John asks, "I live in a not so hospitable area. Let's just say that we have bars on our windows and at least three locks on every door. How do I protect my gaming computer from being stolen?"

Let's face it: gaming computers are a short term investment, and that value makes it valuable to other people. There are a few things you can do to protect your computer from being stolen, and it's not as expensive as you might think.

Use an old computer case

Putting a high powered engine in an old beat up car chassis is an old trick for protecting a powerful car from being stolen in a bad area. In the same light you can build your computer in an old, crappy computer case. We're talking the old, beat up gray boxes that are common in almost every household.

The idea here is simple: if you make your computer look like the average computer that everyone has, it suddenly loses its perceived value - like the perceived difference between a Lexus and a Kia: they're both cars, but one is considered to be a luxury brand, while the other is considered to be an average everyday car.

Lock it Up

If you want your computer to look like a great machine, then you might want to consider adding a locking system that keeps the computer attached to the house in some manner. You can use something as simple as a padlock and bike chains to accomplish this. This simple locking mechanism will keep the average thief at bay (although the professional thief with the proper tools will still be able to remove the system).

GPS Tracking

Keeping an eye on where exactly your computer is at all times is essential to keeping your expensive computer safe. At around $200 you can buy a reliable GPS tracking solution that will allow the police to locate where you computer is in the event it gets stolen.

Insurance

Finally, when all else fails, insuring your investment is the best option available. While I don't recommend this for less expensive computers, for the more expensive high end systems, insurance is highly recommended. Even if you report the theft to the police chances are that they're not going to be able to recover your computer. As any car owner can tell you, insurance can help when everything goes wrong.

Do you have a question you need answered? E-mail me! lordkat@gmail.com

Click here to check out How to Build a Gaming Computer for Under $1000.

Be safe,

Jason