What to do with found iphone with password?

[eiad77]

I found an iphone (3 or 4, not sure) with a password on it a few days ago on the street. I tried to find the owner without success. Apple won't tell me who the owner is due to privacy concerns and the phone is locked so I can't see any contacts. Also the phone doesn't have a sim card. The phone has a badly damaged screen but it appears to be fully functional. What should I do with the phone?

[zijin_cheng]

I found an iphone (3 or 4, not sure) with a password on it a few days ago on the street. I tried to find the owner without success. Apple won't tell me who the owner is due to privacy concerns and the phone is locked so I can't see any contacts. Also the phone doesn't have a sim card. The phone has a badly damaged screen but it appears to be fully functional. What should I do with the phone?

If you're patient enough, you can wait for someone to call, then ask them who the owner is

[Kaiu]

If you're patient enough, you can wait for someone to call, then ask them who the owner is

He mentioned phone has no sim card

Meh if it's an iphone 3 it's worthless anyways...

[dragon_drift]

If you're patient enough, you can wait for someone to call, then ask them who the owner is

lol the phone doesn't have a sim card.

[spawn582]

there is no sim card inside so no one will be calling. just restore it and use it as an ipod like the previous owner did.

[eiad77]

there is no sim card inside so no one will be calling. just restore it and use it as an ipod like the previous owner did.

What do you mean, restore it?

[dontkno]

What do you mean, restore it?

Turn phone off, and plug in the computer while holding home button should put it in recovery mode to restore it with itunes.
If you don't want it, I could take it off your hands :P

[Kasakato]

What do you mean, restore it?

Wipe the phone.

[CSAgent]

Since there is no SIM card, you could sell it for parts. There are always people looking for parts from a working phone, you could potentially get $100 for the parts if you look around.

Start on Craigslist for Wanted iPhone ads. Some mom and pop electronic stores will buy the phone outright for the parts, usually around $50 though.

[dfatcat]

Or do the right thing. Take it to the police station, fill out the form. I'm guessing by the policies of my local police station, you wouldn't get it if unclaimed. At least you are giving someone an opportunity to get their phone/play toy back. Karma is always good.
http://www.edmontonpolice.ca/Communi...dProperty.aspx

I'm sure I've just made this a topic for the OT forum...

[DuDe1411]

iphone 3 or 4? they look totally different.

Apple Store wont help?

[wongbr]

You've tried all the means to return it but to no avail

I'd just wipe it and use it as either an iPod or a backup phone in case a friend of yours loses theirs or cracks their screen.

Put it in DFU mode (Hold power + home button for 20-30seconds) and it'll prompt you to reconnect to itunes
from there you can set it up as a new iPhone

[jajola]

I'm worried for the human race when only 1 person out of 11 provide the proper and honest answer (dfatcat).

I second bringing it to the police station. Usually if you bring things there and nobody claims it, you can request to have it returned to you. Then you can do whatever you want with it.

[eiad77]

I didn't even think of returning it to the police station. I doubt they will find the owner, but that's what I will do.

Oh and it's an iphone 4, I looked up the model number.

[u0dcameron]

Bunch of boy scouts, I can tell you if I lost an iPhone/iPod and it was this type of situation I would rather the person just keep it than return it to the police station. I wouldn't be going to the police station looking for it. I would chalk up my loss learn from it and move on.