mobile phone stolen... can the police track it via IMEI?

[Richdog]

To cut a long story short my mobile phone (Samsung Galaxy Ace) was stolen in a shopping centre today through my own carelessness... it fell out of my pocket in a shoe shop (I know it was this shoe shop as I was trying on shoes and getting up and down, and moving my bag and coat around a lot) and I realised very shortly after, and when I went back it was sadly gone. I called once and the phone rang, I called again... it's off and has been ever since. Battery was good for another 6-8 hours.

The worst thing is that I installed Phonelocator Pro the other day and instead of polling it right away, I called the phone (thinking it would be in the area so id hear it) and obviously spooked the little cretin who obviously pulled the battery... so no chance of locating now as my phone and PIN are both locked so it wont go back on again without a wipe, and the SIM is useless to them. If i'd have sent it a silent SMS asking for the location and to turn GPS on, then that may have been the smarter option... alas, I am where I am.

So, I called the police and was told to go down to the station tommorrow to report it and give all my details. Can the IMEI do anything much? It was bought SIM-FREE so not direct from any carrier. Only got it the other week too, it was a great little phone.

 

[Tatsuki]

Don't think the imei does anything for tracking physically. Though if you report it stolen and give imei it's useless as a phone in the uk, some consolation. I would imei block it ASAP so whoever stole it doesn't flog it to some poor sod who then ends up a few days later with a unusable phone.

 

[braveheart]

have u use samsung dive which can track your phone? ive signed with this for my phone and tablet that can let you see where your phone is on your pc or laptop. samsung dive software can show the map so you wpuld find where your phone is but if you havent then people may already took and use it or sell it.. hope u get it back if it happen

 

[Begbie]

have u use samsung dive which can track your phone? ive signed with this for my phone and tablet that can let you see where your phone is on your pc or laptop. samsung dive software can show the map so you wpuld find where your phone is but if you havent then people may already took and use it or sell it.. hope u get it back if it happen

He explained in the OP, the battery has been removed.

 

[Richdog]

Don't think the imei does anything for tracking physically. Though if you report it stolen and give imei it's useless as a phone in the uk, some consolation. I would imei block it ASAP so whoever stole it doesn't flog it to some poor sod who then ends up a few days later with a unusable phone.

The possible good outcome of that, I guess, is that some poor sod with an unusable phone is more likely to hand it back in to the police, to which id gladly pay a reward to compensate. Ahh well, c'est la vie.

 

[Robbo]

The police and networks can track mobile phones (to some extent), but they will only do so in extreme circumstances, a phone being stolen isn't even close to the requirement unfortunately.

Oh well, this is as good a time as any to get that Galaxy Note Richdog...

 

[Myshra]

Tracking is only done by police warrant so as you can imagine, that means they are probably more interested in intercepting that scumbag who got "rescued" by his mates yesterday rather than items of loss (which this technically is as bad as it sounds).

An IMEI is a unique hardware identifier, it's unfortunately no more than that but do make sure it gets registered on the block list ASAP - if he's even slightly bright he will try and flog it on gumtree or the like and ideally it needs to be blocked by then so he doesn't profit.

If you have contents insurance on your house you may have personal belongings cover (wallet/watch/phone/keys etc...) give it a quick look over. Don't try and get it back though, it's honestly not worth the trouble. Even if you had the location it isn't a dead cert the police would do anything (GPS accuracy etc...).

 

[Richdog]

Thanks for the answers guys I guess ill just chalk it down to experience, and try and be more careful in future.

The police and networks can track mobile phones (to some extent), but they will only do so in extreme circumstances, a phone being stolen isn't even close to the requirement unfortunately.

Oh well, this is as good a time as any to get that Galaxy Note Richdog...

Note is wayyyy too big as a daily phone for daily use, i've done pocket tests, holding to head tests, and none felt really comfortable. It's just not a practical device imo, id rather have a separate phone and tablet to cover both ends when I need it.

A Nexus prime is the biggest i'll go. Period.

 

[Robbo]

I came to the same conclusions as that really, it's a nice bit of kit but it just can't cut it as a phone, and it can't cut it as a tablet either.