Sure there are lazy cops, but it's more of a risk/reward analysis. There's such a small chance of recovering the laptop, and since no violence involved, it's not worth the effort when the loss is relatively small, and there are crimes of greater consequence to respond to and resolve.
Right, because so many greater crimes are given any effort instead.
Let's be more realistic and compare them to the slackers found at every kind job. But now imagine those slackers with supremely dangerous amounts of authority that are constantly abused and no-one can challenge, co-workers that will cover their ass no matter how big the lie, really good pay, really good benefits, incredible overtime pay, insane early retirement pay (while they work other jobs) and it's nearly impossible to be fired once hired.
I have to agree somewhat, but its not slackers, its politics or something... there are plenty of places in the UK at least where a policeman could walk down the street and find 3 or 4 serious criminals in the act of committing a crime - they are never there. (from what I hear US is exactly the same)
Probably too busy making it look like we have security against the terrorists, who don't really exist...