Stolen iPod

Question

Level 1

5 points

Stolen iPod

I purchased a brand new ipod touch(64gb w/ camera), the latest model, for $399 plus tax a few weeks ago. It got stolen, I filed a police report and am frustrated at the dead end result from Apple. Is it legal for Apple to conceal who registers my ipod using the serial number? I have evidence it belongs to me - receipt with my name and serial number on it. When I called they said even though they could see who registers it - name, address even their credit card info - that due to privacy they can't share that info. Isn't that criminal to hide the identity of a thief or is it legal what they are doing? I will be upgrading my Blackberry and not returning to Apple due to this betrayal.

Firefox, Windows XP Pro

Posted on Oct 10, 2010 10:00 AM

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Answer 1

Oct 10, 2010 10:09 AM in response to Touched23

I understand your frustration, but put yourself in Apple's shoes. They have no way to know all of the circumstances, you may have given the iPod to the person who has it now and now you want it back. That is just one possible example. If they have told you that someone else has registered it, then provide that information to the police department, they can contact Apple Security and they can get the info. I had a friend with similar circumstances with an iPhone, the detective working her case called Apple Security and got the info, they contacted the person and found that it was purchased from Craigs list, bottom line, my friend got her iPhone back.

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Answer 2

Touched23 Author

Level 1

5 points

Oct 12, 2010 12:30 PM in response to J.K. ROFLing

Apple has no way to know my circumstances? Like I said I told them I filed a police report. The police have a video surveillance tape of the person who stole it but we don't know their name in order to press charges. That's not enough for Apple? It might not be a big enough product for the police to put in more resources to go to Apple but Apple should help out on their end too but they are not interested one bit so the person who suffers is me.

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Answer 3

Oct 12, 2010 1:15 PM in response to Touched23

Apple is not the business of investigating alleged criminal activity. They have no way to tell if you are telling the truth or not. If they were to take your word for it and you were lying (unfortunately that happens all too often), they would open themselves up for all sorts of legal troubles. Verifying your story is the job of the police department. You have filed a report and presumably a case number has been assigned. All the police have to do is call Apple Security, provide the necessary information and they can get the identification of the person who registered the iPod. Getting the info from Apple is not a difficult or time consuming process for the proper agency (police).

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Answer 4

Chris CA

Level 10

82,513 points

Oct 12, 2010 1:20 PM in response to Touched23

Is it legal for Apple to conceal who registers my ipod using the serial number?

Probably only with a court order.

Isn't that criminal to hide the identity of a thief

It would likely be criminal to give you (unknown person on phone) the info.
It's up to the police to contact Apple.

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Answer 5

celliott147

Level 6

12,582 points

Oct 12, 2010 2:06 PM in response to Touched23

Apple is not the police, and federal privacy laws are the reason they won't give the info out. What if you stole the iPod and the person was getting it back. If Apple helped you, the innocent person would get the shaft. Apple doesn't provide that info because if they did, thieves would abuse it. Bottom line, it's up to the police. I was once assaulted and didn't get a good look at the guy. They were able to pull security camera footage and ask people around if they knew the guy. Sure enough, someone did, and he got arrested.

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Answer 6

Mac-Medic

Level 6

17,301 points

Oct 12, 2010 10:18 PM in response to Touched23

From now on, install FREE GadgetTrac--the first anti-theft application for iPhone and iPod Touch. Don't leave home without it!

Check out the new remodeled MacOSG website! 24-hour Apple-related news & support.
 MacOSG: An Apple User Group  iTunes: MacOSG Podcast  Follow us on Twitter: MacOSG
Note: I receive no compensation for product endorsements.

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Answer 7

Touched23 Author

Level 1

5 points

Oct 12, 2010 11:28 PM in response to celliott147

Ok, thanks for the helpful answers. Good points made as far as Apple's job not being that of the police investigator, privacy issues etc.

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Answer 8

Touched23 Author

Level 1

5 points

Oct 15, 2010 7:11 PM in response to celliott147

What if I stole it and the thief was getting it back? The receipt has my name on it as well as the serial number of the device which Apple is aware of. There's no question regarding who the rightful owner is. There is a surveillance video recovered by the police showing an individual stealing it (though unidentified so we can't press charges or recover the stolen item).

Can't Apple track what address or area it is being used in to narrow things down? Can't Apple delete my personal info from it? I have a lot of sensitive info that could theoretically ruin my life and yeah I should've installed a GPS and done this and that but I owned it for just a couple of weeks unaware of these things and don't think it's fair to blame the victim. Can't Apple do ANYTHING? I'm just getting madder and madder as the days go by knowing the thief is going through my personal info and emails, using my apps and device for free while the Apple rep recommended that I buy a new one. Makes no sense imo.

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Answer 9

Chris CA

Level 10

82,513 points

Oct 15, 2010 7:55 PM in response to Touched23

The police need to contact Apple.

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Answer 10

celliott147

Level 6

12,582 points

Oct 16, 2010 1:12 PM in response to Touched23

NO!!! What makes you think they are any different than Target, Walmart, Best Buy, Office Depot, any car dealership, etc?! They are just a company. They are not the police, they never have been, and they never will be. Do you see law enforcement badges on their employees? NO!!!

Listen, I'm sorry that your iPod got stolen, but it's not Apple's fault and they aren't responsible for helping you get it back. If you're not satisfied with the police, go spend more than it would cost you to just replace the iPod and hire a Private Investigator to get it back for you.

If you want Apple to cover theft as part of their services, I'm sure you wouldn't mind to pay double or even triple the cost that you currently pay so they can afford to provide you the service you so desperately desire. Or you could not pay the extra cost, suck it up, and buy a new one. If you happen to get the old one back, then maybe you could sell the old one or keep it as a backup in case your iPod ever gets stolen again.

Note: According to auto insurance companies, the best way to prevent items from being stolen from your car is to not leave them in your car in the first place, so yes, some of the blame lies with you.

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Answer 11

Touched23 Author

Level 1

5 points

Oct 16, 2010 1:32 PM in response to celliott147

Excuse me but I'm in no way asking Apple to do investigation, that's what the police are for. The place it got stolen from didn't hesitate to show me their video surveillance before I had even contacted the police. They did it voluntarily because moral people want thieves to get caught. As soon as the police came they offered to give them a copy of the footage.

Apple on the other hand - each customer service rep I speak to who punches in the serial number of MY ipod,can see who it is registered to but won't tell me if a new person has registered it and if they do they say they still won't tell me. I'm not asking them to do any investigation! The police told me to give them their number to call the police to give the info but their response was not gonna happen but we can give you a discount if you want to buy another one. Um, I'll pass. They can detect which wi-fi location the device is being used at but won't share that info either. They basically just want the victim to shell out more money and buy another one. My concern is with the data on my device and again they won't delete the items on it either, letting the thief use my apps and read through my private documents and emails. None of my requests require investigation on their part and hiring an investigator won't make Apple suddenly do any of the above either, unless there's something I'm missing. I'm open to any suggestions I may have overlooked. I've never felt so violated. There are pics and videos of me and the thief is likely from my town so I have to live with the thought that a creep knows every detail about me.

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Answer 12

Mac-Medic

Level 6

17,301 points

Oct 16, 2010 2:02 PM in response to Touched23

I've never felt so violated. There are pics and videos of me and the thief is likely from my town so I have to live with the thought that a creep knows every detail about me.

Unfortunately, that's the risk one takes when you put sensitive information on any computer, mobile device, etc. If someone would have robbed your home and stolen your computer, you wold be in the same boat. Same goes for putting any personal information online. It's out there for ANYONE to access.

Think positive. Most likely who ever has it, restored it right away, wiped it clean and is using it or selling it--especially if it was a kid. No average person is going to steal your identity and risk suffering all the consequences that goes with it.

Check out the new remodeled MacOSG website! 24-hour Apple-related news & support.
 MacOSG: An Apple User Group  iTunes: MacOSG Podcast  Follow us on Twitter: MacOSG

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Answer 13

celliott147

Level 6

12,582 points

Oct 16, 2010 8:05 PM in response to Touched23

1. if the thief registered your iPod with iTunes under their own account (the only way it could be tracked) then they had to wipe the iPod 1st.

2. CHANGE YOUR PASSWORDS if you're so worried about your personal info.

3. If you have so much sensitive personal info on your iPod, it should be on your person at all times and make sure it has a PASSCODE LOCK on it...

4. Again, I explained why Apple can't and won't release the info to you. Let's try another scenario. How does Apple know the iPod is what was stolen in the video? or that the video is of your device being stolen? A COURT ORDER OR WARRANT will EASILY get the information you want...make the POLICE get the warrant or order. Apple absolutely will not release info without that as it releases them from any liability.

I'm not trying to be rude, I am simply trying to get you to understand what you can do, and why Apple is acting the way they are. Heck, they don't have to give you a discount, yet they are. That is trying to do something.

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Answer 14

NSlin

Level 1

0 points

Oct 28, 2010 5:27 PM in response to celliott147

Ok, here's the deal. The person who got the iPod stolen is at no blame. You must be a dishonest person if you really believe that. The weasel who won't work for something and just takes it is full blame.

However, I do agree that Apple is in the right to not just hand out information. I do think though that they should have some response other than "We don't have a system available to accept lost or stolen iPod reports." My opinion, I stress my opinion, is that they are more proactive so police don't have to waste their time getting the subpoenas and warrants for the information. Essentially, we are paying for that kind of service, they're called taxes. We are paying the police for hours to get information about a lousy thief when the multi-billion dollar Apple company could have a simple reporting system.

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Answer 15

celliott147

Level 6

12,582 points

Oct 28, 2010 10:14 PM in response to NSlin

I'm not a dishonest person. I happen to work with students, and you would be surprised how many times situations arise where one person has an iPod stolen by another person, but when all is said and done, the "thief" was actually the victim just getting their property back... I see these things all the time, so I am just trying to get everyone to understand the rationale behind apple's actions... And the person whose item gets stolen is often at least a little to blame. Unless you get mugged, or you have the item in a safe that gets cracked, there is some security risk of leaving your device somewhere... That security risk is on you... I've had stuff stolen from me, and that was what I decided... I left my iPod in plain sight in a locker (it was locked, but you could still see the iPod). It got taken. I should have had it on me. Lesson learned. Partly my fault...

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