Apple Working With NYPD to Track Stolen iPhones

Apple is working with the New York City Police Department to locate stolen iPhones and iPads, a radical change from the hands-off approach that the company employed previously. The NYPD estimated that the theft of Apple products accounted for a significant rise in crime in the Big Apple, with more than 3,890 reported thefts of Apple products in 2012.

Fifth Avenue Retail Store
Reports The New York Post:

Every time an Apple device is stolen, detectives attempt to get tracking numbers from the victim or online records.

That number, known as the International Mobile Station Equipment Identity, is then shared with the officers in Police Headquarters who pass it on to Apple.

The California-based company then informs the NYPD of the device’s current location — and it can track it even if it was reregistered with a different wireless provider.

Apple has been criticized in the past for not having a centralized database of stolen devices and for even repairing or replacing stolen units under warranty. It isn't yet known if this is a new program that any police department can use, or if it is only applicable to the NYPD.

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Top Rated Comments

Spirix Avatar
159 months ago
About time.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iforbes Avatar
159 months ago
How is apple to know if a unit was really stolen or if it was something else?

Why report your stolen car to the police? How are the police to know if a car was really stolen or if it was something else?
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
alent1234 Avatar
159 months ago
in the USA nothing is officially stolen until you go to the police station and fill out a police report, under penalty of perjury

lots of people seem to think they should just be able to go to an apple store and have their story believed on the spot
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Ryth Avatar
159 months ago
Was thinking the same.

1. Sell phone on craigslist , cash deal
2. Report phone stolen , call cops.
3. Get phone back.
4. ????
5. Profit but dam thats a crappy thing to do.

That's why you keep a copy of the craiglist ad and their email. Heck I even sometimes have them sign a piece of paper stating I sold something to them or they sold something to me if it's an electronic device.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ronwasserman Avatar
159 months ago
Was thinking the same.

1. Sell phone on craigslist , cash deal
2. Report phone stolen , call cops.
3. Get phone back.
4. ????
5. Profit but dam thats a crappy thing to do.

You didn't finish the list.

6. Get caught for filing a fraudulent police report.
7. Plea guilty
8. Pay fine and perhaps do a little time in country.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Will do good Avatar
159 months ago
Man, when my BMW was stolen BMW didn't do anything. They didn't replace my car. What a crappy company.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)