IPAD 2 WIFI - Stolen but i have serial

It doesn't have to be this complicated. Apple simply refuses to block stolen devices by using serial numbers. Every time I connect to iTunes or register my device the serial number is part of the data package. I'm sick of hearing half-baked excuses for Apple's reluctance to stop dealing with thieves who are using devices that were reported stolen to law enforcement. There is no legal issue. The device is registered to me. I report it stolen. Apple stops letting that device connect to Apple servers until it's recovered. End of story. But we all know why this isn't happening. But ask anyone who's had their Ipad or Iphone stolen and you'll hear how ridiculous "Find my iphone" is at deterring theft. And the reason thieves keep stealing a device that IS ONLY FUNCTIONAL WITH APPLE'S EXPLICIT PERMISSION is that Apple gives it to them, rather than listen to the customer who paid for the device. Think about that before you plunk down hundreds of dollars to replace the device that was stolen.

With iOS 7 in the Autumn, http://www.apple.com/ios/ios7/features/ :

... new security features in iOS 7 make it harder for anyone who’s not you to use or sell your device. Now turning off Find My iPhone or erasing your device requires your Apple ID and password. Find My iPhone can also continue to display a custom message, even after your device is erased. And your Apple ID and password are required before anyone can reactivate it. Which means your iPhone is still your iPhone. No matter where it is.

I had my beloved Ipad (4th gen) stolen from my hands whilst having a coffee outside in Drury Lane, London yesterday (Friday 30th August). This horrible crime left me shocked and speechless as the two theives came at speed along the pavement (I did not notice them) and as they drove past me the pillion literally snatched the iPad from my hands. The audacity of these low life’s and the speed and shock of how they did this is only outweighed by the lack of concern and service given to me by Apple UK.

Having spent hours changing passwords, having TuGO shut down and all manner of things to make things difficult for the thieves (no, I stupidly did not have ‘find my iPad’ installed) I was naively under the impression that once I gave the serial number of my iPad to Apple they would mark this as stolen and make it harder to sync it with iTunes in the future.

How wrong was I?! Apple are not interested. This is what I was told: “this would be unfair to anyone buying the iPad. If they bought it off ebay then they could not use it”. EXACTLY! Surely that is the point!

Why oh why are we again pandering to the thieves and making their job so much easier. I thought I was the consumer and that I had rights. Clearly not according to Apple. In this world of technology when iTunes registers your device and takes it’s Serial Number surely then if someone tries to register it iTunes would either block it, not allow it or make a note of who now has it so the Police can at least find the device and find out who sold it. Why is this so difficult?

I am appalled at Apple in the answer I was given and the complete lack of any attempt to help in getting back my possession.

Having been a loyal Apple customer (I still have my original Mac in the loft), having spent thousands of pounds on Apple products and being proud of being one of the first ever iPhone customers and I am disgusted that they do nothing.

I write this as a warning to everyone. Even if you have the Serial Number someone else will still be able to sync it with iTunes and use your iPad. This seems mad to me, maybe I am the only one.

This whole thing stings even more as this was a gift to me from the pupils and parents at my school.

Should I have been more careful? Well I was sitting outside on the pavement, by back to a wall and a low barrier next to me. I was not expecting two people to come down the pavement at speed on a moped and snatch it from me.

For those that are bothered (clearly not Apple) the S/N is DMQJPQXEF186.

This is not over as I want everyone to know that there is nothing set up to help Apple customers here in the UK at least when an iPad is stolen.

I completely understand that it would be a shame if someone bought an iPad on ebay only to find that it was stolen would be a bit of a slap in the face but surely our rights as a consumer deserve some protection. If this was standard practise that Apple recorded the S/N (as they do) then people might be more careful where they purchase it. Or an advertised iPad may have to state the S/N so people could check with Apple if it is listed as stolen. This would be an easy extra to the website Apple. At least this would begin to make things HARDER for the thieves as buyers became more vigilant. Do your customers not deserve this sort of protection.

I sit here now writing this and someone, somewhere is most likely using my iPad, having svnc’d it to iTunes already. Is this Right?