Software helps Polk schools track stolen laptops

Monday, July 20, 2009

Post a comment | E-mail this story | Print

The software allows the company to track the laptop's location once it goes online.

POLK COUNTY (Bay News 9) -- Laptop computers are getting smaller and lighter, which not only makes them more convenient, but also makes them easier to steal.

However, there is now a new high-tech way to track down and catch those who steal them.

At Winter Haven High School, a dozen of the school's Dell laptops have been stolen over the course of the past school year, a trend principal Gina Williams calls "extremely frustrating."

Until recently, the school district had little hope of getting them back, but that has changed thanks to some new software. The technical staff at the school has installed Computrace software on thousands of its laptops.

More Information

Watch the story

Through Computrace, the district files a theft report. Then, if the thief uses the laptop to access the Internet, the software company is able to figure out the computer's location. Then the company contacts the police.

Winter Haven police have found most of the thieves and nine of the 12 stolen laptops. They haven't released any more information because they say their investigation is not yet complete.

The Polk County School District says Computrace also allows it to remotely erase sensitive files on stolen laptops. So far it has recovered almost all of the 20 computers that have the software.

Be in the Know with Bay News 9 Now!

Get news, weather, and traffic alerts delivered directly to your computer desktop, e-mail, or cell phone with Bay News 9 Now.

Subscribe for free!

Valentine's Day

Do you have a romantic Valentine's Day story? Or a funny one? What about a nightmarish one? We want to hear them! Send them to us and we may use them in a story on BayNews9.com.