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Laptop stolen in Tenerife found by Wigan IT expert | Laptop stolen in Tenerife found by Wigan IT expert |
(about 1 hour later) | |
An IT expert from Wigan has used his skills to recover a colleague's laptop that was stolen in Tenerife. | An IT expert from Wigan has used his skills to recover a colleague's laptop that was stolen in Tenerife. |
Mike Birtwistle's computer was taken when his apartment was broken into on a family holiday on the Canary island. | Mike Birtwistle's computer was taken when his apartment was broken into on a family holiday on the Canary island. |
When he returned to England, workmate Dave Duffy learned about the theft and set about trying to access the machine. | When he returned to England, workmate Dave Duffy learned about the theft and set about trying to access the machine. |
Mr Duffy managed to use the laptop's webcam and the resulting pictures allowed police to recover the computer. | Mr Duffy managed to use the laptop's webcam and the resulting pictures allowed police to recover the computer. |
Mr Birtwistle, from Chorley, said the loss of the laptop had left him "absolutely gutted". | |
"We thought that the chance of it turning up again was nil," he said. | "We thought that the chance of it turning up again was nil," he said. |
But, by using remote access software, Mr Duffy was able to access the computer while it was being used in Tenerife. | But, by using remote access software, Mr Duffy was able to access the computer while it was being used in Tenerife. |
He said that while he was trying to take control of the machine, he was "fully expecting the connection to die or the computer to be disconnected". | He said that while he was trying to take control of the machine, he was "fully expecting the connection to die or the computer to be disconnected". |
Once he was in charge of the computer, Mr Duffy used its webcam to take pictures of a man who had it in his possession before he noticed that it had been turned on. | Once he was in charge of the computer, Mr Duffy used its webcam to take pictures of a man who had it in his possession before he noticed that it had been turned on. |
The photos were then emailed to Mr Birtwistle's neighbour in Tenerife and he took them to the police, who recognised the man pictured. | The photos were then emailed to Mr Birtwistle's neighbour in Tenerife and he took them to the police, who recognised the man pictured. |
Officers arrested a man and recovered the laptop, which has been sent back to Mr Birtwistle. | Officers arrested a man and recovered the laptop, which has been sent back to Mr Birtwistle. |
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