A guy from my City lost his laptop last year. He had installed Prey (a free Anti-theft software) on his Laptop before it was stolen, and it sent him information about the thief, using which he got the laptop back with the help of the Police :)
Read more about it here --> http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/antitheft-software-traces-lost-laptop/article4320440.ece
You can download Prey for free from this link.