What to do with found iphone with password?

Feb 7th, 2013 9:49 am

#1

eiad77: Deal Addict; Nov 15, 2010; 1645 posts; 206 upvotes

Feb 7th, 2013 9:49 am

What to do with found iphone with password?

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?

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Feb 7th, 2013 10:04 am

#2

zijin_cheng: Banned; Jul 26, 2009; 4315 posts; 661 upvotes; Toronto

Feb 7th, 2013 10:04 am

eiad77 wrote: ↑
Feb 7th, 2013 2:49 pm
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

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Feb 7th, 2013 10:08 am

#3

Kaiu: Deal Addict; Jun 9, 2006; 1518 posts; 57 upvotes; Toronto

Feb 7th, 2013 10:08 am

zijin_cheng wrote: ↑
Feb 7th, 2013 3:04 pm
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...

Feb 7th, 2013 10:08 am

#4

dragon_drift: Deal Expert; Sep 3, 2007; 15908 posts; 354 upvotes

Feb 7th, 2013 10:08 am

zijin_cheng wrote: ↑
Feb 7th, 2013 3:04 pm
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.

Feb 7th, 2013 10:08 am

#5

spawn582: Deal Addict; Nov 26, 2003; 1532 posts; 104 upvotes; North York

Feb 7th, 2013 10:08 am

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.

Feb 7th, 2013 1:28 pm

#6

eiad77 [OP]: Deal Addict; Nov 15, 2010; 1645 posts; 206 upvotes

Feb 7th, 2013 1:28 pm

spawn582 wrote: ↑
Feb 7th, 2013 3:08 pm
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?

Feb 7th, 2013 1:34 pm

#7

dontkno: Newbie; Feb 8, 2008; 84 posts; 3 upvotes

Feb 7th, 2013 1:34 pm

eiad77 wrote: ↑
Feb 7th, 2013 6:28 pm
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

Feb 7th, 2013 1:34 pm

#8

Kasakato: Deal Expert; Mar 25, 2005; 20229 posts; 1496 upvotes

Feb 7th, 2013 1:34 pm

eiad77 wrote: ↑
Feb 7th, 2013 6:28 pm
What do you mean, restore it?

Wipe the phone.

Feb 7th, 2013 1:41 pm

#9

CSAgent: Deal Guru; Dec 3, 2004; 10943 posts; 408 upvotes; Markham/Mississauga

Feb 7th, 2013 1:41 pm

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.

Feb 7th, 2013 4:31 pm

#10

dfatcat: Jr. Member; Mar 13, 2007; 130 posts; 6 upvotes; Edmonton

Feb 7th, 2013 4:31 pm

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/CommunityP ... perty.aspx

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

Feb 7th, 2013 4:40 pm

#11

DuDe1411: Deal Addict; May 15, 2004; 1977 posts; 39 upvotes

Feb 7th, 2013 4:40 pm

iphone 3 or 4? they look totally different.

Apple Store wont help?

Feb 7th, 2013 4:55 pm

#12

wongbr: Deal Addict; Jul 28, 2010; 1101 posts; 350 upvotes; Montreal

Feb 7th, 2013 4:55 pm

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

Feb 8th, 2013 3:15 am

#13

jajola: Sr. Member; Apr 23, 2006; 540 posts; 82 upvotes

Feb 8th, 2013 3:15 am

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.

Feb 8th, 2013 8:54 am

#14

eiad77 [OP]: Deal Addict; Nov 15, 2010; 1645 posts; 206 upvotes

Feb 8th, 2013 8:54 am

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.

Feb 8th, 2013 9:07 am

#15

u0dcameron: Sr. Member; Feb 20, 2009; 970 posts; 135 upvotes

Feb 8th, 2013 9:07 am

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.