So remember when I got
robbed? And how my laptop got stolen?
Well, I got it back in the most ridiculous way possible.
After the break-in, I wrote a very strongly worded letter informing my landlord that he need to fix up the security in my apartment or else I will sue. Since he simply refuses to answer his phone, I mailed the letter in with my monthly rent and waited for a reply.
Three days ago, I got a voice mail from the landlord telling me that he is sending by his broker/apartment manager to take care of things. Sure enough, that night, a tall, gangly Italian man in a dirty yellow shirt showed up.
In all the time I have spent in New York City, I have NEVER seen anyone who so completely reeked of the criminal underworld. He introduced himself as... let's call him Y... while holding out his dirty, bony hand for me to shake. Automatically, my left eyebrow soared toward my hairline... but I took his hand anyway. Looking at his dark features and sallow skin strewn with wrinkles, I couldn't help but wonder how he could ever pass for a broker... especially in that shirt.
He looked the place over while I showed him all the vulnerable points of entry. He agreed to come by and fix things up. Meanwhile, he ranted on in an oily tone of how
common robbery is in this neighborhood... almost as if to suggest that we should have expected it to happen! I nodded along without really thinking and mentioned how much I would love to have my laptop back... and how I would even consider paying for it.
Y looked pensive. He said he will look around the neighborhood for me and then asked how much I would be willing to pay. I looked at him in surprise, completely thrown off by the nature of the question.
"Not sure..."
"What, like 250?" Y asked dryly.
"I guess... maybe around 200..."
"OK, I'll look around for you." He tore a piece of paper off and asked for my computer login password, saying that he can use it to prove that my laptop is mine... if he finds it.
Not thinking at all, I handed him the password. The second I wrote it down my brain clicked.
Too late.
Y took the paper and left, promising again to look around.
Three hours later, Y called and left a voicemail.
Apparently, he found the guy who bought my laptop off the street and he is willing to sell it back to me for 250 dollars. Seconds later, he texted me a picture of my laptop screen with a picture I took in the background.
At that point, I was pretty sure he was intimately connected to whoever actually stole my laptop, even if he did not do it himself. Slightly furious, I contemplated spending the 250 dollars getting the laptop back... and found it completely distasteful. Hoping to get some guidance, I called the police precinct where I reported the crime and asked to speak to someone.
A friendly police officer got on the phone, I explained the situation.
Immediately, friendly policeman got into business mode.
I'm to call Y, he instructed, and give some excuse for why I don't have the money on hand and need a couple days to get it together. Then I am to arrange a meeting with a detective present and when Y comes for the drop off, he will be arrested.
Exact words. No hyperbole. They will arrest him.
I made a face at my roomies and T, who by that time had gathered around me to watch the progression of events. If I get Y arrested, I'm pretty sure my landlord the mobster boss will be pretty pissed off... and the last thing I want is retaliation.
Besides, I can't be completely sure that Y was actually involved in the robbery.
I thanked the police detective and hung up, still indecisive. While I absolutely did not want to pay for the laptop, I also didn't want to actually get Y arrested.
But at that point, it seemed like those were no other choices. Tired and annoyed, I went to bed.
Then it occured to me... I have no choices because all my options are boxed in by Y. If I want things to work out my way, I'll have to introduce a new factor into the game.
Remembering how my landlord had treated Y, I guessed that he is on a tier higher in the mafia food chain. I decided to call him.
I called the landlord and explained to him what Y is doing, then told him that I had contacted my family lawyer, who advised me to call the police and then contact him to inform him of his employee's actions. Then, I explained how what Y was doing is considered to be misprision and criminal solicitation and that he could face up to six year in jail if I do report him.
My landlord sounded like he was going to have a heart attack.
He ranted for ten minutes about how he doesn't deal with criminals and how he won't put up with things like this... and then promised to make Y return my laptop.
Thirty minutes later, Y called me and told me that he left my laptop in the basement of our building.
That night, armed with gloves, I trekked downstairs with T and found my laptop tied up on the stair rails, inside a bright orange duffel bag. The outside was a little scratched up, but no worse for the wear. After all, I had pretty much given up on it as lost forever but a few days ago...
