Finding your laptop after a theft without tracking software is an difficult task that has only a minimal chance of succeeding. Having your serial number is an essential part of recovery. Contact the local authorities as soon as you realize it has been missing, and scour eBay and local pawn shops. Even then, you are essentially searching for a needle in a haystack. A better alternative may be to look into preventative tools capable of preventing the theft in the first place, as well as tracking it in the event that it is stolen. There are several tools available. Did you have a tracking device on your laptop?