'Prototype Laptop' Stolen from Apple’s Campus Last Year (Report)

A report by Zirana ("a one stop shop for all local information [for] residents of small and medium sized towns all across the world," including Cupertino) reveals that a prototype laptop worth 100,000 was stolen from Apple's campus last year. Below is the actual Zirana report on the matter.

"Trade Secret Theft/Possession of Stolen Property – Infinite Loop Between 1/1 and 12/18, unknown suspect(s) took a prototype laptop worth about $100,000 from Apple Computers on Infinite Loop using an unknown method. The suspect(s) sold it to another suspect. Deputies recovered the laptop from the second suspect and he was released pending further investigation."

TUAW picked up the story reminding Apple fans that, coincidentally, Gawker Media’s tablet contest offers a 100,000 prize for whoever delivers the device to it. However, if Zirana’s 2009 report is accurate, the prototype device was not stolen with this bounty in mind – Gawker’s contest dates Jan 13, 2010. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t qualify for the contest.

Gawker was (and still is) ready to pay $10,000 for bona fide pictures of the tablet. A video of the device in action, if proven real, would pay $20,000. Pictures or a video of Apple’s CEO (Steve Jobs) holding one are worth $50,000 in cash, according to the contest rules. Finally, $100,000 is the big prize for the person bringing the actual device to Gawker.

Softpedia reported on January 15th that Apple’s legal had contacted Gawker Media, requesting it to remove the “Scavenger Hunt” contest posted on its Valleywag website. By asking for Apple-tablet information in exchange for prize money, the contest induced breach-of-contract and disclosure of Apple trade secrets, according to a cease-and-desist letter sent by Apple’s attorneys to Gabriel Snyder, editor-in-chief, Valleywag.com / Gawker Media. Whether the move is tied to Apple’s knowledge of the theft is yet unclear.

With Apple gearing up to release a rumored tablet device, we may be tempted to believe this stolen "laptop" is the actual thing, even if it’s only a prototype. Given the hype surrounding the unconfirmed product having steadily grown for years now, such a "prototype" would fetch at least $100K, on any market.