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Resolved So I've had this iPad that I found...

AnthonySmith

AnthonySmith

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Feb 25, 2011
469
85
Southern CA
Hey everyone!

So about 3 weeks ago I found this iPad in my apartment complex. It was really odd.

I went to get the mail and it was sitting on top of the trash can (!) with it's leather folio case open. I looked around for a few minutes and thought, is this some sting operation?

Someone else came to get their mail and I said are you missing something and they looked at me like I was crazy.

So the next day I put up fliers at both of the mail stations in my apartment complex. I didn't want to give it away and have random people claiming it's their iPad. So the flier simply said...

"FOUND: VERY VALUABLE ITEM!!! PLEASE CONTACT XXX XXX-XXXX"

It has since been over 2 weeks and nobody has claimed it. I was going to maybe search through the contacts and get in touch with whomever they've most recently contacted, but it has a passcode. I've had it on my WiFi the entire time so they could track it down via 'Find My iPhone'.

Still nothing.

What do I do next? I'm tempted to just keep it? It's a white Mini. I already have an Air so I don't really have a use for it.

What should I do?
 
AnthonySmith said:
Hey everyone!

So about 3 weeks ago I found this iPad in my apartment complex. It was really odd.

I went to get the mail and it was sitting on top of the trash can (!) with it's leather folio case open. I looked around for a few minutes and thought, is this some sting operation?

Someone else came to get their mail and I said are you missing something and they looked at me like I was crazy.

So the next day I put up fliers at both of the mail stations in my apartment complex. I didn't want to give it away and have random people claiming it's their iPad. So the flier simply said...

"FOUND: VERY VALUABLE ITEM!!! PLEASE CONTACT XXX XXX-XXXX"

It has since been over 2 weeks and nobody has claimed it. I was going to maybe search through the contacts and get in touch with whomever they've most recently contacted, but it has a passcode. I've had it on my WiFi the entire time so they could track it down via 'Find My iPhone'.

Still nothing.

What do I do next? I'm tempted to just keep it? It's a white Mini. I already have an Air so I don't really have a use for it.

What should I do?
Click to expand...

Is there an apple id associated to it or some other identifier?
 
I think you've done all that could be reasonably expected. Since there's a pass code on it anyway, you could put up a flyer saying what it is, or saying it's an iPad without specifying model or colour.

Are your mailboxes before the inner door? If so it could have been someone coming to visit/deliver who hasn't come back and never saw your notices.
 
sporadicMotion said:
Is there an apple id associated to it or some other identifier?
Click to expand...

Not that I can find, I don't think.

NewbieCanada said:
I think you've done all that could be reasonably expected. Since there's a pass code on it anyway, you could put up a flyer saying what it is, or saying it's an iPad without specifying model or colour.

Are your mailboxes before the inner door? If so it could have been someone coming to visit/deliver who hasn't come back and never saw your notices.
Click to expand...

The mailboxes are all outdoor, they're actually condominiums.

I figure if someone lost it they could come back in and see my flier. It's really odd.
 
Badrottie said:
Turn it over to Police if you want to be honest person. Keep it means you are stealing. I guess. :apple:
Click to expand...

Nonsense. The OP has already shown honesty. He is stealing nothing. If he gives it to the police and they can't find the owner and it sits in their property room forever, does that mean they're stealing it?

Regardless of all that, with a passcode lock, it's useless to anyone but the owner anyway.
 
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1968 said:
Nonsense. The OP has already shown honesty. He is stealing nothing. If he gives it to the police and they can't find the owner and it sits in their property room forever, does that mean they're stealing it?

Regardless of all that, with a passcode lock, it's useless to anyone but the owner anyway.
Click to expand...

Ok then turn it over to Apple store they know passcode anyway. :apple:
 
Badrottie said:
Turn it over to Police if you want to be honest person. Keep it means you are stealing. I guess. :apple:
Click to expand...

wrong. the law states there must be a reasonable effort to return the item to its original owner, which he did. there is no law that says it has to be turned over to the police.
 
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AnthonySmith said:
Hey everyone!

So about 3 weeks ago I found this iPad in my apartment complex. It was really odd.

I went to get the mail and it was sitting on top of the trash can (!) with it's leather folio case open. I looked around for a few minutes and thought, is this some sting operation?

Someone else came to get their mail and I said are you missing something and they looked at me like I was crazy.

So the next day I put up fliers at both of the mail stations in my apartment complex. I didn't want to give it away and have random people claiming it's their iPad. So the flier simply said...

"FOUND: VERY VALUABLE ITEM!!! PLEASE CONTACT XXX XXX-XXXX"

It has since been over 2 weeks and nobody has claimed it. I was going to maybe search through the contacts and get in touch with whomever they've most recently contacted, but it has a passcode. I've had it on my WiFi the entire time so they could track it down via 'Find My iPhone'.

Still nothing.

What do I do next? I'm tempted to just keep it? It's a white Mini. I already have an Air so I don't really have a use for it.

What should I do?
Click to expand...

How could you have it connected to your wifi if there's a passcode....?
 
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1968 said:
Nonsense. The OP has already shown honesty. He is stealing nothing. If he gives it to the police and they can't find the owner and it sits in their property room forever, does that mean they're stealing it?

Regardless of all that, with a passcode lock, it's useless to anyone but the owner anyway.
Click to expand...

Are you kidding?

You restart it on DFU mode. Reload. Done.
 
Last edited:
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Enjoy it. If you feel you have made an honest attempt in trying to locate the owner, I don't see any wrong doing on your behalf.
 
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Domen151 said:
The control center is accessible from the lock screen even with passcode enabled, and if there's a open Wi-Fi, you don't actually have to unlock the iPad, it automatically connects...
Click to expand...

That may be true but the OP said :

"It has since been over 2 weeks and nobody has claimed it. I was going to maybe search through the contacts and get in touch with whomever they've most recently contacted, but it has a passcode. I've had it on my WiFi the entire time so they could track it down via 'Find My iPhone'."

He has implied he is connecting it to his WiFi.
 
bruinsrme said:
Enjoy it. If you feel you have made an honest attempt in trying to locate the owner, I don't see any wrong doing on your behalf.
Click to expand...

The item could have been stolen and dumped by a thief for whatever reason.
Giving it to the police is the only way it will make its way back home in that circumstance, and it may also help apprehend the thief.
 
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mw360 said:
The item could have been stolen and dumped by a thief for whatever reason.
Giving it to the police is the only way it will make its way back home in that circumstance, and it may also help apprehend the thief.
Click to expand...

How many police departments allocate resources to lost phones or tablets?

Wouldn't be nice if you mailed it to or brought it to apple and they contact the registered owner. Since they won't tell anyone, even police.
 
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Can you call Apple support and give them the serial number and tell them this story. Maybe they can track the ipad to its owner through the S/N and let them know to get in touch with you.

AnthonySmith said:
Hey everyone!

So about 3 weeks ago I found this iPad in my apartment complex. It was really odd.

I went to get the mail and it was sitting on top of the trash can (!) with it's leather folio case open. I looked around for a few minutes and thought, is this some sting operation?

Someone else came to get their mail and I said are you missing something and they looked at me like I was crazy.

So the next day I put up fliers at both of the mail stations in my apartment complex. I didn't want to give it away and have random people claiming it's their iPad. So the flier simply said...

"FOUND: VERY VALUABLE ITEM!!! PLEASE CONTACT XXX XXX-XXXX"

It has since been over 2 weeks and nobody has claimed it. I was going to maybe search through the contacts and get in touch with whomever they've most recently contacted, but it has a passcode. I've had it on my WiFi the entire time so they could track it down via 'Find My iPhone'.

Still nothing.

What do I do next? I'm tempted to just keep it? It's a white Mini. I already have an Air so I don't really have a use for it.

What should I do?
Click to expand...
 
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chupachup said:
How do you think people find lost iPhones and iPads through find my iPhone if it can't connect to WiFi.
Click to expand...

Nowadays? Over 3G, LTE, or EDGE. If it's a wifi iPad, they don't, unless it's connected a known wifi network, - which in this case it wouldn't be.
 
AnthonySmith said:
I didn't want to give it away and have random people claiming it's their iPad. So the flier simply said...
"FOUND: VERY VALUABLE ITEM!!! PLEASE CONTACT XXX XXX-XXXX"
Click to expand...

that just sounds like you don't want anyone to actually come and get their ipad back.

if it has a passcode its very easy to verify if this is indeed this persons ipad.

so just put up a note saying you found an ipad. and if no one with the right passcode gets in touch with you keep it.
 
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