Alleged computer bandit makes final mistake: steals Outback Restaurant
computers protected by Computrace
VANCOUVER, Nov. 1 /CNW/ - Absolute Software Corporation (TSX:ABT) ("Absolute", or the "Company"), the leading provider of firmware-based, patented Computrace(R) Computer Theft Recovery, Data Protection and Secure Asset Tracking(TM) today announced that it has recovered a number of laptop computers allegedly stolen from the Tampa headquarters of OSI Restaurant Partners LLC (parent company of Outback Steakhouse). Information collected by Absolute's Recovery Team also led to the arrest of a career computer thief. The alleged thief, nicknamed "the Khaki Bandit" by investigators, had eluded police in connection with a spree of high-profile corporate laptop thefts from coast to coast until his recent arrest.
In a brazen daylight theft, a career laptop thief allegedly followed an employee through the office security of the Tampa, Florida headquarters of OSI Restaurant Partners waited for staff to leave and walked out with 11 corporate laptops. Fortunately, nine of the stolen computers were protected by Absolute's Computrace computer theft recovery product. OSI staff reported the theft to Tampa police and then alerted the Absolute Recovery Team.
Using information transmitted from the stolen laptops, the Recovery Team was able to determine that the thief had sold the computers to a number of unsuspecting eBay shoppers across five US states and also Taiwan. Fortunately, tracking reports indicated that one of the computers was still located in Miami Beach, Florida. With location information supplied by Absolute, Tampa police collaborated with their Miami colleagues to trace the thief to a residence in Miami Beach - where the suspect was taken into custody. The laptop has since been traced by Absolute to a buyer in Sacramento, California.
Upon further investigation, police officials were able to link the alleged thief to a spree of high-profile corporate laptop thefts committed by a villain that Milwaukee police officials had nicknamed the "Khaki Bandit." The alleged thief earned the name for his strategy of dressing in business casual clothes and blending into corporate head offices to steal laptop computers during regular business hours. The thief would then sell the computers under various aliases on eBay.
When apprehended by the joint Tampa/Miami Beach police team, witnesses report the alleged thief said "How the hell did you track me down? I did this in California too." The thief is now being held without bond in the state of Florida and subject to a nationwide returnable warrant which will return him to California.
Using information supplied by Absolute, police officials are now in the process of recovering the stolen computers.
According to John Livingston, Chairman and CEO of Absolute Software, "In the process of recovering an average of 50 lost or stolen computers each week, we often lead police to sophisticated criminals and a wide variety of related crimes. This is the kind of story that really makes my day and is a great example of preparedness on the part of OSI Restaurant Partners."
How Computrace Works
When a computer protected by Computrace is reported stolen, the embedded Computrace agent sends a silent signal to Absolute's Monitoring Center providing critical location information. Absolute then works with local law enforcement to recover the computer backed by a $1,000 recovery guarantee(1). The stealthy Computrace software agent can survive accidental or deliberate attempts at removal or disablement. With embedded support in the BIOS(2) Firmware of a computer, the Computrace agent is capable of surviving operating system re-installations, as well as hard-drive reformats, replacements and re-imaging.
For more information on Absolute Software and its range of Computer Theft Recovery, Data Protection and Secure Asset Tracking(TM) solutions, please visit www.absolute.com or www.lojackforlaptops.com.
(1) Certain conditions apply. For full details visit:
www.absolute.com/pdf/eula.pdf
(2) For a complete list of BIOS-supported computers visit
www.absolute.com/BIOS.
About Absolute Software
Absolute Software Corporation (TSX: ABT) is the leader in Computer Theft Recovery, Data Protection and Secure Asset Tracking(TM) solutions. Absolute Software provides organizations and consumers with solutions in the areas of regulatory compliance, data protection and theft recovery. The Company's Computrace(R) software is embedded in the BIOS of computers by global leaders, including Dell, Fujitsu, Gateway, HP, Lenovo, Motion, Panasonic and Toshiba, and the Company has reselling partnerships with these OEMs and others, including Apple. For more information about Absolute Software and Computrace, visit www.absolute.com or http://blog.absolute.com/.
Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, the expected performance of our services and products, possible guarantee payment eligibility, and other expectations, intentions and plans contained in this press release that are not historical fact. When used in this press release, the words "plan," "expect," "believe," and similar expressions generally identify forward-looking statements. These statements reflect our current expectations. They are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, changes in technology and general market conditions. In light of the many risks and uncertainties you should understand that we cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements contained in this press release will be realized.
(C)2007 Absolute Software Corporation. All rights reserved. Computrace
and Absolute are registered trademarks of Absolute Software Corporation.
All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. Computrace
U.S. patents No. 5,715,174, No. 5,764,892, No. 5,802,280, No. 5,896,497,
No. 6,244,758, No. 6,269,392, No. 6,300,863, and No. 6,507,914. Canadian
patents No. 2,284,806 and No. 2,205,370. U.K. patents No. EP793823 and
No. GB2338101. German patent No. 695 125 34.6-08. Australian patent No.
699045. The Toronto Stock Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved
of the information contained in this news release.
