A base Mac mini was ordered by an Apple customer in the middle of March, and given that these compact machines were already scarce to begin with, it was estimated to reach the owner within four weeks. Unfortunately, bad luck can find anyone at a terrible place and time; the person expecting the Mac mini was disappointed to find that FedEx didn’t leave the product at the door but instead in a public area, where it was waiting to be picked up.
However, while the thief was swift in depriving a customer of one of the most difficult computers to acquire, he didn’t exactly do himself any favors after that because his lack of intelligence caught up to him after he listed the Mac mini for sale on an online marketplace. It also helped that the original owner and his boss were equipped with a pair of eagle eyes that allowed them to pinpoint the culprit.
A visible car license plate and Mac mini serial number shown in marketplace images eventually revealed who the thief was
While anyone would be livid, disappointed, and experiencing a wide range of negative feelings, Redditor’ Vanifest0’ didn’t lose hope over his stolen Mac mini. For one thing, he states that Apple was highly cooperative in filing a claim and shipping out a replacement. Sadly, since these products are out of stock, he’ll have to wait until June for the second unit to arrive at his doorstep. As for how the thief got caught, the Mac mini owner informed his boss about what happened.
Since the boss has been a victim of porch pirates before, his instincts led him to search Facebook Marketplace, as that’s a platform where stolen items are listed by thieves to make a quick buck. What the perpetrator probably didn’t realize was that not only were the thief’s images showing the Mac mini’s serial number, but his car’s license plate was also visible. The original owner checked the invoice to immediately learn that this was his stolen Mac mini.
The car plate also matched a vehicle found in the apartment parking lot, leading to the conclusion that the thief lived in the Redditor’s building. Vanifest0 didn’t waste any precious time in filing a police report, and thanks to his vigilance, the building management has become involved as there have been cases of multiple missing packages over the past few months. In short, thanks to some detective work and the thief’s sheer stupidity, the Mac mini owner solved this mystery.
News Source: Reddit
About the author: Omar Sohail is a reporter and analyst for Wccftech's mobile section, specializing in the technology and business of the mobile industry. His expertise lies in the intricate hardware supply chain, covering developments in semiconductor manufacturing, chip lithography, and camera sensor technology.
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