HT201472: If your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch is lost or stolen

Learn about If your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch is lost or stolen
Sakroris

Q: I've lost my iPhone 5s two months ago, and the local police didn't help me to find my phone, can Apple Company help me to find it?

I've lost my iPhone 5s two months ago, and the local police didn't help me to find my phone, can Apple Company help me to find it?

iPhone 5s, iOS 7.1.1, it's a gold one and it has 64GB

Posted on Aug 14, 2014 8:53 AM

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Q: I've lost my iPhone 5s two months ago, and the local police didn't help me to find my phone, can Apple Company help me to find it? ... more

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  • by lllaass,

    lllaass lllaass Aug 14, 2014 9:42 AM in response to Sakroris
    Level 10 (189,568 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 14, 2014 9:42 AM in response to Sakroris

    Maybe if you get a court order

    lost/stolen                                     

    No app on the iPod is required.                           

    - If you previously turned on FIndMyiPod on the iPod in Settings>iCloud and wifi is on and connected, on a computer browser go to iCloud: Find My iPhone, sign in and go to FIndMyiPhone. If the iPod has been restored it will never show up or continue to show off-line.

    - You can also wipe/erase the iPod and have the iPod play a sound via iCloud.

    iCloud: Erase your device

    iCloud: Use Lost Mode

    - If not shown, then you will have to use the old fashioned way, like if you lost a wallet or purse.

    - Change the passwords for all accounts used on the iPod and report to police

    - There is no way to prevent someone from restoring the iPod (it erases it) using it unless you had iOS 7 on the device. With iOS 7, one has to enter the Apple ID and password to restore the device.

    - Apple will do nothing without a court order                                               

    Reporting a lost or stolen Apple product                                              

    - iOS: How to find the serial number, IMEI, MEID, CDN, and ICCID number

  • by weeowey,

    weeowey weeowey Aug 14, 2014 11:38 AM in response to Sakroris
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Aug 14, 2014 11:38 AM in response to Sakroris

    I'm really sorry to hear about this! My brother lost his iPod touch 2g a few years back, and he still hasn't found it! We have given up, as it is almost untrackable if it has died, which your 5s probably is. I would try the court order, but you may need to get your IMEI number, etc. Does your phone come up in iTunes? (it can come up if you had Wi-Fi sync on) If so,

    1. DO NOT PRESS EJECT!!!!
    2. Click on the device, then click on your Phone Number. It will come up the serial number, and then if you click it again, it will come up the IMEI, etc.

    I hope this helps you to get that precious phone! plus, have you tried looking about the house in every nook and cranny? try pulling out the couch or pulling it apart carefully (you could damage the phone if it gets caught) the phone is definitely dead, as the battery will never be able to last 2 months, so I hope you do find it!

    (sorry if I didn't do much to help you, Its just all I could think of at this time to help)

  • by lllaass,

    lllaass lllaass Aug 14, 2014 1:08 PM in response to weeowey
    Level 10 (189,568 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 14, 2014 1:08 PM in response to weeowey

    It will likely cost more money to hire a lawyer and get a court order than it is worth.

  • by Kilgore-Trout,

    Kilgore-Trout Kilgore-Trout Aug 14, 2014 1:10 PM in response to lllaass
    Level 7 (32,669 points)
    iPad
    Aug 14, 2014 1:10 PM in response to lllaass

    lllaass wrote:

     

    It will likely cost more money to hire a lawyer and get a court order than it is worth.

    And one has to ask, "a court order for what exactly?"

  • by lllaass,Helpful

    lllaass lllaass Aug 14, 2014 1:17 PM in response to Kilgore-Trout
    Level 10 (189,568 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 14, 2014 1:17 PM in response to Kilgore-Trout

    Supposedly when an iOS device is connected to iTunes servers such as purchasing something,  the serial number of the device is transmitted to the servers. Then Apple COULD find some information like IP address when it connects.

    However, it is not clear if one can present enough information to the police/court in order to get a court order to have Apple get that information. In any event the cost of lawyer would like make it not worth it.

     

    If like the US president's phone was stolen one could likely convince the court for national security reasons to track it.

  • by Kilgore-Trout,

    Kilgore-Trout Kilgore-Trout Aug 14, 2014 1:22 PM in response to lllaass
    Level 7 (32,669 points)
    iPad
    Aug 14, 2014 1:22 PM in response to lllaass

    lllaass wrote:

     

    If like the US president's phone was stolen one could likely convince the court for national security reasons to track it.

    I suspect if that happens, the sucker just self destructs.

     

    lllaass wrote:

     

    Supposedly when an iOS device is connected to iTunes servers such as purchasing something,  the serial number of the device is transmitted to the servers. Then Apple COULD find some information like IP address when it connects.

    However, it is not clear if one can present enough information to the police/court in order to get a court order to have Apple get that information. In any event the cost of lawyer would like make it not worth it.

     

    The legal requirements of evidence to get a court order would pretty much make that a VERY unlikely scenario. There would almost certainly have to be a crime far more serious than a lost/stolen cell phone at stake, and possibly some indication as to whom was being sought.

  • by Ralph Landry1,

    Ralph Landry1 Aug 14, 2014 1:29 PM in response to Sakroris
    Level 8 (41,782 points)
    Aug 14, 2014 1:29 PM in response to Sakroris

    No, Apple does not get involved in tracking, finding of devices or activities that are rightfully law enforcement activities.

  • by lllaass,Helpful

    lllaass lllaass Aug 14, 2014 1:30 PM in response to Kilgore-Trout
    Level 10 (189,568 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 14, 2014 1:30 PM in response to Kilgore-Trout

    Totally agree

  • by Sakroris,

    Sakroris Sakroris Sep 12, 2014 10:31 PM in response to lllaass
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 12, 2014 10:31 PM in response to lllaass

    I will try get the court order, cuz I got really important information in that phone's pictures. I just want to know should I get the court order from US or the place where I lost my phone?

  • by lllaass,

    lllaass lllaass Sep 13, 2014 3:19 AM in response to Sakroris
    Level 10 (189,568 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 13, 2014 3:19 AM in response to Sakroris

    That is a question for your lawyer