Police in Denmark confiscated the computer belonging to the guy who does the Rottin’ in Denmark blog. They accused him of using a stolen credit card to buy stuff online. The blogger explained that he has an open WiFi access point, and that anyone can use it. It took them a long time to figure that out, but they took his computer (and his room mate’s computer) anyway.
Rottin’s account of the police visit is funny. But it also makes me wonder if I should close my open WiFi network. I don’t want cops taking away my computer.
We moved into my roommate’s room.She has an original iMac.
‘We have your roommate’s permission to confiscate her computer,’ the Ichabod Crane one said.
‘Whatever,’ I said. They had already assured me that we would get our laptops back that afternoon, so I figured the damage had already been done. Ichabod started rooting around under her desk.
‘Where’s the computer?’ he said.
‘On the desk. That’s the computer,’ I said.
‘No, the computer.’
‘That’s the computer, dude.’
‘That’s the screen.’ He had lapsed into the voice you use when you explain to your 6-year-old cousin how the toaster works. ‘I mean the compuuuuuter. Understand?’
‘Dude. That’s the whole computer. Right there. The blue object the size of an armadillo.’
‘No. Where the daaaaata goes. The computer part.’
‘That is the computer. For Hell!’ Danish swear words aren’t as satisfying.
‘So that’s the entire computer, right there?’
I was standing there with a look on my face like I was watching a dog walk on its hind legs.
‘New technology, huh?’ he said.
I blew the dust off the keyboard and handed it to him. ‘Do you mind if I check your badge again?’
