Taken

Day Three: Well damn. Both classes went well, if not extremely fast today. Both teachers sprinted through huge amounts of material and, I'll admit, I struggled to keep up. 

I approached my Spanish professor after class and had a chat with her. She sympathized and explained that things would only speed along while we were reviewing material from the previous semester. She promised (promised!) that things would slow down in a week or so.

I approached my Stats teacher after class and she smiled at me. Just... smiled at me. It was a sly, secretive, knowing sort of smile that flashed with equal parts greeting and warning, the sort of grin with a row of gleaming dangerous teeth behind it, just in case.

I liked her immediately.

By the time I got my chance to speak with her, there was a line of 15 or so students behind me waiting to speak with her as well. I introduced myself and asked something about the homework. My ego got the better of me and I opted to email her later on about the pace of the class. I reasoned that she wasn't at all likely to change anything for me, and would only recommend that I get a tutor should I still be lagging in a few weeks.

I went through the student union on the way to class and got an exciting phone call from a friend announcing that his wife is pregnant. I sat down and talked with him for a few, setting my bags beside me. I had my replacement Nexus in a box in that pile. When I hung up the phone 10 minutes later, the box was gone.

My Nexus 7 had been stolen.

I searched the entire front of the building, every restaurant, every stall, every seat. I eyed every single person in the building.

Nothing.

I left my name and number with the Information Booth. Twice. And then I called Google to see if they could disable the device.

At first, they told me that, since it was a replacement device, it was pre-registered and they serial number specific to the device was on file. They instructed me to call the police and give them the serial number. I agreed and hung up the phone.

In all my frustration, I forgot to ask what the next steps were after calling the police; would they disable my device? Were they likely to recover it or would I be buying a new one? I called back... and the story had changed. Big time.

I was told that they had no info on file regarding my replacement device, and that the previous rep had completely misinformed me. I was told there was nothing the police could do with the serial number. And they would not disable my device.

I want to be clear: They specifically told me that they had the ability to disable the device but would not. They specifically told me that they would be aware when the device was activated, regardless of what email address the user chose to register it with, but that they would do nothing. When I asked "Why not?" I was put on hold.

After being on hold for 10 minutes, I was offered a refund.

???

They were willing to give me a full refund on my original device and take the loss on my stolen one, leaving me financially whole but without a tablet. I asked how that made any sense when they could easily find the device and call the police. "It's our policy," he said.

I hung up and called the police.

I showed up to the police station grumpy and steaming. The officer shook my hand and had me walk him through what happened. He was surprisingly well versed on mobile technology (incl. tablets) and we spent a good bit of time talking about security and how they might find it.

"Someone on campus has it", he said. "If they attempt to use it, we can find it using that serial number... provided Google cooperates. Chances are, they're willing to give you your money back because it's much easier than chasing down the tablet."

"But I don't want the money. I want my tablet."

"I know, buddy."

I finished filing the report, we shook hands one last time, and I left.

Chances are, I'll never see my tablet again. What's more, I still have to send back my broken tablet, and will only be getting money back - money that I have absolutely no interest in.

*grumble*

Hey! UConn Theif! Return my @#$% device!

...or be destroyed.