I found a really expensive mobile phone. Where do I stand?

Whether the police give it back to you or not, it will probably be blocked from all UK networks in due course (if not done so already) so it would still be useless as a phone.

You might be able to use it outside the UK but I personally think emigrating abroad just to use a found mobile would be a bit much...
 
Update:

Took it to a phone shop. They said I couldn't do anything with it. The guy who I was speeking to was a trainee of some sort and expected me to hand the phone over to him so he could pocket it for himself when my back is turned. (He had that look on him! :p)

I might hand it in to the local station. It's sitting on my desk looking at me. :p
 
Years ago, I found a phone, a Nokia 3310 (relatively recent phone at the time). I kept it, for a couple of hours. Then I felt guilty, and knew how I'd feel if I lost my phone, so I rang the home number, got their address and took it to them (it was only up the road). They weren't very grateful, but hey. Made me feel better.

It's up to you how conscious you are I guess :p
 
WillyNelson said:
Probably the Mobile Telepones (re-programing) Act 2002.
Click to expand...

Yup, chapter 31 to be precise:

1Re-programming mobile telephone etc.
(1)A person commits an offence if—
(a)he changes a unique device identifier, or
(b)he interferes with the operation of a unique device identifier.
Click to expand...

Maximum of five years in jail or an unlimited fine.
 
Tunney said:
Yup, chapter 31 to be precise:



Maximum of five years in jail or an unlimited fine.
Click to expand...
And it's not just the person who changes it that potentially goes into prison.

If you take it to someone and ask them to change it, you are procuring the offence, which means that under the Aiders and Abettors Act 1861, you can be punished to the same extent as the person who commits the crime.
 
tbh if he was going to hand it in he would have done it by now. Pitty really. Further more the longer you leave it the less chance the rightful owner has of getting it back because they arnt going to wait a week for someone to finaly deside to hand it in are they.
 
Hand it into the Police Station, if nobody collects it within a set time period they will give you it back usually, then get them to write a note to say it has been declared as yours, take it to the networks shop and ask them to unblock it, showing them the note.
 
I would keep it......but thats becuase i once handed in a nokia 3310 back in the day when I didnt have enough money for a mobile and got no reward from the owner or a thank you.......
 
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