Feel Good Story Comes Out of a Stolen Laptop Tracked with GPS

30 Oct 2012

A Boston resident and the teen found with his stolen laptop got more than they bargained for with the help of GPS tracking software.

Fran Harrington, a multiple theft victim, recently got quite a surprise when his third laptop was stolen from his apartment. The Boston-based web designer has had not one, but three laptops stolen from his very own apartment. After the second theft, he got wise and had GPS tracking software installed on his Macbook Pro — in case it happened again.

Turns out, it did happen again.

When Harrington’s Macbook was stolen, he used the GPS tracking software installed on the computer to track it down. He monitored the activity for several days, which was tracked by the GPS software. He told CBS News affiliate WBZ-TV that he watched the computer activity for four days. It was then that he found out the computer was being accessed from a home in the South End, in the public cathedral housing complex.

After getting the physical location of his computer, Harrington reported the theft and details to the police.

But the story doesn’t stop here; Harrington was startled to find out the family using the computer was also a victim. He told WBZ-TV “I found out it was bought by a family living in the projects, and that they had no idea they were buying a stolen computer.”

Further investigation into the case found that the family purchased the computer for their teen son who was leaving for college. The detective on the case informed Harrington that the family spent $900 on the computer, not knowing it was stolen.

“It was a weird feeling of emotions,” Harrington told the reporter. “I was psyched to get my computer back, but I realized the people who ended up with my computer—at no fault of their own—they thought they were getting a computer, now they are out of a computer and the money.”

Harrington decided to take matters into his own hands. Instead of taking legal action, he opened a fundraising campaign page. The fundraising plea was through Indiegogo, which is an international crowd funding site in San Francisco, California. The site has more than 100,000 fundraising campaigns ranging from charity to music and film.

Harrington set out to earn $900 for the family so they could buy their son a new computer. Turns out, Harrington made that goal, and then some, receiving $1,065 in contributions. The excess contributions were donated to Boston’s Edwards Scholarships Fund, and the new laptop was shipped to the family.

As one commenter said, what a “way to turn a negative into a positive. Karma has a way of making it back around.”

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About George Karonis

George Karonis is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of LiveViewGPS Inc., a company he established in 2008 with the vision of making real-time GPS tracking more reliable, affordable, and accessible for businesses of all sizes. Over the past two decades, he has built a reputation as an innovator in GPS tracking, fleet management, asset monitoring, and Push-to-Talk over Cellular (PTToC) communications. Under George's leadership, LiveViewGPS has grown into a nationally recognized provider of GPS tracking solutions, serving businesses, government agencies, educational institutions, law enforcement organizations, and public works departments throughout the United States. The company's technology helps organizations improve operational efficiency, protect valuable assets, increase driver safety, and reduce operating costs through real-time location intelligence. Before founding LiveViewGPS, George developed a background in security, surveillance, and emerging location technologies. His passion for innovation and practical problem solving has driven the development of products that combine dependable hardware with easy-to-use cloud software, giving customers actionable information when it matters most. In 2018, George expanded into nationwide Push-to-Talk over Cellular communications by launching PeakPTT, providing businesses with rugged, instant communication solutions that operate over LTE and Wi-Fi networks. His focus has remained the same throughout his career: delivering dependable technology backed by exceptional customer service and long-term customer relationships. George regularly writes about GPS tracking, fleet management, asset protection, business technology, and communication systems. Through this blog, he shares industry insights, practical advice, and emerging trends to help organizations make informed decisions about tracking technology and connected operations.