To be fair, MacBook Pros pretty much all look the same on the outside. She probabaly just thought it was hers, stuffed it in her bag, and went to catch her flight.
There's a reason the first thing I do with a new laptop is add about fifteen assorted stickers to it. Very helpful at conferences and such when it comes to keeping laptops distinct.
Exactly! Also: never clean the keyboard or wipe off any coffee or marmalade spills; that way the thief will probably decide they don't want it after all, hand it back and go looking for a shiny, well looked-after one...
I thought that ... So why isn't there a spare MacBook Pro laying around the security line?
Hey, a name game: MacRoulette. You put your laptop through security with a bunch of others and you grab a random one. Practice safe computing and always have a backup.
That is a fair point, however, in that case, there would be a computer left over on the belt, that the author would've seen when he got out of the scanner.
On a side note: do people not keep their laptops in sleeves (even when in backpacks)?
Where is this? I'ma frequent flyer, and have never once been sled to open my laptop nor have I ever seen anyone asked to do so (outside a short period after 9/11)