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Serial number on MacbookPros start with a C, mine does at least.

In the article, the guy seemed to believe that it wasn't the serial number. That it was something you had to turn the computer on for or something.

> Derek tells the woman the C-number is off. Not the serial number—they were looking for some other number in the computer.

I don't know Macs, but dell tag numbers are burned into the BIOS. Possibly checking that instead of a sticker that could have a fake serial is a more reliable method of verifying the number. i.e. your less than technically competent thief might not know about this or how to change the BIOS one.

Phonetically C-number and serial number sound close enough that I'd suspect C-number is a memetic mutation of serial number. I wonder if "Derek" was trying to look up the UUID of the system.

http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/25/mac-101-finding-your-macs...

Maybe the MAC number with the letters spelled out and he didn't hear it fully?

It's your entry in Apple's global customer database.

/s