James McCluskey was so peeved about having his backpack stolen — containing a brand-new iPad — that he turned detective to find the crooks.
McCluskey left his backpack in the office parking lot mid-morning in Onehunga, New Zealand. (There was no explanation of why he left this catnip to crooks unattended. It’s the probably the most common way iGadgets get stolen.)
Two women reportedly smashed the car windows, grabbed his backpack and sped off. The victim, a 22-year-old logistics coordinator, managed to jot down the license plate number. The backpack contained an iPad, hard drive and other personal belongings estimated at around $1,500.
He reported the theft to police, but also took matters into his own hands. Perhaps knowing that thefts from cars are the least likely to be solved (in New Zealand the resolution rate is a dismal 3.3 per cent), he tracked down the license plate number through a $2 post office search.
Then things got a little hairy for the would-be detective: McCluskey tracked down the person whose name was listed on the registration, 17-year-old Christine Wilson.
He visited her house and got her cell phone number from her father, then called her up demanding his stuff back.
She claimed a friend borrowed her car and that McCluskey was “harassing her.”
“I feel very disturbed,” Wilson said. “He shouldn’t have the right to find my house. I was shocked that he was able to get my address.”
McCluskey said police had told him this week that they had still not spoken to Wilson.
“I have all but given up hope that my property will be returned,” McCluskey said. “I would have thought that an eyewitness account, car registration number description and address of the car owner would be enough for the police but apparently they are not interested.”
Police still say they are investigating the matter.
How far would you go to get your stolen property back?
