iPhone Stolen, sort of...

[mergedown]

Happened to a friend of mine. He was at Wendy's and it fell out of his brand new Speck case. He didn't realize it was gone until about 10 minutes after he left.

After he noticed, he went back to Wendy's with the hope that someone found it and was kind enough to turn it in. Unfortunately, that didn't happen.

He borrowed a friends phone and called his iPhone. First few tries, no answer. After a few more tries, they answered the phone. All they could talk about was how cool it was and demanded a reward to return it.

He made arrangements to pick it up, but they never showed. They continued to harass him with text messages and voicemails. At this point, he called the police.

The police told him that they couldn't do anything because it wasnt officially stolen, it had been found. He then called Apple and they told him they could flag the serial number, but there wasn't much they could do even at that point.

He called ATT, similar response. At this point, he decided to deactivate the phone and register his number to his old phone. This would lock down the iPhone for the thief. Although, they could easily activate it again.

Now, he has accepted the loss and is moving on. If anyone has any other suggestions, I'd love to hear them, he is pretty devistated.

[janey]

I would imagine contacting both Apple and AT&T, both fully knowing all serial and IMEI numbers involved, would be able to do something where the iPhone would be deactivated and unable to be reactivated again...making it effectively useless, even to be sold or used.

[defeated]

i found police's responce strange

[DaveGee]

I would imagine contacting both Apple and AT&T, both fully knowing all serial and IMEI numbers involved, would be able to do something where the iPhone would be deactivated and unable to be reactivated again...making it effectively useless, even to be sold or used.

Well if the phone was 'stolen' with a filed police report then *maybe* they'd be able to do something... but even then I'm not too sure...

Dave

[FreeState]

Call the police back. The phone was stolen - if you find property that is not yours and refuse to return it to the owner after the owner identifies himself that is stealing. Taking something that is not yours, even at Wendy's is stealing.

[The Prise]

i would try and meet up with the guy and say there is a cash reward of 100 bucks. and just be there at a certain time. i would also call the constables office to send out a unmarked car to wait in the parking lot with you and when the guy comes to claim the money thats when his bitch ass gets arrested.

chances are the phone is out of charge. but thats what i would do. or you could go to wendys there has got to be some sort of surveillance ad chances are the guy who found it left right away and was playing with it all the way out the door.

[The Prise]

ping the sim card. act as if its a missing report. they can track you with a sim if im not mistaken.

we are all being watched you do know this.

[dr_lha]

i found police's responce strange
Have you actually ever had to deal with the police when you're a victim of a crime?

I'm surprised they didn't just laugh at him, that's the kind of experience I've had with cops when I've had stuff stolen from me.

[libertyterran]

Seriously, your friend should report to the police that the phone was stolen. Yes, those bastards found it but they refused to return it to your friend. So they basically tried to own something that is not their. That is a stealing offense. Report it with the IMEI of the fone so they can lock it down...

GL,

[gr8tfly]

It wasn't "sorta" stolen. It was stolen. Period.

[glide]

How much help you get from the police with a stolen phone all depends on where you live. If you live in any relatively large city - forget about it.

[Annndy!]

I agree with glide. I hate to say it, but more than likely your friend will never see that phone again. Whoever stole it probably doesn't even have it anymore. They either ditched it or sold it when the battery ran out. Criminals are stupid, but most aren't stupid enough to have a stolen item on them for an extended period of time. The police won't help you with a stolen phone either. I said "bye-bye" to my Sidekick 3 when it was stolen from me (at gunpoint, no less) and used my Equipment Protection Plan to get another. Unfortunately, a quick glance at Apple's iPhone Warranty led me to believe that your friend's stolen phone is definitely not covered.

[aristobrat]

FWIW, some credit cards will cover purchases stolen within the first 90 days.

[mergedown]

Thanks for all of your input. He is working diligently on getting it back with all options, but knowing full well his chances are pretty low.

[Sobe]

just hope he doesn't get an email linking to a live feed of an iPhone in a blender demanding a ransom.

[kalamus]

i would try and meet up with the guy and say there is a cash reward of 100 bucks. and just be there at a certain time. i would also call the constables office to send out a unmarked car to wait in the parking lot with you and when the guy comes to claim the money thats when his bitch ass gets arrested.



Not a chance that a constable or any other law enforcement officer would take part in anything like this. Its a cell phone. Albeit, an expensive and awesome cell phone, but that has no bearing to a peace officer. You would be lucky if the police did anything at all.

[ianbeerent]

Call the police back. The phone was stolen - if you find property that is not yours and refuse to return it to the owner after the owner identifies himself that is steeling. Taking something that is not yours, even at Wendy's is steeling.

despite the spelling errors, this is totally true.

the rightful owner identified himself, and the people wouldn't give it back.That is stealing.

Also, how bout the fact they are stealing your plan? Texting / calling using the minutes / data that you paid for ... that is for sure stealing.

[chatster18]

Well if Apple Flagged the Serial number then they could tell iTunes to not allow it to activate, and AT&T can deactivate the IMEI on their network, making it a $600 paper weight....

[David R]

Just to be safe, he should change the password on his email account(s)

[chaos86]

tell him you'll pay him like $300 ransom at the same wendys "because it has all your important phone numbers on it," but then show up with three of your biggest, meanest friends at a nearby table and just take it from the guy. If he puts up a fight, beat the ____ out of him and call it an attempted robbery and you and your friends were doing it in self defence.

That what I'd do.

[boss1]

The police told him that they couldn't do anything because it wasnt officially stolen, it had been found.

ARE U Serious!? Holy mother of. I would have flipped. and started recording the conversation immediately. That is so horrible.

You should have told the police "btw A brand new police cruiser is going to be reported stolen in about an hour but don't bother looking for it because i found it."

[Chip NoVaMac]

Well if Apple Flagged the Serial number then they could tell iTunes to not allow it to activate, and AT&T can deactivate the IMEI on their network, making it a $600 paper weight....

But corporate greed gets in the way, as well as situations between "friends" that go sourer.

"Phoning home" should be something that Apple and AT&T should tout as a security measure though IMO. It might not get the phone back - but would create a paperweight....

[Stampyhead]

Have you actually ever had to deal with the police when you're a victim of a crime?

I'm surprised they didn't just laugh at him, that's the kind of experience I've had with cops when I've had stuff stolen from me.

Yeah, dude. The police are a complete waste of space. It's good to know our tax dollars are being well spent for these lazy bastards to sit around and not solve crimes.

[iBlue]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU like Mac OS X; en) AppleWebKit/420+ (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.0 Mobile/1A469a Safari/419.3)
tell him you'll pay him like $300 ransom at the same wendys "because it has all your important phone numbers on it," but then show up with three of your biggest, meanest friends at a nearby table and just take it from the guy. If he puts up a fight, beat the ____ out of him and call it an attempted robbery and you and your friends were doing it in self defence.

That what I'd do.

(it's basically what I would do too)

It might not be that bad of an idea. Perhaps (if you can find a willing one) bring a cop with you. It is stolen, make no mistake.

[ecks618]

ARE U Serious!? Holy mother of. I would have flipped. and started recording the conversation immediately. That is so horrible.

You should have told the police "btw A brand new police cruiser is going to be reported stolen in about an hour but don't bother looking for it because i found it."

Yep, thats the police. I had an ex-employee of mine who would harrass me constantly calling me and saying that its a shame Hitler didn't finish killing all of the Jews. This went on for days, and it is extremely inconvenient for me to change my number, but all the police did was make a report and keep it on file and because it was domestic, they would not do anything. I was forced to change my number, no other way.

[p0intblank]

Dude, I highly suggest you call the police back and bitch at them the most you can. The person that has your iPhone is refusing to give it back... that to me is stealing. And they're harassing you? Again, call the police!

I'd be freaking out right now! :eek:

[marksman]

Yeah, dude. The police are a complete waste of space. It's good to know our tax dollars are being well spent for these lazy bastards to sit around and not solve crimes.

I hope you are joking.

The reality is they are very busy with real crimes that have a much more significant impact.

The best you could hope for here is if the police arrested the guy who stole it for someone else and the guy admitted to stealing your iPhone as well they might get it back to you.

They are not going to launch an investigation on this. It would be a monumentally huge waste of resources. It sucks but it is what it is. If they would have assaulted you or used a gun to take your phone, it would be different.

The fact that it got left somewhere and someone else found it, does not put it anywhere on the need to rush out and solve crime radar. And I don't blame them.

Dude, I highly suggest you call the police back and bitch at them the most you can. The person that has your iPhone is refusing to give it back... that to me is stealing. And they're harassing you? Again, call the police!

I'd be freaking out right now! :eek:

Stop telling him to waste the police's time. They would have to spend time just to determine if a crime took place to begin with.. Simply not worth it.

[boss1]

....
The reality is they are very busy with real crimes that have a much more significant impact....

Stop telling him to waste the police's time. They would have to spend time just to determine if a crime took place to begin with.. Simply not worth it.

You obviously don't work with or around real law enforcement. OR you just simply took all the principles taught at the academy and city,state,and federal standards of conduct and just chucked it out the window in a single post.

[calculus]

I can see how this is upsetting. However I am not sure that the phone would be regarded as being stolen. Is there anyone out there who has some legal knowledge in this area?

[glide]

You obviously don't work with or around real law enforcement. OR you just simply took all the principles taught at the academy and city,state,and federal standards of conduct and just chucked it out the window in a single post.

You must have gone to the J.V. academy in the suburbs. :rolleyes:

Sorry to say OP; but the police are NOT going to help track down your stolen phone or the people who did it. They have bigger fish to fry, and unfortunately for you, that's the way it works.

[vga4life]

I can see how this is upsetting. However I am not sure that the phone would be regarded as being stolen. Is there anyone out there who has some legal knowledge in this area?

The situation described is probably trespass to chattels - a civil tort. The finder knew the rightful owner and manifest intent to keep the found item against the express wishes of the owner. ("Finders, keepers" is almost never true unless the "loser" has manifest some intent to abandon their property, like putting it out on the curb with a sign that says "take me!")

Even in the sleepiest one-horse town, you'll never get the police interested in your missing cel phone. You might, might get some traction if you were robbed and shot, but even then the focus of the police would be prosecuting the assault, not the robbery. Sucks, but them's the breaks. In the city where I live, the local "justice" system can't even keep serial car thieves off the streets for longer than a day on average.

[Sobe]

there are always exceptions, obviously, but I wouldn't expect them to do anything more than take a report for insurance purposes.

[atszyman]

You might want to hire a lawyer for this but here's probably the path I'd take.

Call them up offer a substantial reward and pay them by check (you now have their name). Once they deposit/cash the check, if you're lucky they'll be dumb enough to use their own bank and you'll now be able to track them down and take them to court to get your reward money back, and it will run them court costs as well. Be sure to have a few witnesses as well... If you can video/audio record the transaction even better.

You might even write the check and put it in an envelope with a letter that says,

"I got your name by writing out this check, the minute you deposit or cash it, my lawyer and I will see you in court for the theft of the phone and to recover this ransom money. I have witnesses and receipts (audio/video) to prove the phone is mine, so you'll probably end up paying court costs as well as refunding this check. My advice to you is to shred this check and you'll never hear from me again.

Thanks for your business."

[Stampyhead]

I hope you are joking.

The reality is they are very busy with real crimes that have a much more significant impact.



Nope, not at all joking. Do these "real crimes" include driving 2 mph over the speed limit? Because in most places I've lived I have seen an inordinate number of police officers out on the streets with their radar guns doing their part to fill the coffers of the local government. It makes me wonder where the priorities of our law enforcement lie. Thieves can go on thieving because the police can't be bothered to do anything about it. But they better make sure they don't drive more than 55...

[Sobe]

What would you have them do, look into the future a la Minority Report and arrest people before something is stolen?

How exactly would you as a hypothetical police commish reduce the rate of property theft?

And oh yeah, budgets are limited, what would you cut...and would you enjoy attending the funeral of the kid who got run over by a speeding car the day after you pulled all the radar units off the streets...

Police work is all about trade offs. I'll take slower traffic over people losing iphones and then having them not returned.

[vga4life]

Nope, not at all joking. Do these "real crimes" include driving 2 mph over the speed limit? Because in most places I've lived I have seen an inordinate number of police officers out on the streets with their radar guns doing their part to fill the coffers of the local government. It makes me wonder where the priorities of our law enforcement lie. Thieves can go on thieving because the police can't be bothered to do anything about it. But they better make sure they don't drive more than 55...

You needn't wonder about it. You're right. Revenue enhancement activities like parking and moving violations are a higher priority than recovery of stolen property.

The actual priorities of local law enforcement shake out something like this in most places:


Homicide
Sex crimes other than domestic abuse of adults
Bank robbery
Revenue enhancement (i.e. traffic tickets)
Felony assault other than domestic abuse
Domestic abuse
Other property crime (vandalism, burglary, car theft)


It's probably not a coincidence that priority is inversely proportional to the number of incidents of each type reported (with the exception of ticketed infractions). I realize it's cynical to call traffic enforcement "revenue enhancement" because enforcement of traffic and parking regulations has value to society beyond the way they subsidize other municipal budget items - but it's also silly to dismiss that revenue as irrelevant to the relative priority placed on those activities.

[Rodimus Prime]

You might want to hire a lawyer for this but here's probably the path I'd take.

Call them up offer a substantial reward and pay them by check (you now have their name). Once they deposit/cash the check, if you're lucky they'll be dumb enough to use their own bank and you'll now be able to track them down and take them to court to get your reward money back, and it will run them court costs as well. Be sure to have a few witnesses as well... If you can video/audio record the transaction even better.

You might even write the check and put it in an envelope with a letter that says,

"I got your name by writing out this check, the minute you deposit or cash it, my lawyer and I will see you in court for the theft of the phone and to recover this ransom money. I have witnesses and receipts (audio/video) to prove the phone is mine, so you'll probably end up paying court costs as well as refunding this check. My advice to you is to shred this check and you'll never hear from me again.

Thanks for your business."


y do that. just write them a check give it to them and then turn around and call your bank canceling the check. Yeah getting the phone back would cost you an entire 25 bucks, some time and 1 check and it would be a heck of a lot cheaper than going the lawyer route.

[glide]

I don't think thieves take checks.

[princealfie]

You needn't wonder about it. You're right. Revenue enhancement activities like parking and moving violations are a higher priority than recovery of stolen property.

The actual priorities of local law enforcement shake out something like this in most places:


Homicide
Sex crimes other than domestic abuse of adults
Bank robbery
Revenue enhancement (i.e. traffic tickets)
Felony assault other than domestic abuse
Domestic abuse
Other property crime (vandalism, burglary, car theft)


It's probably not a coincidence that priority is inversely proportional to the number of incidents of each type reported (with the exception of ticketed infractions). I realize it's cynical to call traffic enforcement "revenue enhancement" because enforcement of traffic and parking regulations has value to society beyond the way they subsidize other municipal budget items - but it's also silly to dismiss that revenue as irrelevant to the relative priority placed on those activities.

Normally at this point, I would cue to the infamous N.W.A. song for this one. Hmm... I think that they are still right after all these years.

[atszyman]

y do that. just write them a check give it to them and then turn around and call your bank canceling the check. Yeah getting the phone back would cost you an entire 25 bucks, some time and 1 check and it would be a heck of a lot cheaper than going the lawyer route.

You only need the lawyer if they cash/deposit the check, and you can really teach them a lesson and sue for your legal fees as well. Not only will they get no money for returning the phone, they'll incur a fairly nasty expense for their stupid and childish actions....

Most likely they'd just shred the check and you'd be done with it...

I don't think thieves take checks.

I don't think we're dealing with criminal masterminds here....

[mashoutposse]

Offer them $100-200 less than the phone is worth to get them interested and to make the offer seem realistic, then take it from them. Or just pay them the reward money legitimately and be more careful next time -- your friend will still save money over buying a brand new one.

[Rodimus Prime]

You only need the lawyer if they cash/deposit the check, and you can really teach them a lesson and sue for your legal fees as well. Not only will they get no money for returning the phone, they'll incur a fairly nasty expense for their stupid and childish actions....

Most likely they'd just shred the check and you'd be done with it...



I don't think we're dealing with criminal masterminds here....

more than likely they would cash it. But my point stands it is just not worth the trouble to do that and even then you do not always stand a chance of winning. I would say just give them a check and then cancel it. They will try to cash it only to have it returned to them.

[kdill]

I was in a similar situation except I was at a party friday night. I set my iphone down and the next thing I knew it was gone. I deactivated it saturday morning and talked to ATT. They ended up crediting my phone account with 700 dollars and I went and bought another one that morning.

[runplaysleeprun]

I was in a similar situation except I was at a party friday night. I set my iphone down and the next thing I knew it was gone. I deactivated it saturday morning and talked to ATT. They ended up crediting my phone account with 700 dollars and I went and bought another one that morning.

they credited your account $700?? Why would they do that? Sympathy?

[iphoneluver]

Tell your friend to check craigslist for someone selling an inactive iphone with a "lost" adapter.

[kdill]

I'm not sure what compelled them to do it. But the rep i talked to put me on hold for 5 minutes and said she was going to talk to an apple rep. She came back and said she was crediting my account with 700 dollars and to go to the AT&T store and buy another phone. I now have two sets of the headphones and chargers which are not cheap.

[Sobe]

I'm not sure what compelled them to do it. But the rep i talked to put me on hold for 5 minutes and said she was going to talk to an apple rep. She came back and said she was crediting my account with 700 dollars and to go to the AT&T store and buy another phone. I now have two sets of the headphones and chargers which are not cheap.

impressive service.

[lilnyc]

The fact that they taunted him sucks and they deserve the worst of karma. What is wrong with humanity? :mad:

Thanks for sharing the info though, so we'll know what would happen via Apple and AT&T.

This reminds me of Tumi backpacks. They have ID numbers, but it's not like most people would find a Tumi and take the time to report it.

Unfortunately, a quick glance at Apple's iPhone Warranty led me to believe that your friend's stolen phone is definitely not covered.

Sorry about your Sidekick. Criminals suck. i have never been robbed at gunpoint (New Yorker for 12 years and going), but I was paid fake cash for a PSP, so I felt robbed in a way.

Allstate covers my iPhone, and others have stated that their's is also covered under their policies.

Yep, thats the police. I had an ex-employee of mine who would harrass me constantly calling me and saying that its a shame Hitler didn't finish killing all of the Jews. This went on for days, and it is extremely inconvenient for me to change my number, but all the police did was make a report and keep it on file and because it was domestic, they would not do anything. I was forced to change my number, no other way.

That makes me sick to my stomach. Some people truly suck :mad:

[Andrmgic]

Giving a criminal a check is an invitation for them to come rob your house or apartment.

If you could afford an iPhone, just think of the awesome stuff that must be at the address that is printed in the top left corner of each of your checks. :)

[atszyman]

Giving a criminal a check is an invitation for them to come rob your house or apartment.

If you could afford an iPhone, just think of the awesome stuff that must be at the address that is printed in the top left corner of each of your checks. :)

I doubt we're dealing with career criminals here, probably a group of kids who found a cool toy they don't want to give up and want to try and milk the reward. I doubt they'd be dumb enough to try and rob anyone's house even if they knew it was unlocked with no one home.

Were any threats of police action made by your friend when he spoke to them? Does he have any other method of getting in contact with them?

If they wanted to be criminals they could have shown up at the scheduled meeting and robbed your friend at gunpoint, if he can afford an iPhone imagine the cool stuff that must be in his wallet...

[lilnyc]

To anyone who thinks this is not important enough for the police, I have watched stings on COPS (the FOX network) where the authorities staged thefts.

It upset me actually that they would set up goods in low income/high crime areas, knowing very well that some people in those areas would go after the valuables. But post 9/11 and given the recent UK threats, true I doubt that operation iPhone would be a high priority, but I would not underestimate it.

Me? I've lost 2 iPods, and so what? I called the cops only when I was given counterfeit money for an item. Because it was via the Internet (Craigslist), the police took a greater interest suspecting it may be a ring.

[sjpetry]

Sorry to hear about that. I hope you didn't wait overnight to get one of the fist phones. I am assuming that since you canceled the service you have no way in contacting him. Is this correct? Does your homeowner insurance cover this?

BTW, if all of us donated a dollar we might be able to raise a fund for a new iPhone. Just a thought.

Good luck.

[mergedown]

Sorry to hear about that. I hope you didn't wait overnight to get one of the fist phones. I am assuming that since you canceled the service you have no way in contacting him. Is this correct? Does your homeowner insurance cover this?

BTW, if all of us donated a dollar we might be able to raise a fund for a new iPhone. Just a thought.

Good luck.

It's funny you mentioned that, I had considered doing that for him. He is truly devastated, as you can all relate!

He contacted a different Officer who has taken it a little more seriously than his first conversation. The Officer has attempted to contact a couple of the numbers that were called from the phone after the theft. He is also looking into security camera footage from a business across the street that points into the Wendy's parking lot. He thinks it fell out of his Speck holder outside.

He has been reading this thread and appreciates everyones responses and sympathy. I'm trying to get him to post.