Dom's laptop is in Iran - Apology (opens in new tab)

So these people are now aware that they are in possession of a stolen laptop. Are they going to give it back? Will they cooperate with the authorities to track down the thief? For some reason I find this whole situation really interesting and I hope Dom gives some updates.

"The people who now have my laptop have been good enough to get in touch and therefore the tracking software has done it’s job." (emphasis mine)

Astroturfing round 2

A new post st http://laptopiniran.tumblr.com/post/47772239088/further-news

"The innocent new owners of my laptop have been in touch and are mortified about the story and are keen to return the laptop.

Given the huge error of judgement on my part in sharing the story and failing to respect their privacy I have asked them to keep it by means of an apology."

"Given the huge error of judgement on my part in sharing the story and failing to respect their privacy I have asked them to keep it by means of an apology."

So, the victim apologizes for shining the public light on the theft of their property. (In this case, even with the software, it's unlikely that the new possessor would have been identified without the publicity.) Furthermore, in lots of places prior theft invalidates later sale and transfer of ownership even if the illicit purchase occurred without mens rea. There's no insurance policy on counterfeit money either - in this case the current possessors (presumably) paid for a second-hand (high risk, possibly stolen) laptop. Buyer beware; they should absorb the loss and give it back (assuming the facts are as they seem, and it's not just one big astroturf).