Stolen iPhone...

[Parks]

Posted: 1/20/08 at 5:39pm

So I was in a HUGE hurry to get to the Gerald Schoenfeld theater this afternoon--I was running like crazy, and finally got to the theater about a minute or two before A Chorus Line began. I had my camera and my iPhone in the outside pocket of my coat and I had my hand over both up until I got to the theater. As I went in the door, I let go and grabbed my wallet to get my ID out. When I walked into the theater, the ticket scanning lady told me to put my wallet away immediately--it would get stolen.

Well, I checked my pocket for my iPhone to silence it right before the show began... and I couldn't find it.

That's my story--but I want to know if there is any way for police to track a stolen iPhone. I think they have the ability to do it, but do they ever use that ability? I have had friends who have reported stolen iPods to the police, but the police didn't ever get back to them.

Any advice/info on this? Thanks in advance...

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 1/20/08 at 5:45pm

Updated On: 2/21/09 at 05:45 PM

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 1/20/08 at 5:46pm

I assume you already tried calling the number.
Why don't you check on the apple web site or your phone's manual to see if they have some kind of traceable chip? If you could the police they might be able to assist you as well.
This is the best I can do, good luck.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 1/20/08 at 5:52pm

Weren't you the same poster who had their i-pod stolen at school?

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/20/08 at 6:07pm

Ah, that stinks, Parks. Hope you took the insurance plan.

Posted: 1/20/08 at 6:16pm

check what the last number was that was called on the phone. If you don't recognize it, call it. This happened with my brother's phone and the first person the culprit called was his mother.

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 1/20/08 at 6:23pm

You must have not enjoyed the show at all.
Updated On: 1/22/08 at 06:23 PM

[Parks]

Posted: 1/20/08 at 6:24pm

Sueleen, fantastic memory. I seem to have bad luck with these things!

I tried calling the number and it still rang, which I thought was kind of amazing. I don't have a phone with me right now besides my hotel's phone, so I don't want to use that. I will probably have to wait until tomorrow before I can do anything with the police. Thank you for your suggestions!

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 1/20/08 at 6:28pm

Oh, I have a TERRIBLE memory. I just have a FANTASTIC Rolodex full of BWW minutiae!

[Parks]

Posted: 1/20/08 at 6:40pm

I tried to. I was thinking about the phone a lot though. I really did try to enjoy it though... tried to be positive and think to myself "Maybe I just dropped it running up the stairs..." "Maybe I left it on the bus and one of my roommates got it for me"

AT&T customer service is closed on Sundays. How magical is that? I miss T-Mobile now. They had customer service 24/7.

:-/ Well, we'll see what happens.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/20/08 at 6:57pm

"I tried calling the number and it still rang, which I thought was kind of amazing."

When you call the number of phones, they ring. Why is that amazing?

I understand that on the next generation of iPhones you'll be able to take a picture of yourself frowing and if it gets lost or stolen, that's the only thing that will come up on the screen. Not that this does you any good now, but it's an awesome new feature.

[Elphaba]

Posted: 1/20/08 at 8:12pm

Parks did you call the 611 AT&T mobile number, or an 800? If indeed they are not in at all, they you should not be responsible for any calls.

"I had my camera and my iPhone in the outside pocket of my coat and I had my hand over both up until I got to the theater."

sorry but gotta ask, why in an outside pocket? Always, always under your coat......

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/20/08 at 8:24pm

Or tucked discreetly in your cup if you're an athlete.

[bdwaygirl]

Posted: 1/20/08 at 9:08pm

I don't know if I'd say it was "stolen". You probably knocked it out of your pocket yourself when you were getting your wallet out. Did you ask at the box office after the show if a phone was found?

[Parks]

Posted: 1/20/08 at 10:58pm

I definitely would have noticed if I had knocked it out. I don't think it's just a coincidence that the lady told me to put my wallet away. I'm thinking she saw it get stolen, which is why she told me to put it away. There, supposedly, was a sketchy man standing right outside the theater, according to my friend.

And I thought when a phone was turned off, the phone wouldn't ring. I'm just surprised the person who has it didn't turn it off. And if they didn't steal it, then I figure they'd answer my calls.

I did ask if an iPhone had been found and they said they had only found a pair of glasses.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/20/08 at 11:33pm

So let me see if I have this straight:

You think that the ticket woman at the theater SAW somebody steal your trendy and expensive phone, but rather than say "I just saw somebody steal your trendy and expensive phone with awful service" she opted to only refer to the possibility of something else getting stolen? As, what? Sort of a code? If she were going to be silent about the crime, wouldn't she also not care if your wallet got lifted?

Here's a more plausible scenario; I think the phone fell out of your pocket and you didn't notice it. Somebody found it and either thought, "Oohhh, look, a cool expensive new phone for me" or "Oh, somebody lost this, I shall turn it on and see to whom it belongs." In either case, the person turned on the phone and decided to see what you have for music files. They took one look at the latest Britney album and promptly threw your iPhone down a storm drain without turning it off. They then went on and lived happily ever after.

[Jane2]

Posted: 1/20/08 at 11:44pm

I'm still wondering how he thinks the phone doesn't ring if it's turned off. How do you think messages are left? The phone rings, no one picks it up, and you get the voice mail. You then can leave a message or not.

[Jilani]

Posted: 1/20/08 at 11:48pm

When a cell phone is turned off, and you call the number, it typically goes straight to voicemail without ringing.

[Jane2]

Posted: 1/20/08 at 11:53pm

That has never been the case with anyone I've called.

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/20/08 at 11:55pm

It has for me.

[Jane2]

Posted: 1/20/08 at 11:58pm

What can I say, it has for you, hasn't for me.

vive la difference!

[iHeartMyGeek]

Posted: 1/20/08 at 11:58pm

It has for...literally every person I've ever called who's had a cell phone, no matter the service, the phone, or the person. That's how cell phones work. Then when you turn them back on it tells you that you have a voicemail.

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 1/20/08 at 11:59pm

But the burning question is...

If a cell phone rings when it's turned off, can anyone hear it?

[Jane2]

Posted: 1/21/08 at 12:06am

Ok, Jilani-I just figured it out. You're right. Here's the thing. When I call friends and their phones ring and ring and ring, I'm assuming their phones are off, when in actuality, they just don't hear them, or they're on another line. I just called my own phone while it was off, and it went right to voice mail.

Updated On: 1/21/08 at 12:06 AM

Posted: 1/21/08 at 12:26am

If an I-Phone rings in the forest, does a deer hear it?