[tonywebster]

If I was the participant with the stolen laptop, I'd first of all be really bummed out over not having the opportunity to participate in the hackathon because of stolen gear. I'd try to find them a computer they can use to hack on, and hopefully they didn't lose any work.

I don't know what to say about the stolen gear itself. People should take responsibility for protecting their own stuff, but that's a real challenge over a weekend non-stop sort of event, especially of that size. People need to eat, sleep, etc. I guess it's a lesson learned to have clear disclaimers of responsibility for future ones, and I'm not sure what to say about replacing that participant's computer. Not a fun situation, and it's hard to find fault on anyone (except the thief, of course).