[somecoder]

Unfortunate. And scary.

What's a C-number?

[coldcode]

Serial number on MacbookPros start with a C, mine does at least.

[zodPod]

In the article, the guy seemed to believe that it wasn't the serial number. That it was something you had to turn the computer on for or something.

> Derek tells the woman the C-number is off. Not the serial number—they were looking for some other number in the computer.

[teh_klev]

I don't know Macs, but dell tag numbers are burned into the BIOS. Possibly checking that instead of a sticker that could have a fake serial is a more reliable method of verifying the number. i.e. your less than technically competent thief might not know about this or how to change the BIOS one.

[Declanomous]

Phonetically C-number and serial number sound close enough that I'd suspect C-number is a memetic mutation of serial number. I wonder if "Derek" was trying to look up the UUID of the system.

http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/25/mac-101-finding-your-macs...

[legulere]

Maybe the MAC number with the letters spelled out and he didn't hear it fully?

[tremon]

It's your entry in Apple's global customer database.

/s