Cell Phone Stolen

[ultrarunner]

Anyone ever recover their phone after being stolen?

My 10 year old 5G Android was taken at work this morning… I used it mostly for work so no email or huge picture file or banking info.

What I did have was 10 years of work contacts and some very long text chains mostly to vendors…

I called and it would go to voicemail mail and about the 6th time someone picked up but said nothing.

I sent text messages saying $50 reward no questions asked just in case.

My own fault for having it in the drawer charging when I stepped away to receive overnight first out FedEx delivery.

Several told me a person walk-in off the street and asked to use the lobby restroom during the few minutes I was away.

It’s odd because on the way to work this morning I heard a ad for a small $35 device to back up photos, etc. and thought might be a good idea.

Already suspended service so that’s covered.

Over the years I have returned several lost phones and hoping the same might happen for me.

 

[dodge man]

Is it backed up? I think I pay something like one dollar a month for extra memory for pictures, texts, contacts etc.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

That sucks. I doubt you will get it back. I've never had my phone stolen, but I did have my phone number stolen. Many of my accounts have '2 step verification' which means that when I log in to an account, they send a code to my phone that I have to enter in order to get into that account. So, the thief was getting my codes.

But that's a whole other story.

I did smash my phone with my skid steer a few years ago. Lucky everything on my phone is backed up on iCloud.

 

[Jstpssng]

You may be able to recover your contacts via your provider. Still, that isn't something you expect to happen and you don't realize how much you use it until it's gone. I remember when I accidently left my address book in a motel room 30 years ago... I was forever recovering all of those contacts.

 

[ultrarunner]

No and I have not loaded any apps.

I tried to log in but the only google option sends a text to my stolen phone so I stopped…

Tried to log into my provider but it also has 2 factor identification with code sent to the stolen phone… so did not proceed.
I really just use it as a phone and for work texts…

Have a iPhone not used at home that I will put the old number on it today and then I should be able to log in and check usage…

Is it backed up? I think I pay something like one dollar a month for extra memory for pictures, texts, contacts etc.

 

[zzvyb6]

Go to Google's "Find My Device". You can even 'lock' it from there.

 

[ultrarunner]

It requires two factor and like a dummy I had the notification as a text to the phone that was stolen.

A friend heard about what happened and gave me a clean apple xr that I just activated.

 

[garry1p]

Something I worry about, you have to enter a code to get into my phone, but I'm sure the thieves can do a work around.
No banking info and a mostly unused e-mail but I would hate for my phone to end up in the wrong hands.
I hope you get it back but that sounds unlikely.

My wife found a phone in a restroom and called ATT they would give her no information but took her number and notified the person who lost the phone.
We were on a road trip and it just so happened we were going to the same city where the person lived. We met up and returned the phone that had all of there recent wedding photos and they were so happy to get the phone back.

 

[newbury]

I misplace my phone routinely, so I make frequent backups.
/edit
Backups are chair legs, you need at least 3 to be stable.

 

[EddieWalker]

The lady ahead of me at the cash register left her phone under the debit machine thingy the other day. I chased her down in the parking lot to give it to her and she was in a panic as I approached her, but then she thanked me.

My wife convinced me to switch from Android to Apple last year. She also said that she could transfer all my contacts to the new Apple phone. She lied. I lost all of them, along with all of my pictures. In hindsight, I should of gone into the store to have it done, but it's too late now.

So now when I get a text, I have to ask who it is. I haven't figured a good way to say that without sounding rude. I keep my phone on mute and ignore every call, so if they don't leave their name when they call me, I usually have no idea if it's spam or a client.

It's a pain. Especially since Apple is all backwards and a lot more effort to navigate with. The lack of a back button still drives me crazy. Swiping up for everything is ridiculous. But I do like the camera on the phone and it's easy to track my wife and mom on it. We like to be able to know where everyone is when they are away from the farm.

 

[Jstpssng]

I do like the camera on the phone

The camera is so much better on my company iPhone that I will often use it, them text the picture to my personal android.

 

[thclimer]

Eddie,

If you still have your android phone and have not wiped it clean I'm sure your contacts could still be transfer. It might be worth taking it to an Apple store, most of the people working there really know their stuff.

 

[thclimer]

The camera is so much better on my company iPhone that I will often use it, them text the picture to my personal android.

My Samsung S23 Ultra's camera is way better than my iPhone X, but then my iPhone X is 6 year older technology compared to my S23 so its really not a fair comparison.

 

[ultrarunner]

The moto Android started as a hospital supplied and paid for phone… about 3 years in the hospital merged and I was told I can keep the phone but I would have to pay for a monthly service.

I found in side by side comparisons the 10 year old moto Android was better picking up wifi then a 10 year old Apple.

Plus the Android would let me view my picture attachments I posted at TBN where the apple 6s would not.

Google is telling me to log in on a device I have previously used on a network I have previously used because it’s not sure it’s me.

I’ve only ever used that Android device for Google so no longer possible.

My contact list of 10 years is where I’m feeling it most because I made detailed entries for service reps, machine model and serial numbers, start dates, alarm codes, etc.

The Android became my most used work tool and had accumulated many private or back door numbers such as the UPS and FedEx drivers, etc., company owners, managers and so on and distant relatives of mine.

Lesson learned…

The replacement Apple XR that was gifted doesn’t have the same wifi range or bars as the old moto Android… I could be in the steam boiler room with the Moto and make and receive texts but have to go outside with the Apple… as just one example.

I was very good at getting info to retired staff and docs through my extensive contact list… for many no way to do that now.

 

[not2old]

I want a phone that fits my shirt pocket and doesn't require you to take lessons on how to use it. I use talk, text and pictures and don't want anything else that makes using your phone more complicated other than having a hot spot for my laptop when I need it away from home and I could do without that.

 

[M59]

Ultrarunner,
Do you have a gmail account that does not have 2FA ( two factor authentication ) enabled? Log into that account and then open

Find My Device

Find My Device makes it easy to locate, ring, or wipe your device from the web.

www.google.com

You will be presented with list of android phones associated with you and a map of where the phone last transmitted a GPS or connected to a WiFi signal. You also have choices of Play sound, Secure device, or Factory reset device.

 

[DarkBlack]

My 10 year old 5G Android was taken at work this morning…

The good news is, is that 5G phones didn’t come out until 2019,
So If your phone is 10 years old, you didn’t lose a 5G capable phone

 

[part-time-Farmer-NC]

Sometimes your carrier will backup data for you. I know Verizon does. I think its a default 5gb of space. Did you retain the phone number of that old Android? If so you may be able to now go in and get "stuff" As someone mentioned above with a gmail account. If the phone number changed I would login to gmail if possible first and changed the contact phone number to your current number.

One other thing you may be able to have the carrier do is WIPE the phone. At least no other data can be taken off it then.

Sorry it happened, such a pain.

 

[ultrarunner]

Retained number as it’s listed with city, county and state plus alarm services and county emergency services.

I was able to get a name and address for the one number called between the time the phone was taken and the time I had the account suspended.

Of course the person receiving the call from my stolen phone may not know anything about my phone and the indication is no one answered as duration was less than a minute.

All the other calls are incoming from me and my coworker.

Years ago I found a phone and charged it and it was picked up by 2 uniformed state police officers… the California Speaker was robbed at gun point and the phone I had picked up was the speakers.

It was a huge deal due to the high profile victim…

Unfortunately my prints were on the phone so they had to isolate mine from the thief

 

[grsthegreat]

Likely story….why did u rob the guy…