Originally Posted by pornask

So I become the next victim of a laptop theft. After I've been half way around the world, I make a rookie mistake and pick up a hitchhiker in the Dominican Republic and she leaves along with my laptop I had on my rear seat. Fucking bitch!

I used to hitch hike a lot back in a day when I toured around Europe so it always gave me great pleasure to give back to the "community". As anyone who's picked up hitchhikers before can confirm, you typically want to make people whom you give the lift feel comfortable so when she threw her bag on the rear seat I didn't make a big deal out of it - she wants to have room for herself to sit comfortably... right? Then when she went in and out of her bag a few times to get a lipstick and what not, I still had my fucking head in the gutter. Fucking newb. I can't believe I wasn't being suspicious in a POS country like Dominican Republic.

So anyway, call me an idiot - I have been calling myself that for days. My laptop is gone and everybody is telling me that it's gone for good. I filed a report with the DR police who didn't even ask what she looked like or where I dropped her off. They just wanted my passport number so they can file a report and put it on the shelf. I had pictures from my travels so far on it, most of which I did not have backed up (fucking newb, call me an idiot again...). I had contacts, emails and all that shit that I failed to back up. My life as of late was all about adventure and I neglected the need to back up as I have neglected to need to pay for some LoJack shit for laptops and... most importantly - never trust anyone and always be suspicious while on the road.

Anyway, I know I am not the first person to have had their laptop stolen. I remember several people over the years bringing that shit up on GFY. Has anyone had luck recovering their laptops? If so, whom or what did you use? Can anyone recommend good private investigators in the Dominican Republic? I have already paid some thugs form the POS and got a few leads. I want my laptop back and am ready and willing to pay to get it back. Anyone with practical advice on what a guy could do to recover it? I want to believe that impossible is possible. Too much value went with that one machine

please