft could have had higher losses; there were “multiple items of value” not taken, deputies said.
Investigators say they have no witnesses and no suspects, deputies said.
By Dave Boyce
By Dave Boyce
By Dave Boyce
Please apply a bit of thought to this claim: $500k of software on a laptop? Personally coded? Both claims could be true to a point. However, if the resident is a SW developer, surely he has backup copies elsewhere and there isn’t really any loss. If not, well, I’m sorry, but this is going to be an expensive lesson. My guess is someone is working up a maximum insurance claim.
I agree with Aw Come On..especially when there were “multiple items of value not taken”. You mean they grabbed those few items, when there were other obvious valuables there?
hard drive crash with no back up perhaps?
Could it be that the software loss is calculated because it was proprietary and secret? And the owner feared it would be used or sold without his collecting the benefits? If the owner is a coder he probably backed it up so it seems that is less likely to be the problem.
$1200 for a glock?
Well, gosh, maybe the homeowner needs some dogs or to remember to lock windows? Oh, and yeah, maybe the firearms should go into a lockbox or gun cabinet. Oh, and yeah, maybe lock the superdupersupercomputer somewhere secure. If this person’s a spy, lousy tradecraft, buddy.
@Susannah Hill: most savvy computer users encrypt their hard drives so even if the computer is stollen or lost, no one can see their data. Both Windows and Mac computers have this as a standard feature. Anyone who can single-handedly create $500K of software knows this, and knows how to backup data using numerous online services that automatically back your computer up to the internet (also encrypted).
No insurance company would pay such a claim…sounds like an attempt at a tax deduction.
Another Responsible Gun Owner™ keeps the community safe with a gun at home, right up to the point it wasn’t safe. Luckily the homeowner wasn’t shot with his own weapon.
Why exactly should this gun be in a safe? The gun may have been purchased for protection and needed to available in an emergency. If someone is either in my house or breaking into my house, I may not have time to get to a safe and open it. If the gun was properly registered it will eventually be traced to the person who stole it. If they sell it and it is used in a crime, the thief should be held accountable for enabling that crime. That would stop gun thefts.