Stolen iTouch - Annoying!

[Glaucus]

If you don't report it you will never know. The worst that can happen is that you're wrong and the kid gets his ipod back.

This and the more reports the better as police can and do act.
They set up a "bait" car in my old place. As we had loads of cars broken into and reported. Due to this they caught several people and car break almost eradicated. If people didn't report it, police would be none the wiser and wouldn't off been able to act.


Also apple would never offer such a service and never should. Data protection for a start.

However that doesn't mean, that such services aren't available to police if they can be bothered.

 

[Antar Bolaeisk]

If you get a new one stick this on it (prey anti-theft), heard a lot of good reports about people getting stuff back using it.

In this case I realise it's password protected so probably not an option anyway.

 

[fendi]

I think I saw an iTouch for sale when I was in HK. Note this was on a stall where the person was also selling Dr Dre Beets

 

[Zefan]

Came in here to be *that guy* and ask what an iTouch was.

I can see *that guy* is already here and brought all his mates

 

[NeilF]

If you get a new one stick this on it (prey anti-theft), heard a lot of good reports about people getting stuff back using it.

In this case I realise it's password protected so probably not an option anyway.

But surely when the thief wipes the device (which is incredibly simple - fully automated by iTunes!) this application is wiped too!?

 

[NeilF]

*ignore*

 

[Antar Bolaeisk]

But surely when the thief wipes the device (which is incredibly simple - fully automated by iTunes!) this application is wiped too!?

Yeah it would be, but you might have time to track it or even get a snapshot of the crook who stole it.

 

[NeilF]

Yeah it would be, but you might have time to track it or even get a snapshot of the crook who stole it.

How? It's password protected and not connected to a wifi?! The device and no coms with anything?

 

[bsoltan]

Out of curiosity, best case scenario, what do you think should happen if Apple had the ability to identify stolen devices?

Disable the device or contact you/authorities?

 

[Gimli]

Surely you should be getting the Police involved.

Oh, and btw:

http://ocukroguesgallery.com/feek/temp/ipod-touch-20100511-222417.png[/img*][/QUOTE]

I'm glad it's not just me who hates it when people do that. I was going to mention it too. :o:rolleyes:

 

[NeilF]

Out of curiosity, best case scenario, what do you think should happen if Apple had the ability to identify stolen devices?

Disable the device or contact you/authorities?

Well, I'd suggest if a unit had been reported/registered as stolen if/when it starts being used elsewhere the authorities (police) can be given details that may lead to its users identity.

eg: Let's say today the Touch in question is wiped using an iTunes account. There is no reason why Apple would not be able to track Apple account X has accessed that Touch. If that account has a credit card, or other details associated? I'm sure the police could make good use of them surely?

 

[NeilF]

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2526

Just had a closer look at that link. It seems useless unfortunately. All you can do at best is get your serial number... Which will help... not at all...

It will not show if other apple accounts are using them etc etc. Even though Apple could easily do that.

edit:
Also it isn't just about profit, it is about having a system that could be open to abuse. How do Apple know that you haven't sold this device to the person. They they get online and start to set it up and their personal info is sent to you? The device gets automatically blocked?

Why block it? If the device has been reported as stolen, if the device pops up registered to an alternative apple account there could well be an address associated to it, or even bank/credit card details. The police could be given this (not joe public) to follow it up.

But I admit, I'm not sure how fruitful this would be. They turn up to a front door, and say have you got a stolen Touch here? And the response is "No, go away!" But it might just be, "Oh! Johny said he found it! JOHNY!!!"

If it was common knowledge devices such as these could be actively traced - instead of ignoring it as currently - quite possibly it would prevent many thefts in the first place.

Children should be taught to take better care of their posessions.

Yes, we should all be perfect, and not make any mistakes...

 

[MooMoo444]

I hope he manages to get it back.

I don't know what I would do without my iShuffle.

 

[Antar Bolaeisk]

How? It's password protected and not connected to a wifi?! The device and no coms with anything?

I'm not saying it's perfect, nor that it's going to guarantee anything but it won't hurt to install it and may increase your chances of retrieving any future stolen iPod. It definitely won't help you this time around. It's also free.

As I said, I've heard good reports about it of people retrieving lost/stolen devices but I can't comment on it myself as I've thankfully never had to make use of it (though I do have it installed). I also can't comment as to it's effectiveness on an iOS device as I don't have one.

 

[stuman]

Children should be taught to take better care of their posessions.

once again blame placed on the victim.

children should be told not to steal.

and if it doesn't sink in, then to have it beaten into them.

 

[paradisiac]

If it was common knowledge devices such as these could be actively traced - instead of ignoring it as currently - quite possibly it would prevent many thefts in the first place.

they will just work out a way to get around it, nothing will stop them as there is money to be had selling these things on.

 

[SB118]

Why block it? If the device has been reported as stolen, if the device pops up registered to an alternative apple account there could well be an address associated to it, or even bank/credit card details. The police could be given this (not joe public) to follow it up.

So why block mobile phones when they go missing?

 

[fez]

So why block mobile phones when they go missing?

Thats blocking the mobile network, it doesn't brick the phone or kill it. I know it would be lovely if we could all click our fingers when we lose something and it magically appears back in our possession, its not that easy.


So apple spend a small fortune implementing a system to recover stolen items. Well done apple....

I buy a phone from someone and they decide to block it as soon as it's sent in the post. I then have to go through a really long process to get it unlocked and if I can't prove who I bought it from, what do I do?

There are plenty of reasons why they don't get involved in this sort of thing and surprisingly, they are not all related to apple being lazy, money grabbing *****.

 

[NeilF]

they will just work out a way to get around it, nothing will stop them as there is money to be had selling these things on.

How would you get around changing the hardcoded serial number of the unit?

So you're a 10 year old spotty oink. You get the stolen Touch home, and you do what exactly? Get your soldering iron out and EEPROM reprogrammer? Hmmm

 

[ArranJ]

It's theft (or is it robbery?), are they not duty bound to do something?

It's theft, Robbery is taking something whilst intimidating/causing fear etc.
The fact it wasn't actually on the person just makes it simple theft.