Justin Bieber's computer really stolen - report

Frankly, we just don't know what to Beliebe anymore.

Justin Bieber's laptop really was stolen during his Oct. 10 performance in Tacoma, Wash., reports E! News.

The teen pop star first set the Internet on fire Oct. 10 by tweeting that his computer and camera had been stolen. His comment that both contained "a lot of personal footage" led many to hope fear speculate that nude photos or a sex tape would be unleashed upon the Bieber Nation.

A Twitterstorm followed, including a suggestion that the thief had hacked the pop star's social media account and was threatening to release the "footage."

But when his new music video featuring Nicki Minaj, "Beauty and the Beat," dropped hours later, it became clear that it was an elaborate publicity stunt.

Or so it seemed.

Even though the 18-year-old "Baby" singer seemed to admit he'd pulled a prank on his forgiving fans -- tweeting "today i get to be in on it" -- Bieber's tour manager reported the computer theft to the Tacoma Police Department Oct. 11, according to E! News.

What do you think? Did an actual theft set off someone's PR light bulb -- or is the hoax even more elaborate than everyone, um, believed?