Break-In Update

Over the past couple days I thought we had a lead in the case. My laptop has a remote access program called Log Me In installed on it. It basically lets me see and control my computers from any internet connection. Also, this program shows me the IP address where the computer is gaining internet access.

Maybe it is my naivete or lack of knowledge of how the criminal justice system works, but here is how I would see things going down...according to my warped TV crime show view of life. Following that is what has actually happened.


IN MY PERFECT WORLD
I provide police with IP address.
Police obtain subpoena for internet provider to hand over street address associated with said IP address.
Police obtain warrant based on suspicion that stolen property is at said address.
Police execute warrant and find at least laptop on property.
I get my laptop back and am able to recover missing swim team information, thus saving me hours of manual labor of re-typing meet results back into Team Manager.

WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED
Early Monday evening I noticed that the stolen laptop was accessing the internet from the same IP address. This tells me that the laptop is in the same location, or at least in possession of the same person.

I call MPD district #6 to give them the information, thinking that it would be valuable for any investigation that may be happening. I am put into the voice mail of Detective Lips. I leave a message stating I have what I think is valuable information in my case and would appreciate a call back.

As of 8am Tuesday, I still had not heard back from the Detective. I call District 6 again and they tell me that my information will be passed on to an officer at the district since Officer Muszynski, who originally responded to the first police call, was off. Side note: Officer Muszynski was very polite and helpful throughout the entire process.

As of 11am Tuesday, I still had not received a call back from anyone at District 6. I then decide to call the general non-emergency number for MPD to see if I can get in touch with a person. I finally get in touch with an un-named office. They tell me that my information was passed along to Detective Laura, who was in a meeting, but he would contact me shortly.

At 11:30am Tuesday, I stop in the District 6 office (I was in the neighborhood) to see if I can talk with someone directly about the information I have. A police aide (a former THP I taught a few years back) was extremely helpful and gave me some contact information for the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB).

At 1:30 Tuesday, I contact CIB looking for Detective Laura. He calls back and I explain the situation. He asks me to fax him a screen grab of the website that shows the IP address of the stolen computer. I fax him a copy of this (actually Melissa did...thanks again!) at 2:15pm.

At 4:00pm Tuesday, I contact Detective Laura to make sure the fax was received. He indicated he received the fax.

I hear nothing back all day Wednesday. At the end of the day Wednesday, I leave a message for Detective Laura to see if he can update me on anything that may have happened over the past 24 hours. I leave a message on his voice mail.

I also contact Officer Muszynski to see if he has any updates for me. Again, Officer Muszynski was very polite and helpful. The prints that were obtained did not match anyone in the system. I inform him of the contact with Detective Laura and he tells me that he will check into anything that may happen with the IP address and such.

On Wednesday afternoon, I also send an e-mail to Alderman Zielinski and inform him of the story and the feeling I am starting to get that MPD is not overly interested in pursuing what I think is a slam-dunk case against a criminal.

I hear nothing back from anyone all day Thursday.

It is currently 11:45am Friday and I still have heard nothing back from any party. It has also been nearly 48 hours since the computer has accessed the internet.

At this point I think we are at a dead-end. At least I got the insurance check in the mail Wednesday. It looks like we are shopping for a new laptop this weekend.

Side note: We received $249 for the purchase of a new Wii system as part of the insurance payment. Word on the street is that Nintendo is dropping the price of the Wii to $199 this weekend...score!