I hate thieves.

I'm sure I'll be called a small-minded, mean-spirited person. But I agree that people need to be held accountable for their actions.

Shame? I think abject humiliation is appropriate for this kind of thing. The thief's apologetic demeanor is due only to having been caught and called out in public.

Our culture has hoisted petty theft and grand larceny and put it on a pedestal. How else can you explain politicians cheating on their taxes (and no jail time, mind you)?

You know me, Amy...

I am all for maximizing punishment and embarrassment for those who screw with you too much (and this fella definitely meets that threshold), but in this case, I think that the email he wrote (despite grammatical issues) demonstrated clear remorse (I hope). I would not let the guy off with no punishment, but I would *conditionally* drop the charges and remove videos, if the guy signed a contract to perform - um - 100 hours of community service...something onerous like walking down the main thoroughfare and picking up every single piece of garbage - by himself...

If it turns out his remorse is BS, then let the charges (and videos) come forth...

Hi, André-Tascha! Disagree with you on your proposed solution.

I think his lack of remorse at stealing is well-detailed here:

"I was being a dumbass for thinking I could get away with something like this."

He's sorry now, AFTER he was busted. I didn't see any signs of his guilt while he was dancing.... And too bad if he might lose some income when he is revealed as a thief. The theft victim loses more than just money when you steal.

Keep the video online.

Revealing:

I was being a dumbass for thinking I could get away with something like this.

Sounds to me like he's only sorry he got caught. Notice he didn't say, "I was being immoral for doing something like this."

I was wondering if you were gonna post this Amy...

My opinion?
Bed.Made.Lie.

I think the only thing he's sorry about is that he got caught and subsequently humiliated, because of it. I doubt he would have been so sorry otherwise because remourseful people don't do a little dance while in the process of that crime.

There was something else I noticed too.

In the thieves apology, he claimed that he was a professional (professional what I just don't know) and that video could really hurt him. That same apology was riddled with spelling errors and the grammar was atrocious. People were criticizing his apology because of those errors and I think I have to agree with them.

I would imagine that someone in his position would want to go out of their way to avoid looking worse right? So why not use spell check in the very least? ESPECIALLY if you are claiming to be a professional!?

Nope. Leave it up. If for nothing else then as a shining example of what happens when you fuck with a techies shit.

... the things that ran through my head ...

1) laptop - $1000ish
2) software on laptop - $1000ish
3) personal information on laptop of not only yourself but probably friends and family ... no dollar amount can cover that

so
1a) Class A Felony
2a) Class A Felony
3a) Class A Felony (technically could be construed as identity theft)

This loser-thief should have not only have the book, but the judge thrown at him. He should go to jail for a year and a day, then serve out 1000 hours of community service ... half held in abeyance, due to the recovery of the stolen goods, for no less than 5 years worth of probation (in addition, just because I'm mean, he would be on a random UA schedule as well, no one dances that horribly while sober) to be initiated on top of any new charges if he is busted again within that time span ..

just my opinion :D

Mark is doing the right thing by leaving the video up and by continuing the charges.

Actions have consequences, and the belief (as evidenced by this dunce) that being held accountable for your actions means simply apologizing if you get caught is wrong and foolish. In this case, it is incredible that the thief wasn't aware it was wrong to steal - his remorse if left for believing he could get away with it, not for the act of theft itself (as if theft is just fine as long as you don't get caught. Then it like suxx0rz lol). Good on Mark for holding this idiot's feet to the fire for his actions.

This is my favorite part from the thieves email...

"I know what I did was wrong and if i was a different person line leave it up but I do have two Professional Jobs that iif something like that gets leak I can get in morre trouble and be more embarress as well."

So he's basically saying
"I am okay for you doing that for someone else but not for meeeeee...."

Uuuhhh yeah well if you don't want to get in trouble and you don't want to be embarrassed, then DON'T COMMITT CRIMES! Seems pretty simple to me.

Being unemployed this month, I'd have plenty of time to consider the cloud-captured data of the thief and devine the location of his home. Mr. Bao is doubtlessly a nice, peaceful, busy guy; I am none of those things. These charming stories about thieves who identify themselves so clearly will not always end with such harmless embarrasment. It's a brand new day.

"I so sorry you catch me stealing your stuff. Now that you caught me and publicly humiliate me I Apologize and send you email That I didn't brother to spellcheck So Will you please take down the Video becuz it mite ruin my reputation If people relize Imma theiving piece of shit."

Nah, leave it up. F*ck him.

You don't get any credit for saying "sorry" in order to avoid consequences.

How can you tell someone is saying sorry to avoid consequences? When they say it only when the consequences to them become cleat to them.

Yeah, they are sorry...that they got caught and now face consequences. That is different from truly being sorry you did something.

Don't listen to what they say, look at how they act. This guy stole. And after he got slapped, *then* he gets all hang-dog sorry.

Bullshit.

Why isn't anyone going for the obvious? Part of this idiot's sentence should include a Remedial Writing class at the local community college. Now my head hurts.

This guy is sorry all right... sorry that he got caught. Not sorry he stole the laptop. However, that video is going to be impossible to take down even if the poster wanted to. This video has well over a million views already. Someone somewhere has already saved this, mirrored it, and mirrored the mirror. There are almost 4000 comments. Any hope of thief dude's reputation being recovered is very long gone.

Once something gets out on the internet, it stays there. Forever. Be careful about what you record on any computer, or even on any camera. Be especially careful about what you say on Facebook, where stuff is linked to your real name. And never underestimate the power of a hundred million bored people staring at their computers.

Done is done, so I say leave it up. An asshat like that deserves whatever comes of it.

I like Mr. Bao's style: the kid who stole the laptop is "not in a position to bargain."

And if being caught stealing isn't embarrassing enough, the awful spelling and grammar will certainly get the job done.

What the thief really wrote:

"Sorry Mark,

I am so deeply sorry that your intellectual superiority now has my scrawny ass in a heap of trouble. I have learned a valuable lesson and I swear next time I steal a laptop I will not video myself dancing like a fool. I am not the kind of person that usually gets caught and because I’m liar as well, I have fooled people into thinking I’m respectful. I am truly sorry that you caught me and sorrier yet that you have embarrassed me.

I know I am in no position to ask you for a favor but can you please take down the videos that you have put up of me. I mean, come on dude, I will never get laid again when the girls in my neighborhood see it. Remember I did turn it over to the campus police as soon as I came to the conclusion that I was busted anyway and needed to put myself in a more flattering light.

If you want we can meet up and you can buy me lunch. Wouldn’t that be a good idea, brothers gotta eat, know what I’m saying. I could also say I’m sorry in person so that I can feel better about myself, plus it would give me the chance to steal your wallet."

This fucktard deserves whatever is coming his way.....

He shouldn't just have the book thrown at him, he should have the whole LIBRARY thrown at him.

***** Why isn't anyone going for the obvious? Part of this idiot's sentence should include a Remedial Writing class at the local community college. *****

THIS. And if I were Mr. Bao, I would make sure I went to court when the little fucker appeared and demand he get the maximum.

Oh, and double post to say Carbonite is an excellent way to back up your computers as well. http://www.carbonite.com/

I use that along with a TB external drive.