Is there anyway to chain a laptop?

I just bought a brand new laptop and I want to keep it as secure as possible. I rent a place in North Philadelphia and if someone broke in this laptop would be the main target, I'm sure. I only keep the bare minimum down there, but being a student, I need to keep a laptop down there. Is there any sort of lock or chain that is made to secure a laptop so that it can not be removed from a desk, ect.? Or does anyone have any other suggestions on how I can secure this laptop?

 

yeah you can get a laptop table lock. they usually run about 10-20 bucks and lock in to the built in cable lock slot in all laptops.

 

That is a big problem. Even if you chain it to a desk, that would still be easy enough for a burglar to take the laptop away. I'm not seeing a solution to this other than get a better more secured place, or bring the laptop with you all the time, or hide it somewhere.

 

under the couch maybe and keep the doors and windows locked and bolted

 

Yes it does suck, but there isn't much I can do about getting another place, this is the best I can find for the money. This is a high crime area and the safest place would probably be an apartment building with a door man, I don't have that kind of money... If I can spend 20 bucks on a lock and even have only a slight chance to keep someone from stealing my lappy then I feel it is worth it.

What does the lock slot on the laptop usually look like? I'm not sure if my T61 has one or not.

I am getting a lock that is six foot long so I should be able to find someone that is more or less secured in place, unlike a table leg or bed leg, ect.

 

It just looks like a oval/rectangle hole, usually in the back or near the back on one of the sides. I'm almost positive the T61 has one (look for diagrams labeled Kensington Lock, if you don't see it).

My G1S has it next to the rear heat vent, with a little K labeled. Picked up a Targus cable from WallyMart. It won't stand up to a hacksaw or bolt cutters, but it makes it a less opportune target. (no grab and run, requires a bit of prethought)

 

Have you looked into renter's insurance? It's maybe $10 a month.

 

You could always keep your laptop in the oven.. who would think of looking in there for it!?

 

good idea until you turn on the oven to preheat it for some late night munchies...

bzzt

uh oes.

 

you could lock it with the locks described, but if this is a high crime area and nobody's around im sure they would just cut the lock. best bet is hiding it, or locking it in a hidden spot, maby in a shirt in one of your draws lol cant chain it tho, or if you have a drop ceiling throw it up there

 

It looks like camouflage is the better option. Put in a bag from the local supermarket and keep it with the other less valuable items. And hide the PSU or other evidence indicating the presence of a computer.

John

 

This is both pure stupidity and absolute genius...

Seriously though the simplest way would be to buy a lock cable and attach it to something heavy and solid, radiator or something metal that can,t be broken or cut. OR y ou cal always create your very own 50kilos concrete bloc and incase it in it. This thread also brings the question of just how much crime is there in your neighbourhood?

 

http://www.lojackforlaptops.com/

better than chain. well, provided they don't chop it up for parts without plugging it in

 

Someone actually did that, kept their Dell in the oven so it wouldn't get stolen, then their girlfriend cooked it cause she was going to make french fries. The case of the laptop melted and it looked like it was toast, but it still ran perfectly fine.

 

If you've got a sink with a cabinet under it keep it there and lock it to a pipe. Now you've got a relatively secure place to lock it and you've got it where no one can see it.

 

Lock it to a gas pipe. That way the criminal explodes if he tries to cut the object you locked it to. I did the same thing with my bike, and it's never been stolen.

 

I know this is kinda ridiculous, but if you really want to go all out on preventing theft, what about a laptop lock like some resellers use, not cable type locks but, bolted down locks where metal bars hold the laptop in place as the front and back. I don't know if you have seen them or if they are even available for purchase, here is a picture that pretty much accomplishes the same level of security, just in a total different way: http://www.kslsecurity.com/files/master/details/d_209.jpg

 

Yeah you could make your own lock type deal. I like the lock I bought for my notebook, its just one of those cable locks, but it has a motion sensor on it and a alarm.

So if somebody moves the notebook the alarm goes off, same if they cut the cable.

To me thats more theft prevention than just the lock because they will hear the thing beep if they move it any, and will know its an alarm and make it unsafe to steal unless there is nobody in the area at all.

The next best thing to do is dont advertise. Dont get laptopish bags to carry it in, dont get the most expensive shiny awsome looking notebook in the world, the more basic and boring it looks the safer it is. Definitly dont get a Mac, those are the highest of all notebooks when it comes to theft.

 

Just keep the laptop with you whenever possible. And leave a decoy laptop (a very old laptop rigged with spray Freon to spray the thief if he tries to take it) in plain view in your room.
If you have to keep a computer in your room, just use a desktop and load it down to make it extra heavy. Used car batteries work great and also make good backup power supplies. Then make it difficult to actually remove the computer. Of course, you can just use an old, beat up case and the thief probably won't want to steal it anyhow. They would rather go for a shiny new PC as opposed to what appears to be an old junker held together by duct tape.

 

Thanks for all these great suggestions guys. I have a high dresser (about 12-15 feet high I'd estimate) and there is a nice ledge that blocks the top off, so I can slide it up there and it would be completely out of site. There is nothing to chain it to in the room, but there is 3 front doors and 2 back doors, all with deadbolts, my room also had a deadbolt on the door so that is good.


To who ever was asking how much crime is in my neighborhood. I think the murder rate in the city for this year is up to 270 something. Just to give an example. On the day I moved in I could see out my window people picking out of the trash looking for stuff to sell I guess, one guy walked away with a TV. Score!

 

They will check on top of a dresser if they are looking for things to sell. I highly recommend a hidden floor or wall compartment of some sort that you can stash it in when you are gone (preferably inside a safe in said hole) if your laptop is really that important.

 

I always argue that the best protection is 2 sets of 80+pounds dogs... When an angry animal can fit your entire fist in it's jaw it makes you think twice about pissing him off...

 

ill take your word for it about the crime as im in the uk and not really in any high crime areas close to what you may have in usa but i suggest you get a large wide basket for the dirties washing i mean and when out place the laptop in a bag and cover with all the nastiest old underwear you have including socks that will deter most crooks from the smell alone but dont forget to wear gloves rubber ones that is dont want to catch anything do we

and if that fails buy yourself a pitbull or rockweiller dog and dont feed it for a while it will eat anybody breaking in as a snack

just my 2 cents

 

I think putting it in my hamper under dirty clothes might be a good idea. its not feasible for me to build secret compartments or fake walls or even get dogs in here, since I just rent this place out. All I can really do at this point is get better hiding spots

 

Just out of curiousity, where the hell do you live?

(This isn't because I know all your "secret spots" now, wink wink)

 

Sounds like you are on the right track, it would be tough to modify the place you rent with some james bond gear (though thats what i do) to keep your laptop safe, lots of good ideas have been thrown around, under a sink in the cabinet locked around one of the pipes, the best i think is if you have cieling tiles that you can remove,

Thieves will look under beds / matresses, on top of and in dressers for sure, high shelves in closets, but if in a hurry will likely over look the bathroom, and possibly under the kitchen sink. (put it behind a garbage can in the cabnet under the kitchen sink attached to a pipe and it will be safe and sound.

 

Renter's insurance?

Locks and chains are worthless in my opinion. The lock slot insertion bar is only a half inch or so and a good yoink from you "solid anchor" will probably snap off a nice nearly circular chunk of laptop plastic that the crook doesn't care about. The guy he's gonna fence it to already knows it's stolen so what does he care either. my 2 cents.

I agree hidden is best. People never "pre-heat" microwaves, you could put it in there or any other appliance that always must be opened prior to use. It's those pre-heating house guests that you have to worry about!

 

Do you have removable roof where you can remove the pannels? If you do, remove 1 pannel and put it on top of the roof. If you have a closet built into the wall, put it on top of the door. Closet is crowded so theives won't go into the closet and look whats above the door. Usually they'll only look whats on the shelf and in the closet. A better idea is to get a waterproof bag, put your laptop in, then store it inside the water storage tank of your toilet. Theives never open up the toliet and see whats inside.

Just my opinion.

 

North Philadelphia.
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=N+Broad+St+&+W+Diamond+St,+Philadelphia,+PA,+USA&sa=X&oi=map&ct=image

 

It's cool how on the football field near your home you can see the individual yard lines and people playing on the adjacent field. Google earth is just amazing.

 

Elmers school glue.

 

Tell u what......this might sound wierd....but what the heck ..after readin all the suggestion I got a new meanin for wierd ....especially the oven hideaway....wonderful....anyways....do u have a thick mattress....maybe u can cut it in the side.....just deep enuf to slide ur Laptop into it....then u can cover the mattress with the bedsheet and stuff and leave ur home peacefully.....


i dont think the thief will really be havin the luxury of goin through every nook and corner of ur house..........

I know that might sound ridiculous.....but this is just my two cents.....

 

question
what are you gonna chain it to?
if they're targeting your laptop then they'll bring tools..no?

 

I used to live in North East Philly, commuted through the north side on a daily basis. I know EXACTLY what you're coming from.

Me, I always keep my laptops in a pillow. I don't make my bed as it is, so when I'm not around, I just slip the laptop between one of the pillow cases and the pillow. You couldn't tell unless you knew it was there, and few thieves ever dig through a bed. They're looking for drawers, jewerly boxes and anything that says "take and run".

Pillows are just not a high theft item.

 

Thats good thank you

 

When I made this thread I hadn't moved in yet so didn't have a great idea of what their would be to chain to. One of the options was to chain to around the width of the desk. The chain I was looking at was 6 feet so if it had a loop at one end of the chain, I could make a huge "slip" knot around the width of the desk and then chain the laptop to that. But yea mostly anything I could have chained it too would have been able to been unscrewed or broken, ect.


Looking around the room today I notice some locks I didn't see before..
There is actually a humongous floor to ceiling built-in dresser, probably 10'x12', biggest dresser ever. Very old. The doors are locked with "skeleton key" locks. If I can get one of those keys I can lock it in there. Most people don't carry around old skeleton keys anymore.

 

While we're pitching in our weirdest ideas. You could always make a "secret" double shelve at the bottom of a dresser or any furniture.

 

niiice.. I have more drawers in here then I'll ever use.

 

lol i still liked the oven idea..
or you can find a huge 17" book to hide it in there XD
rmb the old movies where people kept money in them?

 

that whole 'keep it in a hallowed out book' just gave me an idea
get a betamax, rip out the innards and store it in there...now would would steal a betamax?

 

Tell that to the guy who hid his handguns and ammo in the oven when going on a two week vacation. His wife decides to bake something when they get home and bullets start cooking off!

Renter's insurance if you can get it. It's like 100 bucks a year here and will cover you in case of fires and other disasters, not just theft.