Voting for this despite the fact it had to obviously staged - or is there a store you know of that wouldn't chain down a laptop like that which is on display? Not to mention how he's almost hamming it up for the camera....

Or is it? http://www.itatwork.co.nz/

From the Google Video comments:
"James
5 days ago
It's a long shot, but if anyone recognises this guy, grab our contact details off www.itatwork.co.nz and give us a call."

Elaborate prank on itatwork, or real crime?

Despite the incredulous comments ("") I still think it's staged - footage quality is so good, and they went through the trouble of setting it to music. I mean, come on...


More comments from google video - I find the idea that these might be empty plastic display models amusing.

dirtypanda
7 hours ago
Then again....if the store is dumb enough to have an item like that on display without a electronic lock/alarm.....then I re-assign the idiot name to the store.
dirtypanda
7 hours ago
Everyone knows its on display like that with no electronic lock...it was just a mockup. Idiot thief doesn't know the difference and stole a hunk of plastic.
Jokerr
7 hours ago
OK, why were the laptops not locked down???
Anonymous
7 hours ago
Awesome! I used to be a professional thief, and I can tell this dude has been at for years!

I think it's real. Of course it makes you wonder, cause cell phones are all locked down, and the companies could totally disable a stolen cell phone (even GSM if they really cared to)

None of them look plugged in, so maybe they are mockups.

Actually, the store (looking on to the road) matches google satellite maps for 149 Palmerston, Westport, NZ.. And you can check out their page and the have a photo that matches the video. So I'd have to say it's real and it is just a mom and pop service store that is a little too casual. But they do have that register person watching the store.
http://www.itatwork.co.nz/media/products/scanners.jpg

Hmm, I'll buy that - still baffling, though!

looks real to me

*dead

This video has been declared non-functional; embed code must be fixed within 2 days or it will be sent to the dead pool - declared dead by bareboards2.

Awarding jonny with one Power Point for fixing this video's dead embed code.