New Zealand teen jacks Xbox 360, divulges credentials to Microsoft

Apparently, a 14-year old teenager in New Zealand doesn't visit Engadget (or use his brain) a whole lot -- you'd think that team of crooks who swiped a PlayStation, only to return for the power cord and eventually end up in police custody might have swayed him from doing the exact same thing. Not so. Oddly enough, the teen in question jacked the console and left the oh-so-critical power cable behind, but instead of devising yet another heist, he simply phoned Microsoft, gave out all his credentials (including the machine's serial number), and awaited the cable. In the meantime, the irate original owner dialed up the company as well; after discovering that his Xbox 360 had already been registered to its thief, he registered to obtain a court order to induce Microsoft to release the bandit's details. (Jailarity ensues.) So while our first PSA must not have been potent enough, we'll simply reiterate that stealing consoles probably isn't your calling if you can't even remember the accessories.

[Via Xbox 360 News]

[V.I. @ Feb 9th 2007 7:14PM]

I guess they don't have Ebay in New Zeland? SMH...

[Person157 @ Feb 9th 2007 7:23PM]

Na screw Ebay, we've got our own online site. "If you want it done right, do it yourself"

[Brandon @ Feb 9th 2007 7:37PM]

No wonder I pwn on xbox live so bad.

[Kepa @ Feb 9th 2007 8:18PM]

Wow. This is the second time that I'm ashamed to be a Kiwi (New Zealander). The first time being Lee Tamahori (Director of Once Were Warriors, Die Another Day) being arrested in women's clothing for prostitution somewhere in California.

[Matt Martin @ Feb 9th 2007 8:49PM]

Don't worry, if I named myself after a fruit, I would be ashamed too.

[Adrian @ Feb 9th 2007 8:57PM]

They aren't named after a fruit, they are named after a rare breed of bird...

[Bat Smax @ Feb 9th 2007 8:55PM]

Nice work

Actually we named the fruit after us, but we stole the name from a bird, duh

[Oliver @ Feb 9th 2007 9:34PM]

Engadget help me.

I bought a US xbox 360 and I moved to Australia and ergo, need a new power adaptor. Microsoft wants to charge me $120 for a new one. Is there any sneaky way I can get them to give me one for free? I checked ebay and they don't have any aussie ones.

[klew @ Feb 9th 2007 10:18PM]

if the power block can handle 110-240V, then you should be able to use the US power block with an outlet adapter (I hope).

[Cowboy Bob @ Feb 9th 2007 9:35PM]

is an xbox 360 power cord really that expensive?

[Matt @ Feb 9th 2007 9:37PM]

Hmm... well when i steal my consoles i take everything...

[Oliver @ Feb 9th 2007 10:25PM]

Sadly the powerblock is 110-127V. I bought a voltage conveter but I dont think the amps matched up because when I plugged it in (it was disconnected from the xbox) it made a bad sound. A very bad sound. and now the little LED doesnt go on at all.

[BUNT @ Feb 9th 2007 11:30PM]

New Zealand, now that's progressive.

[nz @ Feb 10th 2007 12:32AM]

good old nz just so you americans no were not part of australia and were not sheep shaggers

[bulldog @ Feb 11th 2007 9:08PM]

True, New Zealanders are not Aussies, no matter how much they want to be, but they ARE sheep shaggers.

[Dragod @ Feb 10th 2007 12:41AM]

Don't hear anything about people jackinbg ps3's do you? After people Shot people to get a ps3 only to realize "Oh crap, I just shot this guy for a $600 paper weight" I guess no one even wants em. Check Your local targets, 5 or more in each store, it's great.

[Mat @ Feb 10th 2007 2:09AM]

well send them over here (NZ)

[Benjamin @ Feb 10th 2007 4:26AM]

Dragod, firstly, we don't have Target. And secondly, the PS3 comes out in March down here.

[savvydoc @ Feb 10th 2007 6:03AM]

Offtopic-

I saw a tourism video for New Zealand once (Not Lord of the Rings :P ) and it looks like a really awesome place to live. Someone even told me that the crime rate is so low there that all the street cops go home at 5 or 6pm!? Is that true?

[Mat @ Feb 14th 2007 12:40AM]

trademe.co.nz = NZ auction site, and actually NZ's most popular site. I think they tried doing a ebay.co.nz, but trademe was already a household name...