Found an iPhone on the street

[bmac4]

Might be in your recently called log. If you used cell phone and deleted your log, you can get it from your carrier.

If you still have the number you should leave message telling person that school security has it.

Usually school security don't have the resources to make sure each device is returned. The lost devices just sit in a box, and eventually get donated.

That is true. Yeah I have not deleted my call log. May give it a try, but if the owner is not smart enough to put a phone number other than their own for the lost message. Not sure if they would be smart enough to know how to check voice messages remotely.

 

[regkilla]

Why didn't u call the number?

My wife has gotten real lucky. In the past 12-15 months. She's
1. Dropped it on floor of Disney Fantasy cruise ship before we dis embarked
2. Left it on bench at Turks and Caicos airport
3. iPhone fell out of car at the local zoo

Each time I left message on screen to call my cell and each time someone has called me to pick it up.

Worst wife ever.

 

[Snafubar]

So I found an iPhone 5 in the street this morning by my car. It was in an Otterbox case, and was in pretty good shape other then some dust on it. I turned it on, and got the message to call the number on the screen the phone was lost. I called the number, and it rang the phone (which did me or the owner no good). I contacted Apple to make sure I did everything I was suppose to. They told me to call the Police.

I work on a University campus, so I called the University Police. They got my name and phone number down, and just a minute ago picked the phone up. The policeman ask me some questions, and at the end ask for my number. He said he hope he would find the owner by this afternoon, but if not he may have to file a report and call me to answer a few more questions. I was just seeing why they would need to file a report? The phone was lost not stole, and is now in the police's possession. What would they file a report of? Oh and the phone is using iOS 7, so hopefully they can just track it and fine it.

The process is similar to where I work: If something is identifiable on the item, such as a name, we check our visitor log to see if that person might still be here. If so, we return the item to them immediately and no report is necessary.

If we cannot locate the owner, we then log it into lost and found, write a report, and wait to see if the owner comes back looking for it.

Since it is a university campus, my guess is they have a database with student/faculty contact information that they could potentially query the phone number and thus get a name and more. (Assuming the person kept their contact information up to date).

 

[lelisa13p]

OP, I'm in Atlanta, too, and if you found that phone during or after the big snow mess this week, the owner may have lost more than just a phone. Some people don't even remember where they left their cars when they abandoned them.

 

[jav6454]

Might be in your recently called log. If you used cell phone and deleted your log, you can get it from your carrier.

If you still have the number you should leave message telling person that school security has it.

Usually school security don't have the resources to make sure each device is returned. The lost devices just sit in a box, and eventually get donated.

This. Call again and leave your information in the voicemail.

 

[C DM]

That is true. Yeah I have not deleted my call log. May give it a try, but if the owner is not smart enough to put a phone number other than their own for the lost message. Not sure if they would be smart enough to know how to check voice messages remotely.

Or perhaps the number is something like a Google Voice number that can forward calls to multiple phones (including the cell phone) and the owner can still get calls on another phone from that number or at least check voicemail and/or even texts online or through other means. Or even if it's a regular number they might have a away to check voicemail and maybe even set up call forwarding to another phone, assuming they have access to one and perhaps haven't gotten around to doing it just yet when you tried calling originally.

 

[nox5]

Take sim out and see what carrier is it ,then take it to the carrier's store

 

[C DM]

Take sim out and see what carrier is it ,then take it to the carrier's store

You'd usually be able to tell that just by looking at the carrier name in the status bar on top left.

That said, the OP doesn't have the phone anymore.

 

[bmac4]

OP, I'm in Atlanta, too, and if you found that phone during or after the big snow mess this week, the owner may have lost more than just a phone. Some people don't even remember where they left their cars when they abandoned them.

Yeah no kidding. It has been crazy around here the last couple of days. I may try and give the phone a call tomorrow, and leave a message. I did send a text message to the number today, so maybe if they can check their stuff remotely they can see it.

 

[easy-peasy]

So I found an iPhone 5 in the street this morning by my car.

The 2 times I've found an iPhone I simply wait for the owner to call it and have them come pick it up.

 

[J&JPolangin]

...its amazing the amount of phones I find in the restaurant and bar I manage...the avg to get them returned is ~3 days between the owner and myself trying to get in touch with them on "locked" devices (using last called options) if the phone has it...

 

[KevinMac]

Yeah I am starting to think doing the right thing sometimes is more trouble than it's worth. I know I would pretty upset if I lost my iphone, but man it is a lot of trouble to help out.

You did the right thing. We need more people like you in the world.

 

[I7guy]

The 2 times I've found an iPhone I simply wait for the owner to call it and have them come pick it up.

I would never call. A found iPhone would go to the police.

As the lost iPhone owner and assuming phone is on I would locate the phone and call the police or if the phone is off setup a remote wipe and move on.

Maybe in a small college town it's different than a large city, but I don't hold on to lost or stolen property.

 

[bmac4]

You did the right thing. We need more people like you in the world.

Thanks. I would do it again, but I honestly did not know how much trouble it was going to be. I remember back 10 years ago when everyone had a flip phone. If someone lost one of those things. You just looked it the address book, or recent calls and called someone. Usually in about an hour the owner had their phone back. I know Apple is securing iPhones because or theft, and I like that. It can just be frustrating trying to help the owner out now.

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I would never call. A found iPhone would go to the police.



As the lost iPhone owner and assuming phone is on I would locate the phone and call the police or if the phone is off setup a remote wipe and move on.



Maybe in a small college town it's different than a large city, but I don't hold on to lost or stolen property.

I work at a large college campus. We have about 30,000 students. I was not about to keep the phone, and have anyone assuming I stole the thing. Once I saw it was going to be very difficult, or impossible for me to locate the owner. I decided I better let the police handle if.

 

[DollaTwentyFive]

The 2 times I've found an iPhone I simply wait for the owner to call it and have them come pick it up.

Yes. At some point you would think the owner would call their own number to see if anyone has located the device.

 

[I7guy]

Yes. At some point you would think the owner would call their own number to see if anyone has located the device.

I wouldn't call, I would use FMI and notify the police...if the phone was in fact turned on. I would be concerned about meeting an individual that could result in a setup...again maybe not in a small college town.

 

[nox5]

I wouldn't call, I would use FMI and notify the police...if the phone was in fact turned on. I would be concerned about meeting an individual that could result in a setup...again maybe not in a small college town.

People like you create more problems than need to be. Calling and asking to drop it of at corporate store or security desk or police station would be a smart thing to do.

 

[I7guy]

People like you create more problems than need to be. Calling and asking to drop it of at corporate store or security desk or police station would be a smart thing to do.

Sorry people like you don't understand, as it is a matter of personal safety and security. You find a phone, turn it into the police or nearest lost and found at the earliest convenience. Don't hold on to it.

If you are the owner, use FMI and call the police with the location.

 

[Consultant]

Yeah no kidding. It has been crazy around here the last couple of days. I may try and give the phone a call tomorrow, and leave a message. I did send a text message to the number today, so maybe if they can check their stuff remotely they can see it.

They CANNOT see text messages remotely, unless it's iMessage AND they have another Apple device.

They can only check voicemail remotely.

Edit to add: It seems that the texting generation don't use voice mail. FYI: most carriers will let you call your own number, input your voice mail pin and hear your voice mail. There's no equivalent with text messages.

 

[ftaok]

Use Siri

I guess the OP doesn't have the phone anymore, but here's one thing he could have done to find the owner ... after calling the number on the lock screen.

Activate Siri from the lock screen. Ask Siri, "Who Am I?" If the owner allows Siri to be activated from the lock screen and he has tagged himself in his contacts, Siri will show you the owner's contact card.

He may have his other information, like e-mail, home phone, work phone, etc.

NOTE - For personal safety, I suggest setting up a second contact that you set as "me", with minimal information. Name, email, work phone.

 

[I7guy]

I have a bit of confidential info on my phone. Lock screen and Siri are disabled on my home screen. No notifications go to my home screen. Strong password locks in a minute.

Other than a thief ripping the phone from my hand while I'm using it, if it us locked the information is safe.

Which is why if my phone is separated from me I'll use FMI, call verizon to report it lost and use the insurance to get a new phone.

 

[PNutts]

Yeah no kidding. It has been crazy around here the last couple of days. I may try and give the phone a call tomorrow, and leave a message. I did send a text message to the number today, so maybe if they can check their stuff remotely they can see it.

Nah, let it go. You've done your good deed.

People like you create more problems than need to be. Calling and asking to drop it of at corporate store or security desk or police station would be a smart thing to do.

So... I have to call and ask to get my phone back? And how soon will they be able to do that. Will the phone be with them when you call? When you pick up a lost item you accepted the responsibility to facilitate the return as quickly as possible and the best thing to do is turn it in where you are. Or call/take it to the police. Not take it home to who-knows-where and be inconvenient for the owner and you to make a special trip. What if the owner is on their way to the airport or has an early flight?

It looks something like: "I lost my phone at the bar and realized it at the bus stop. I want back to the bar and nobody found it so I went home without a phone and freaked out and started cancelling my service, changing passwords, worrying about my privacy... Or maybe someone stole it so I call the police at the bar. Or I call my phone from the bar and it's on it's way to the sticks."

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

Go into recent calls, and see who has been getting most activity, and call that person.

 

[C DM]

They CANNOT see text messages remotely, unless it's iMessage AND they have another Apple device.

They can only check voicemail remotely.

Edit to add: It seems that the texting generation don't use voice mail. FYI: most carriers will let you call your own number, input your voice mail pin and hear your voice mail. There's no equivalent with text messages.

They might be able to if it's a Google Voice number for example, or iMessage as you mentioned.

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Go into recent calls, and see who has been getting most activity, and call that person.

Are people even reading and/or completely missing that the OP doesn't have the phone anymore?

 

[Snafubar]

I wouldn't call the police to retrieve my lost iPhone unless I knew it was located in a dangerous area. If it were stolen, that would be different.