In the next 30 or so seconds, that tape also shows somebody emerging from a nearby vehicle that had just pulled into the camera's view. The individual quickly approaches Shore's idle car, opens the driver's-side door, and removes something - Shore's briefcase containing his Mac laptop. Then the thief returns to his or her vehicle and drives off.
Shore told me that in the rush to get home and shuttle his kids, he didn't even notice the briefcase was missing until a few hours had passed. (Full disclosure: I read about his dilemma on WheresTheFairness.com. The website's operators have purchased advertising time on my radio program.)
The police were "great," he said, but couldn't do much to help him. It's impossible to make out any details about the car or the thief from the footage captured by the security camera. Nor can it be enhanced in any way to get a good look at the getaway vehicle's license plate, Shore told me.
So he took it upon himself to post the unusual reward for information that leads to the recovery of the computer. His hunch is that the thief didn't come from Manayunk. He's thinking more West Philly.
He denied that he's profiling. Just going with his gut. And the reward, he theorized, should appeal to the likely criminal element who would have awareness of whoever snatched the briefcase.
Hence the headline on the poster, which is also emblazoned with a picture of a couple of marijuana buds and a pipe.
"Owning an agency, we know how to appeal to the right demo, the right target," he said.
"So I figured his friends, more than cash, are going to want some pot." (Besides his criminal soothsaying, Shore can also apparently see around
legal corners. The poster's fine print reads: "Actual reward may vary.")
