iphone 5c - found..now what?

[WItennismom4]

A green iphone 5c was left at my work (elementary school) last winter...winter of 2015. I kept it charged and by my desk for the rest of the school year waiting for the owner to call it...I also contacted US cellular to let them know I had it if the owner is looking for it, spread the word through social media...etc. Fast forward to today - last day of work until August and I was cleaning out the lost & found box and there it still sits 15 mos. later. US Cellular told me the account was cancelled over a year ago, they don't/can't give me the info and that I can either recycle the phone or bring it home to use as a fancy ipod touch.

What do I do with this now...it just says that the phone is disabled...and I obviously do not have the passcode. Not sure what to do with it? I would have loved to get it back to it's owner since I'm sure there are pictures on it but I'm getting nowhere.

 

[Gav2k]

Take it to apple for recycling or use it as a paper weight

 

[89007132]

Take it to apple for recycling or use it as a paper weight

Apple may not be able to take it as a recycle if it has Find My iPhone turned on (and therefore activation locked).

OP- I think you did everything and more than what would be expected from you in this situation. Either drop it in one of those recycle phone boxes you see at various places, or throw it in a cabinet and forget about it.

You could also try and restore it to remove the disabled screen, but it may be activation locked. If it is not activation locked you can use it however you see fit or recycle it.

 

[BrianBaughn]

Permanently disabled?

 

[ItsMeTheAWESOMEkid]

You cant save the photos because the iPhone is disabled but you can reset the phone if it doesn't have an iCloud account attached to it.