I bought an iphone from someone who wanted food. How do I know, Is it OK, Lost or Stolen?

UPDATE:

Don't mean to trouble those offering advice but... i just HAD to post this update!

So, I took this Apple phone into the Apple store in my hometown of Sacramento, California. There is an Apple store within the Arden Fair Mall and there is always a Sacramento City Police officer within the actual store. This is the resolve, I have BOTH a police officer and a large Apple store with dozens of employees, certainly this matter will be resolved.

I walked into the store and approached the police officer, explained the entire story to him and how I wanted to turn it over to him as I understand it, the phone has somehow been reset to a new status and therefore it may be lost or stolen and I would like to get it back to it's rightful owner if possible, or, at least give the liability to the Police department.

The officer agreed, the phone should be, if it could be, returned to it's owner, if it is lost or stolen. He stated how he has had phones lost and stolen and he wanted his back as well. However, he believed I should give it to the Apple store employees so that they could have the phone and then try and find the owner, or, do whatever they do in these matters.

I took the phone to a sales representative who took it to the store manager. It was then explained to me that Apple's guidelines are so strict with regard to phones and their ownership that they could not help. They did not want the phone, they had no idea what to do with it and recommended that I give it to the police officer...

I went back to the Police officer and explained that Apple did not want the phone, they had no idea what to do with it and that I should give it to you. The officer stated, "I commend you for your honesty, your thoughtfulness and more, we need more people like you, but, I can not take the phone, it would not seem right for me to take what is yours" I explained everything again, how I got the phone and more. He still refused to take the phone and just like the Apple store he said, "You are the rightful owner of that phone now, you should just keep it".

I could not believe it! So, back out into the mall I go. I found a phone repair person, I showed him the phone, I showed him that it had broken glass and how I came upon it and asked him what I should do. Of course he suggested having the glass fixed and asking Apple to turn it on for me!

Now, I don't know about having the glass fixed, but maybe that is the answer. Just ask Apple to turn it on for me. If they can not turn it on, please tell me why. If they say, because it has been reported lost or stolen, then, they should be willing to take it, right? I can give it to them! Unfortunately, by the time I returned to the Apple store they were closing, so, I will have to go back. Or, maybe I can ask my current service provider to turn it on... SOMEONE MUST BE ABLE TO TELL ME, "Hey, this phone has been reported lost or stolen and we want it back"

If the phone is lost or stolen, IT SHOULD BE RETURNED TO IT'S RIGHTFUL OWNER. If not, I should be able to turn it on, but, I don't seem to be able to do so. I guess now that I have an Apple ID, maybe I can try that but, I am going to give ONE MORE TRY THROUGH THE APPLE CORPORATE OFFICE. Maybe I can mail it back to them.

Jeez, it should not be this difficult to try and do the right thing... I had 2 phones stolen in February of last year. They were in my RV with many of my other belongings which were all stolen. Almost 400k worth of belongings gone... I wish someone would just give me my computers back, they could keep everything else and I would be happy...

So, I have followed everyone's suggestions, police, Apple store. I have not just thrown the phone in the dumpster as I am still hoping that if the phone was lost or stolen, it can be returned to it's rightful owner...

Apple corporate will be my next step!

I have given this a lot of thought, too much in fact. I do not know for certain that the phone was stolen but, you are correct, I did not know how the apple phones operated, still not positive, but, it appears as if they are set up for one owner only AND the person i bought the phone from, was probably NOT the owner.

I did not like the fact that my phones being stolen, not one bit. I WISH there was a way to find the rightful owner...

I have communicated with another Apple store, they BELIEVE there may be a phone bin in the store for phones. I AM going to take the phone to an APPLE store today and hopefully they can find the owner. That is I believe the best methodology for finding the owner. If there is information on who the rightful owner is, it must be on the phone somewhere and only Apple will know, I definitely can not find the information.

Thank You for your input and professional input. It IS appreciated!

NO ONE KNOWS if the phone is stolen, not the Apple store, certainly not I, I guess only you know... With that mindset, I better turn over my car, my motorcycle, my computers and everything else. I have bills of sale, but, what are they worth?

I am just asking if there is a database for these Apple products, something where you can post the S/N or IMEI number. Verizon knows the S/N and IMEI number of my $200 MIFI device. In that these iPhones are priced so high and praised as the do all, know all, communications devices. One would hope that Apple would either have the information or know someone, somewhere with a database. I find it hard to believe that there is no way to find out if this device is broken, I got a fair deal, it is lost or stolen?

I had my RV, 2 computers and 2 phones stolen February of last year. TODAY, I can still tell via Windows 10 that my computers have not been turned on since February 03, 2019 and via a free Android app, I can tell that my phones have not been turned on since that same date, when I had them last.

I do not believe the police could not find them if they were parked in their driveway. I spoke with an officer 2 days ago about another subject, a burglary OF THEIR PROPERTY and it took officers 45 minutes to arrive at a facility already manned by police officers. they had cameras on their lot, but, they were non operational. Burglars came onto police property, robbed them and got away....

My android phones also have a streamer on the screen that reads, "This phone belongs to, ********* if found, please contact me via email or telephone at, *******.

I will continue to look for a database for people who find lost phones, or pose the same questions as I. if there is not a database for this necessary service, I WILL BUILD ONE!

Thank You for your time!

I don't know HOW you came to that conclusion... I am not trying to use the phone. I use Samsung and have four '4" of them sitting on my desk right now. I bought and paid for them all and prefer Samsung by far over any phone I have ever used. The only interest I have in Apple, is returning the dam thing. I guess you did not read my post...

If I was attempting a criminal act, I would not be calling Apple and telling them so... I would not be going into their store and communicating with police and I would not be asking for guidance from what I thought was a support forum. Apparently I was incorrect, you are not only a doctor of psychology, you are also a judge and jury.

I will just proceed as stated and if this forum can not offer guidance instead of accusations. I have obviously wasted my time.

I wish you well and stilll hope that if your phone is ever lost or stolen, someone will reach out and try and find you.

I will be closing this account now so any further falsehoods perpetrated upon myself will be between yourselves.

I wish you well!

Well, that is not a very positive methodology. I do NOW recall walking by the Apple store in the Mall and seeing an actual police officer within the store. Must be a high crime product or area.

In any event, I think I will just give the phone to the police officer within the store. This way I will feel as if I have done everything in my power to find the rightful owner.. The police AND apple will now be involved. I will ask to fill out a rrport, if he refuses, so be it. I have done all I can.

I also see there is a Facebook group for lost or stolen phones, I may give that a try as well... Either way, I am doing what I can do today to resolve this and HOPEFULLY the rightful owner will be found. I can say that now as my research leads me to believe that the owner had to have an Apple I cloud account. As stated previously. I had no such account and one was not given to me when I bought the phone so, the seller was PROBABLY not the rightful owner.. . Just someone who probably found the phone somewhere and needed money for food. He did buy a large bag of food from Taco bell, so, the money did not go for drugs or alcohol, it went to help someone. Now, if the rightful owner can just get his phone back, all will be well in the world.

Well, not all, we will still have a multi-trillion dollar debt. Wars abound around the globe in the International chess match, people are dying of cancer and countless other diseases daily. Homelessness is a worldwide pandemic. Children are being trafficked and on and on and on.... but this Apple phone will be out of my hands.

Thanks all, really do appreciate your assistance!