iPod Classic stolen

Sorry to hear about your iPod.

Apple have no process in place to either report or track stolen iPods. All you can do is report the theft to the Police together with the serial number, and if your iPod was registered with Apple when you first got it, they will assist the Police in returning it to you should it ever be recovered.

I had my ipod stolen as well and find it unbelievable that "APPLE" doesnt have anything in place where an ipod that is stolen and re-registered cant be tracked to the new user.When one plugs in an ipod, that was previously synced to another computer/library,the ipod cant be synced unless all the library stored on the ipod is erased.Upon doing so ,the new user of the stolen ipod would than have to register the stolen ipod.Couldnt "APPLE" track this new user with his/her information that was submitted?

Have you also complained to auto manufacturers that they have an obligation to help track stolen cars?

One does not need to have an iTunes account or even internet access to use an iPod with iTunes, so how is Apple expected to perform this tracking? Additionally, there are legal and privacy issues at play - what does Apple do if an iPod is reported stolen when it really wasn't? Can a falsely accused thief sue Apple for releasing personal information (ip address, iTunes account, etc). No, Apple has no more business tracking stolen iPods than auto manufacturers have to track stolen cars. If you want a method to track a stolen iPod, then pay for the service, just as you would pay for Lojack in your car.

where an ipod that is stolen and re-registered cant be tracked to the new user.

And what makes you think that the thief would "re-register" a stolen iPod?

When one plugs in an ipod, that was previously synced to another computer/library,the ipod cant be synced unless all the library stored on the ipod is erased.

Assuming that the iPod was not set to manually manage the contents.

Upon doing so ,the new user of the stolen ipod would than have to register the stolen ipod.

No, they wouldn't.

As GLNHP explains more thoroughly, it's not necessary to register an iPod with Apple in order to use it, and indeed, it isn't even necessary to have an internet connection.

OK, Jeff, you are right...
I am in the same situation,my Ipod was stolen in may car after they broke the garage door...
But anyway, there is many reasons to believe that it is to sell it as second hand to somebody which don't know that it is a stolen Ipod, not to use by the thief...
The IMEI number now work very well (in France) for the cell phones stolen (if you declare the IMEI number at the police). Very difficult to use the cell phone with the French operators. That mean to send the cell phone in foreign coutries... Result : we hear now les and less stories about hi jacking phones in the street, when you are calling, as before...
I just believe that if the user receive a message when he try to connet at Itune, it is enough for me... He will certainly speak about this to his seller... And the seller will start to be less quiet... And the user also !
Sorry for my bad english, it is not my native language...

In your reply you stated that a falsely accused person could possibly sue apple for releasing personal information.I believe you are wrong in your response because if you are holding an ipod that is a stolen,than you can possibly be charged with "possession of stolen property".That charge can be prosecuted whether you stole the said merchandise or simply bought it from the thief.Apple can also release the new owners information to law enforcement and advised them of a possible crime committed,(theft),and than it would be up to law enforcement to pursue a warrant for information and charges without violating any amendments pertaining to any "rights" issues.

As I stated, and you even restated, I was speaking of a FALSELY ACCUSED person, not a thief and not someone who ultimately receives stolen property. The term falsely accused means that the person did not commit the crime in question (in other words, he is not in possession of stolen property and is due all privacy protection afforded by the law).

For example - you give an iPod as a gift to your significant other. You break up. You want the iPod back but do not get it (it wasn't a cheap gift, after all). In a fit of spite you report the iPod stolen (of course, it wasn't). What right has Apple got to hand over personal information of the rightful owner of this iPod? Why would Apple even want put themselves in the middle of a LAW ENFORCEMENT issue?