Empty Computer Boxes Arriving at Global Knowledge No Match for Absolute

Global Knowledge, based in Cary, NC, provides training and enterprise learning services for information technology and management professionals. Notebook computers are essential tools for its students and faculty, and with Training Centers located in over 10 states and as many countries worldwide, the company regularly ships computers across the nation and around the world. However, computers were going missing between Training Centers, and the company sought an effective solution to thwart the thefts and catch the individuals involved.

“Global Knowledge selected Computrace® Complete™ by Absolute® Software to help combat computer theft during freight transit,” explains Greg Rogers, Logistics Manager at Global Knowledge.

Computrace Complete is a computer theft recovery service that tracks, locates and recovers missing computers. If a computer protected by the service is reported lost or stolen, ComputraceComplete transmits its location using any Internet connection. Computrace Complete also offers a Service Guarantee of up to $1000* if a stolen computer cannot be recovered within 60 days.

“We installed Computrace Complete on a few select laptops and shipped them to and from high theft areas. The ‘sting’ program was a great success and resulted in three Dell Latitude notebook computers being stolen in two separate incidents in one month.”

One computer was removed from its box somewhere between Global Knowledge Training Centers located in New York, NY, and Apex, NC, while two computers disappeared from their boxes between Training Centers in Irving, TX, and New York City.

In the first case, a Dell notebook was sent via ground trucking network from New York to Apex, but only the box arrived. Local law enforcement used location information provided by an Absolute Theft Recovery Officer (TRO) to track the machine to the home of a 12-year old girl who claimed she bought the computer from a homeless person on the school grounds. No charges were laid, although the detectives were left scratching their heads as to how a 12-year old girl was carrying enough cash to purchase a used computer, and why a homeless person was on the grounds of an elementary school to begin with. The computer was confiscated and returned to Global Knowledge.

In the second case, two computers were liberated from their packaging in transit between Texas and New York State. One of the computers was recovered by an NYPD Detective, again using location information provided by ComputraceComplete. This time, the user claimed he bought it from “some guy at the airport”. While the “guy at the airport” was never found, the user was charged with Possession of Stolen Property, and the laptop was returned to Global Knowledge.

The second computer sent from Irving that did not arrive at its intended destination was tracked by Computrace Complete to a location in Mexico, and was declared unrecoverable by the TRO on the case. Because the computer could not be recovered within 60 days of its theft, the company received a Service Guarantee reimbursement of $1000 to compensate for the loss.

“With Computrace Complete, we gained visibility into when, where and how our laptops were being stolen,” said Rogers. “As a result, we have rolled out Computrace Complete on our entire fleet of laptops and we will be purchasing the software for new laptops going forward. Computrace Complete is an effective computer tracking and theft recovery tool that helps ensure Global Knowledge’s computers are returned or compensated for if they cannot be recovered.”

Founded in 1995, Global Knowledge employs more than 1,100 people worldwide. Global Knowledge offers hands-on IT, project management, professional skills, and business process training featuring proprietary core and custom curriculum, as well as content from leading companies. For more information visit www.globalknowledge.com.

* Certain conditions apply. For full details see: http://www.absolute.com/Service_Agreement.pdf