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.
[updated] My stolen iPhone is Back!!!
- Thread starter michaelkam
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
dude wait for the police. the phone costs 600 dollars. theyll find out whats going on with it. especially if you invite the DETECTIVE to your house and show him the contacts that have been uploaded to your mobileme. granted it seems silly for police to care about a phone but this phone is very expensive.
show the detectives the information. phone numbers, email accounts,etc...
then allow him to go to the house of these people and do his job.
show the detectives the information. phone numbers, email accounts,etc...
then allow him to go to the house of these people and do his job.
It was meant as a joke, at least I got an LOL out of you.
I figured as much, although you can never be too sure.
[Upgraded]
Hey guys... thank you for all your excellent advices.
I was trying to wait for the detective, but I am not sure when they will contact me since it just a minor crime. The longer I wait, The more chance that the theft will sell my iPhone, which means it will be harder to get back.
So, I called his father. I even talked to the guy who might took my phone. But, unfortunately, the guy pretended he is clean. He said he didn't do it because he was in school. He also said that it might be someone who took his old SIM card and inserted to my iPhone. I know he is lying. Because there is no way to copy contact information from SIM card to iPhone. So, Who would type his parents phone # in iPhone?
So, I called back to his father. I said: it is a chance for your son to clean up. If he can return my cell phone, I will disclose the case. Otherwise, the police will continue do their job. and than I left the police case# to him.
He said he feel strange, because there is no way I can get his number. SO, l am waiting for their response.
BTW, I copied all his contacts on my Mobile Me.
Hey guys... thank you for all your excellent advices.
I was trying to wait for the detective, but I am not sure when they will contact me since it just a minor crime. The longer I wait, The more chance that the theft will sell my iPhone, which means it will be harder to get back.
So, I called his father. I even talked to the guy who might took my phone. But, unfortunately, the guy pretended he is clean. He said he didn't do it because he was in school. He also said that it might be someone who took his old SIM card and inserted to my iPhone. I know he is lying. Because there is no way to copy contact information from SIM card to iPhone. So, Who would type his parents phone # in iPhone?
So, I called back to his father. I said: it is a chance for your son to clean up. If he can return my cell phone, I will disclose the case. Otherwise, the police will continue do their job. and than I left the police case# to him.
He said he feel strange, because there is no way I can get his number. SO, l am waiting for their response.
BTW, I copied all his contacts on my Mobile Me.
definetly wait on the cops, they are trained professionals on how to handle these things. of course they have other things to worry about right now than a phone. but still its best to listen to them.
if they dont call back after a day or two i suggest contacting them back. or hire a private detective.
if they dont call back after a day or two i suggest contacting them back. or hire a private detective.
Problem with iPhones and iPods they really blend in and it is almost impossible to determine at a glance if it yours.
If it was personalized externally, and you knew it was yours, you could basically beat him up and steal it back.
Since the guy actually has to admit to having your stolen item -- they usually don't do anything.
Edit: If you want to get it back, just put this dork at the top of your short list for pranks ... you can start with silly stuff like filling his car with bean bag pellets if he is dumb enough to leave a window or sunroof cracked open far enough. If he has a car with crappy wheels, 4 floor jacks in your trunk and a couple friends is a quick way to always leave his car with all the wheels removed and sitting on the wheels and tires.
If it was personalized externally, and you knew it was yours, you could basically beat him up and steal it back.
Since the guy actually has to admit to having your stolen item -- they usually don't do anything.
Edit: If you want to get it back, just put this dork at the top of your short list for pranks ... you can start with silly stuff like filling his car with bean bag pellets if he is dumb enough to leave a window or sunroof cracked open far enough. If he has a car with crappy wheels, 4 floor jacks in your trunk and a couple friends is a quick way to always leave his car with all the wheels removed and sitting on the wheels and tires.
But would the data on the SIM (if it were transfered to a new phone) update to MobileMe? I doubt it would... Even still, why would someone insert a new SIM into an iPhone without doing a restore first? It makes absolutely no sense - which is why the kid definitely has the stolen phone (I guess he was dumb enough to keep the SIM in, and put his own contacts in - not realizing the thing was syncing to MobileMe). I hope he gets caught not just so the OP gets his phone back, but as a lesson in stupidity.
Your broken English is hard to follow. So if he gives your phone back then you will still tell the police? I'm confused.
I would use a pass code on your iPhone from now on.
i was hopping cops can help me. but it seems that they don't really care or have time on my case
sorry for my broken English
If he gives my phone back. I will close the case without police further involving
It isn't an important matter, think time and money for the department, it is worth spending the time entering the information in the computer ... but unless the idiot shows up in the database a lot it usually won't get high priority.
These days you get a police report, if the guy kicks your cat and steals the iphone -- he with get his ass handed to him in 24 hours.
do you have the receipt? Is the serial number on it? You can go over there with the detective and have the person show the Serial number of the phone to see if its a match...
sorry for your loss.
sorry for your loss.
Honestly, this how I would handle it(I can be a bit of a bruiser and a bit compulsive):
I'd do a reverse number search and get the adresses of parents or GF (preferably GF) and do a bit of old fashioned stakeout with a "paygo" phone in hand. Everytime someone showed up at that house, I'd call the phone privately(*67) and watch to see if that person looked at their phone. If I found the guy, I'd call the cops for backup and let them know what I found and that if they didn't show up soon I would be taking the law into my own hands. The police show up quick when you say that (experience on that one).
They are forced to do their job and assist you. Of course you may not get your phone back right away because it may become evidence (that's only if you press charges) but you get to rest assured that now you phone is in "police protection" and you will get it back eventually.
Of course you could always just beat his ass and take the phone back
I'd do a reverse number search and get the adresses of parents or GF (preferably GF) and do a bit of old fashioned stakeout with a "paygo" phone in hand. Everytime someone showed up at that house, I'd call the phone privately(*67) and watch to see if that person looked at their phone. If I found the guy, I'd call the cops for backup and let them know what I found and that if they didn't show up soon I would be taking the law into my own hands. The police show up quick when you say that (experience on that one).
They are forced to do their job and assist you. Of course you may not get your phone back right away because it may become evidence (that's only if you press charges) but you get to rest assured that now you phone is in "police protection" and you will get it back eventually.
Of course you could always just beat his ass and take the phone back
Yes, I have the SN number with me. The problem is , at this point he might not concede that he took my iphone
Just keep calling everyone on his list and threatening his parents and him that you will lock him up in jail and that you're pressing felony charges.
Try to talk to a few of his contacts and explain them what happened. Maybe someone would be willing to help you out or give you more info about him and the iphone.
Be serious and agreesive, dont let him BS you or blow you off.
Make sure you tell them you know where they live and police has all their information along with tracking info on the whereabouts of the phone. They will eventually get sick of the harrasement and make him give it back.
Try to talk to a few of his contacts and explain them what happened. Maybe someone would be willing to help you out or give you more info about him and the iphone.
Be serious and agreesive, dont let him BS you or blow you off.
Make sure you tell them you know where they live and police has all their information along with tracking info on the whereabouts of the phone. They will eventually get sick of the harrasement and make him give it back.
If he is an idiot, he'd hand over the phone -- if he is smart or has done nothing wrong ... simply asking if he is under arrest, getting a no, and walk away.
Not really. If he were smart he wouldn't have added contacts to a phone with the original SIM in it. Thus we've established he's a moron. If he were less of a moron, he would in fact give back the phone, because (since he's made it so easy for someone to find him) he probably doesn't want to have to deal with the inevitable consequences - be it police related or otherwise (considering it really wouldn't be too hard to track him down by this point - phone in hand or not).