Why would you lose an iPhone and not bother to find it?

[80stg1]

Seriously. It boggles the mind.

Last Friday I found an iPhone 6 on the side of the road during my morning run. I was surprised it worked since it had rained the evening before. At any rate (the iPhone was locked, naturally) there was a message (text) on the lockscreen that had a phone number. I figured that the person on the other end would know the owner and I would be able to get the phone back in the owner's hands by the end of the day. Or so I thought.

Oddly, the person on the other end of the phone DIDN'T know who owned the phone...which left me scratching my head. Even describing the phone didn't work. I was a bit puzzled...why text someone if you don't know them? At any rate, I took the phone to work and ran through the helpful hints I found on the internet to locate the owner. The 'who does this phone belong to' command didn't work. Neither did looking up the emergency contacts, mom, dad etc. Eventually I did find a small list of contacts but they either had numbers that were disconnected or that belonged to other people.

So then I tried the next obvious solution: wait for a call. I thought the owner (or someone related) would call the phone but that would be it. Again...no. I received two texts from various people but as there was no way to contact them I was out of luck. I don't own an iPhone (personally, I own an iPad mini) but if I did I would be calling to see if someone would answer. That Monday the phone service was disconnected. I can understand not knowing your phone number but if you're at that point where you're about to turn off the phone wouldn't it make since to CALL the phone one last time? Or have the phone rep do it?

It was fairly obvious by Monday that the 'find my iphone' feature wasn't used(or they never had it on). I have an ad in the paper in the lost and found section but still...why give it up so easily? I mean, I guess the owner had some kind of insurance on it to just give it up but still...an iPhone is an iPhone. It was just weird.

Moral of the story: if you don't have 'find my iphone' enabled (and I guess most do) then it might be a good idea to turn it on.

Peace.

 

[44267547]

Strange. What did you end up doing with the iPhone? My opinion, What you should have done from the start of finding the iPhone, was turn it into your local law-enforcement agency for lost property or contact the carrier if possible. The owner would at least have the common sense to check with the local police department to see if they had an iPhone turned into them versus you keep something for days after you found it. This whole situation didn't really benefit the iPhone owner.

 

[burgman]

I find this whole story to be a bit odd. What did you end up doing with the iPhone? My opinion, What you should have done from the start of finding the iPhone, was turn it into your local law-enforcement agency for lost property. The owner would at least have the common sense to check with the local police department to see if they had an iPhone turned into them versus you keep something for days after you found it. This whole situation didn't really benefit the iPhone owner.

Next question how do I bypass iCloud lock

 

[bufffilm]

Are there iPhone users out there who have not turned on findmyiphone...probably. But what does that have to do with this iPhone?

Why wonder about any of what you typed about?

The owner probably has moved on and gotten a replacement.

 

[80stg1]

Strange. What did you end up doing with the iPhone? My opinion, What you should have done from the start of finding the iPhone, was turn it into your local law-enforcement agency for lost property. The owner would at least have the common sense to check with the local police department to see if they had an iPhone turned into them versus you keep something for days after you found it. This whole situation didn't really benefit the iPhone owner.

I still have it (this happened a few days ago). If the owner didn't have the common sense to call their phone (or, more accurately, have someone else call their phone - I would have done that) then what makes you think they would go to the police station? Not being argumentative but just stating a fact. If I haven't heard anything by the end of the week I will probably take it to our local station but being in a rural area the chances of them tracking the owner down are small.
[doublepost=1498683878][/doublepost]

Are there iPhone users out there who have not turned on findmyiphone...probably.

Why wonder about any of what you typed about?

The owner probably has moved on and gotten a replacement.

Just seems like a waste. I mean, sure, the owner could have moved on but they didn't have to. Guess it's pointless to wonder why people do anything...

 

[44267547]

I still have it (this happened a few days ago). If the owner didn't have the common sense to call their phone (or, more accurately, have someone else call their phone - I would have done that) then what makes you think they would go to the police station? Not being argumentative but just stating a fact. If I haven't heard anything by the end of the week I will probably take it to our local station but being in a rural area the chances of them tracking the owner down are small.

Common sense should be telling you to turn the lost phone in to your Police Department or locate the carrier if possible . You don't have a reason to keep the iPhone in your possession, as it doesn't belong to you. You should have turned it in immediately when you first found it to your local police department. When somebody turns in lost property, people tend to contact local police departments to see if anything is been turned into them. The most common items that are turned into the Police are wallets, keys and cell phones.

Granted, iPhones are lost and stolen everyday. But there are appropriate measures you could have taken here other than just keeping it.

Ultimately it's not benefiting anyone from retaining the iPhone in your possession, when seemingly you seem to know that it doesn't belong to you.

 

[80stg1]

Common sense should be telling you to turn the lost phone in to your Police Department. You don't have a reason to keep the iPhone in your possession, as it doesn't belong to you. You should have turned it in immediately when you first found it to your local police department. When somebody turns in lost property, members of a community tend to contact local police departments to see if anything is been turned into them. The most common items that are turned into the Police are wallets, keys and cell phones.

And, you're not benefiting anyone from retaining the iPhone in your possession, when seemingly you seem to know that it doesn't belong to you.

 

[canuckRus]

Seriously. It boggles the mind.

Last Friday I found an iPhone 6 on the side of the road during my morning run. I was surprised it worked since it had rained the evening before. At any rate (the iPhone was locked, naturally) there was a message (text) on the lockscreen that had a phone number. I figured that the person on the other end would know the owner and I would be able to get the phone back in the owner's hands by the end of the day. Or so I thought.

Oddly, the person on the other end of the phone DIDN'T know who owned the phone...

Perhaps a burner?

 

[Newtons Apple]

I have talked to the police and they are not really interested in getting another lost phone. They recommended turning it into Apple if an Apple phone or the carrier in the area if that could be determined. The phone could have been stolen and the people decided to toss it out the window, who knows.

I know if I lost mine, it would be replaced the next day and getting it back would be low on my priority list of things to do. Thousands of cell phones are lost and stolen each and everyday.

 

[canuckRus]

Dealer burn phone perhaps?

 

[80stg1]

Actually, just for your information, I will be turning it into the police department....but at least I tried to find the owner

Common sense should be telling you to turn the lost phone in to your Police Department. You don't have a reason to keep the iPhone in your possession, as it doesn't belong to you. You should have turned it in immediately when you first found it to your local police department. When somebody turns in lost property, people tend to contact local police departments to see if anything is been turned into them. The most common items that are turned into the Police are wallets, keys and cell phones.

And, you're not benefiting anyone from retaining the iPhone in your possession, when seemingly you seem to know that it doesn't belong to you.

I mean no offense but not everyone thinks as you do. And please, do tone down the sarcasm. As I stated, I will be turning it into my local department. Obviously, it doesn't belong to me...thank you for the observation. At least I can say I tried to find the owner. Furthermore, I merely made a post detailing a lost iPhone.

I've had iPods/iPads & iPhones for years but I rarely, if ever, post anything here if I have a problem since I tend to look for a solution rather than posting questions. So, I'll stop here.

Do have a nice day!

 

[44267547]

I mean no offense but not everyone thinks as you do. And please, do tone down the sarcasm. As I stated, I will be turning it into my local department. Obviously, it doesn't belong to me...thank you for the observation. At least I can say I tried to find the owner. Furthermore, I merely made a post detailing a lost iPhone.

I've had iPods/iPads & iPhones for years but I rarely, if ever, post anything here if I have a problem since I tend to look for a solution rather than posting questions. So, I'll stop here.

Do have a nice day!

You are correct, not everybody thinks like everybody else does, which is why I simply suggested how I would handle the situation, which uses common sense in situations like these, either contacting the carrier or turning it in for lost property. And There wasn't any sarcasm intended in my post. I'm simply implying what you should have done from the beginning, which seemingly you posted after the fact turning The iPhone into your local police department. Regardless, retaining the iPhone in your possession for days after you found it, did not benefit the owner, which they likely already purchased a new iPhone this late after losing it.

 

[80stg1]

Dealer burn phone perhaps?

It was on the side of the road in a rural area. I have no idea who the carrier is (we have three in this area alone) and I can pretty much guarantee the police department in my area would just put it in a bin and it would never be heard from again. Plus, the owner either lives in the next town over (some 30 minutes away) or in another town even further out. So who knows?
[doublepost=1498686948][/doublepost]

You are correct, not everybody thinks like everybody else does, which is why I simply suggested how I would handle the situation, which uses common sense in situations like these, either contacting the carrier or turning it in for lost property. And There wasn't any sarcasm intended in my post. I'm simply implying what you should have done from the beginning, which seemingly you posted after the fact turning The iPhone into your local police department. Regardless, retaining the iPhone in your possession for days after you found it, did not benefit the owner, which they likely already purchased a new iPhone this late after losing it. Again, common sense.

Final points, then I'll stop: turn it in to which carrier? We have at least three here and it went between all of them on the phone (I guess it was unlocked?) Turn it into Apple? The nearest store is nearly two hundred miles away. Turn it into the police? Perhaps I should have but then again I figured that finding the owner was the better shot. Would the local PD have done that? Maybe/maybe not (with ours, given experience, probably the latter). Then again, if it were my phone (which it isn't) then common sense would have me calling it...and I'd still be trying to find it instead of spending hundreds of dollars on a new phone. That's wasteful.

Even so, given the same situation, I'd still try again. However, if it makes you feel any better, I will turn in the phone...for all the good it will do.

Peace/

 

[Shirasaki]

I know this is different but when people lose their phone in big cities, considering the potential cost of finding it, they often choose to just buy a new one, and restore their data from backup. There is little hope to find lost phone back for many people.

 

[Nermal]

turn it in to which carrier? We have at least three here and it went between all of them on the phone

There should be a name on the SIM. Although if it's flipping between them then it sounds like it's roaming and probably belongs to a foreigner.

 

[AlphaHumanus]

OP did everything that could be done to return it to the rightful owner EXCEPT check for the carrier and take it there. And I wouldn’t have known how to do that without this thread.

The first thing most people do when they lose their phone is have someone call it. Hands down. I worked a register for 12 years, and EVERY abandoned cell phone rang that same night it was turned in. Also, since I worked in a liquor store, I can also assure you that not only do the police not want this lost phone, they won’t be looking for it’s owner. AT ALL.

Foreigner, or burner.

 

[nox5]

Take SIM card out. Locate name of the provider on the SIM card. Call provider. Provider can find the owner by a number printed on the SIM card. Also when SIM card was active you could put it in different phone and call 611.

 

[democracyrules]

Are there iPhone users out there who have not turned on findmyiphone...probably. But what does that have to do with this iPhone?

Why wonder about any of what you typed about?

The owner probably has moved on and gotten a replacement.

Totally agree with the above comment.

 

[ABC5S]

Common sense should be telling you to turn the lost phone in to your Police Department or locate the carrier if possible . You don't have a reason to keep the iPhone in your possession, as it doesn't belong to you. You should have turned it in immediately when you first found it to your local police department. When somebody turns in lost property, people tend to contact local police departments to see if anything is been turned into them. The most common items that are turned into the Police are wallets, keys and cell phones.

Granted, iPhones are lost and stolen everyday. But there are appropriate measures you could have taken here other than just keeping it.

Ultimately it's not benefiting anyone from retaining the iPhone in your possession, when seemingly you seem to know that it doesn't belong to you.

Not only that, what if the owner filed a police report lost or stolen phone? The longer you keep it the Police may think that you had stolen it. Food for thought

 

[noobinator]

The owner lost it, filed an insurance claim, and has a new phone already most likely. New phone beats their old, possibly beat up phone. They've moved on.

 

[nostresshere]

You would think turning it in would be a good course of action. Probably not. If you are a good person, you will spend way more time trying to get it to the owner. I have found and located the owners of a few phones. Try to make a few calls to previously dialed numbers usually works - unless the phone is locked. Mine is locked and this does worry me.

I totally respect our police departments, but spending time dealing with a cellphone is not on their radar. They are not in the lost and found business.

Last time I lost my phone in a hotel, I sent a text to it and tried calling it. Hotel security really did not want to be bothered. Tried "find my iphone" and looked all over for it. Turns out it was not on the ground floor as we thought, but on the 25th floor. Under the bed which muted the sounds.

 

[80stg1]

You would think turning it in would be a good course of action. Probably not. If you are a good person, you will spend way more time trying to get it to the owner. I have found and located the owners of a few phones. Try to make a few calls to previously dialed numbers usually works - unless the phone is locked. Mine is locked and this does worry me.

I totally respect our police departments, but spending time dealing with a cellphone is not on their radar. They are not in the lost and found business.

Last time I lost my phone in a hotel, I sent a text to it and tried calling it. Hotel security really did not want to be bothered. Tried "find my iphone" and looked all over for it. Turns out it was not on the ground floor as we thought, but on the 25th floor. Under the bed which muted the sounds.

At least you tracked it down! Nice recover...

I know others on here have said 'turn it in' but that's like throwing it into a black hole. Don't get me wrong; I like our PD but tracking down owners? Or owners going there? Don't see it happening. I've already said that the owner, wherever they are, is probably not a local person given the picture on the lock screen, weather app etc. it's a nice phone with no damage but if they moved on then so be it.

Even so, calling in on the SIM card is a good idea! I rarely deal with the cards so it didn't occur to me. Thanks, nox5, for the helpful comment! I'll give it a shot and see if I can get the phone back to where it belongs.

 

[HallStevenson]

I can't believe no one has said it yet:

It's an iPhone 6 !! You know how outdated, useless, slow, and obsolete that antique is ? Who would want it back ?
[doublepost=1498761559][/doublepost]

turn it in to which carrier?

There should be a name on the SIM

Mine says "Verizon" in the status bar (even when locked).

The SIM isn't a certainty to indicate what network it's from, is it ? Sure, if it's a start so I guess go from there....

 

[bufffilm]

I can't believe no one has said it yet:

It's an iPhone 6 !! You know how outdated, useless, slow, and obsolete that antique is ? Who would want it back ?

Wild guess...the owner?

The ip6 was a weak phone, but to say it is obsolete is a bit much.

 

[HallStevenson]

The ip6 was a weak phone, but to say it is obsolete is a bit much.

Sorry you didn't get the sarcasm.