Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Why do people report "Stolen" phone to police?
- Thread starter YungMoola94
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
If you take something that doesn't belong to you, you stole it, you're a thief. Even if someone "lost" their phone, if they go back and you took it, it was stolen (unless someone turned it into their local police station).
Even if you lost your phone because of their own stupidly or absent mindedness, it should be reported for a couple of reason, maybe someone dropped it off to the local police. Maybe someone's home owners insurance will pay for it under a claim with a police report. I am sure there are more reason, but I wanted to point out that if you "find something" that isn't yours and you take it, you stole it.
Along with the insurance claim requirement already mentioned, it is a good idea to report the theft to police so they can enter the device's serial number into the NCIC stolen property index (US only).
This way if the phone turns up in an unrelated criminal investigation elsewhere in the country the police would know the phone is stolen and make an effort to prosecute.
This way if the phone turns up in an unrelated criminal investigation elsewhere in the country the police would know the phone is stolen and make an effort to prosecute.
Why do people report "Stolen" phone to police?
And you know this how?
Reporting a car or a phone stolen is not just for insurance purposes. Most stolen cars are found due to being reported stolen. If the cops don't know it's stolen, they might not stop a vehicle after running a tag.
With phones, the phone serial number will be entered as stolen into NCIC and all phones that are pawned (along with all other items) are required to be reported to local police departments. The serial numbers are then compared to those in NCIC. The pawn shops are also required to get ID from the people that pawn items.
- Merg
And you know this how?
Reporting a car or a phone stolen is not just for insurance purposes. Most stolen cars are found due to being reported stolen. If the cops don't know it's stolen, they might not stop a vehicle after running a tag.
With phones, the phone serial number will be entered as stolen into NCIC and all phones that are pawned (along with all other items) are required to be reported to local police departments. The serial numbers are then compared to those in NCIC. The pawn shops are also required to get ID from the people that pawn items.
- Merg
Why do people report "Stolen" phone to police?
My brother is a police officer in Thames Valley and although your car's details will be passed on to panda's on patrol, they don't purposely go out searching for stolen cars. If your car is found it's often dumped or found by chance using the ANR system traffic police have. I didn't say anything about not reporting a car stolen, of course you do that.
If you report a phone stolen it's rare the police will do anything to help get it back. They certainly won't send officers around pawn shops and I'm glad about that. It's a total waste of police time. If they find it after recovering items in a burglary then fair enough. More valuable items with recorded value like jewellery/watches is very different. Our police force is stretched as it is and the sad truth is petty crime often goes without being heavily investigated, violent muggings where your phone is nicked are different. If you report a burglary here you can expect to be told not to touch anything and an officer will be with you within 5 days. I've heard of that happening more than once in recent months. So yes depending on which country you live in, you can expect varying degrees of help.
My brother is a police officer in Thames Valley and although your car's details will be passed on to panda's on patrol, they don't purposely go out searching for stolen cars. If your car is found it's often dumped or found by chance using the ANR system traffic police have. I didn't say anything about not reporting a car stolen, of course you do that.
If you report a phone stolen it's rare the police will do anything to help get it back. They certainly won't send officers around pawn shops and I'm glad about that. It's a total waste of police time. If they find it after recovering items in a burglary then fair enough. More valuable items with recorded value like jewellery/watches is very different. Our police force is stretched as it is and the sad truth is petty crime often goes without being heavily investigated, violent muggings where your phone is nicked are different. If you report a burglary here you can expect to be told not to touch anything and an officer will be with you within 5 days. I've heard of that happening more than once in recent months. So yes depending on which country you live in, you can expect varying degrees of help.
If your phone was found at a "REAL" crime scene/accident/etc., you surely would have wished you reported it stolen, no?
Why do people report "Stolen" phone to police?
As many have said, even if the police don't have the resources to investigate the theft the item will still get logged on their database as stolen. This data goes to the crime analysts who, if there is a spike of thefts in an area, will get more resources. Also if they catch a perp and he has a phone they can run the serial # and if it's been reported as stolen then that's one more charge they can add to the bunch. That will help when it time for a plea bargain.
As many have said, even if the police don't have the resources to investigate the theft the item will still get logged on their database as stolen. This data goes to the crime analysts who, if there is a spike of thefts in an area, will get more resources. Also if they catch a perp and he has a phone they can run the serial # and if it's been reported as stolen then that's one more charge they can add to the bunch. That will help when it time for a plea bargain.
Because if that phone is found by someone else with the stolen serial number, the original owner can then get it back and press charges on the person who was in possession of the phone.
