How do I report an iPod Touch as stolen to Apple?

Question

How do I report an iPod Touch as stolen to Apple?

My Wife's brand new (she'd only had it a couple of weeks) 32GB iPod touch was just stolen (<24 hours ago). We've contacted the local police who are canvassing local pawn shops, but they suggested we report the unit's serial number to Apple as stolen in the event that someone else tries to reactivate it under another name. I can't find anyway to do that on the website - how do we go about this?

G5 Dual 2 GHz Intel Core Duo Macbook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.3)

Posted on Jun 8, 2010 10:54 AM

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Answer 1

Jolly Giant

Level 7

25,464 points

Jun 8, 2010 11:00 AM in response to W. Robert Newberry

W. Robert Newberry wrote:
how do we go about this?

nothing Apple can do to help. see this discussion: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2453835&tstart=15.

filing a police report is about all you can do.

sorry for your loss ... 😟

J GG

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Answer 2

Jun 8, 2010 12:07 PM in response to Jolly Giant

You're telling me that Apple does not know when an Apple product has been activated - that if someone connects an iPod to the iTunes store from a different computer Apple does not know this? Or are you telling me that, yes, Apple collects this info but refuses to share it with the device's rightful owner?

If that's the case, I guess I'll write my Senator and suggest that perhaps a new law or regulation is in order.

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Answer 3

Jun 8, 2010 12:14 PM in response to W. Robert Newberry

The thief doesn't ever have to connect the Touch to iTunes. In that case, Apple would never know. And, as people are not required to report to Apple when they give away or sell an iPod, Apple really has no way of knowing who the rightful owner is even in the event they track the information.

I'm hoping my senators are concentrating on important things like the economy, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and which computer companies are guilty of anti-trust violations. Probably a vain hope... 😉

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Answer 4

Jun 8, 2010 12:42 PM in response to W. Robert Newberry

This is a job for the Police, not for a retailer.

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Answer 5

Jun 8, 2010 1:57 PM in response to W. Robert Newberry

How does Apple know you're the rightful owner? For all they know, you could have sold it and then reported it stolen.

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Answer 6

Jun 9, 2010 10:11 AM in response to W. Robert Newberry

OK, here's the skinny:

Since it's still under warranty, my wife called Apple Customer Service and since "my iPod was stolen" isn't a problem listed on the drop down list of options, she just picked one at random. Then she told the Apple Customer Service rep what the real issue was.

According to Apple (or at least this customer service rep) if either my wife or the local PD provide a case number, Apple will contact the PD if and when the iPod is re-activated.

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