If you believe your iPad is lost or stolen, here are a few tips to help you recover it. If you have Find My iPad enabled on your device, you can go to iCloud.com from a computer or use the Find My iPhone app from another iOS device to track your iPad and find its location.
You can then choose to send a message or play a sound to help you find it or set a passcode lock to prevent anyone from accessing your personal data. If you are really serious about keeping your personal information out of the hands of a stranger, you can also remotely wipe the device to remove all of your information.
Using Find My iPad to locate a Wi-Fi only iPad can be a problem since the feature requires a data connection. However, you can get an email alert if the device joins a Wi-Fi network.
To get an email notification when your iPad is found;
Go to iCloud.com, click on the Find My iPhone icon, select your device and check the box next to “Email me when this iPad is found”.
Find My iPad / iPhone is a completely free service and I highly recommend setting it up on all of your Apple devices, but if you haven’t you may be able to use FaceTime, iMessage, Skype, etc. to call or send a message to your iPad. Of course, this would only work if the apps have already been set up on the device.
Will Apple help me with my lost or stolen device?
Apple does not have a process to track or flag lost or stolen product. However, you can use find a list of serial numbers that have been purchased or registered with your Apple ID by using My Support Profile.
To get your serial number:
1. Go to My Support Profile*.
2. Sign in with your Apple ID.
3. View your purchases in “My Products”.
Although, Apple does not track or flag stolen products, if law enforcement recovers an Apple Product they know is lost or stolen they can contact Apple Corporate Security directly to notify you using your contact information. Apple will send you an email similar to this;
Dear Steve,
You are receiving this email because a law enforcement agency has contacted Apple regarding an iPad they recently recovered.
Our records indicate the iPad was registered with Apple using this email address.
To discuss this matter, please contact the following law enforcement representative:
Detective’s name
Police Department Name and Phone Number
Case NumberWe understand that your privacy is important. Please be assured that Apple has not shared any of your personal information with this third party. You may review Apple’s Privacy policy at http://www.apple.com/legal/privacy.
This concern has been documented in Apple case number *******4.
Best regards,
Apple Customer Care
Report it Stolen
Your next step will be to report the stolen device to your local law enforcement agency. Make sure you have the serial number to give to law enforcement.
You can also report your device as stolen online using websites like Stolen-Property.com. This is a free website that enters your item into a database that is used by pawn shops and others to track stolen property that comes into their business.
Hopefully, you will find your iPad, but if your are unable to recover it you may be able to file an insurance claim if it was stolen from your home or car. Check with your insurance agent to find out if the device was covered under your policy.
I recovered my stolen iPad in the south of Spain using iCloud. It was somewhat complicated but, if you are interested, you can read how I did it on my blog: http://www.wsjohnston.com/blog/files/7f5896e8b4bb0d680950bdf07035b159-3.html#disqus_thread
how do I return an iPad that I found? Any suggestions?
You can call Apple and give them the serial number. They probably won’t give out the persons contact info, but they should send them an email letting them know it was found and provide them with your contact info.
I lost iPad with serial number – GB042HQYZ38
Lost/stole black iPad DYMTHMOU1DNQV.
I lost my Ipad in Malacca, West Malaysia with serial number – DYTHN4V7DVGK
I contacted Apple about an iPad that was left behind at my place of work, and they said they would not contact the owner, and could only do so if contacted by law enforcement. Otherwise it would violate their privacy policy. So I still have this iPad, and I\’ll turn it in to at the police station when I have time, as the nearest one is quite out of my way. It\’s unfortunate that there isn\’t some other way to do it.
Lost iPad. Son with autism uses this device as a communication device. Serial number DYTJH38NDFHW. Any help will be greatly appreciated.
lost/stole ipad w/airphones MD531ZP/A IPAD MINI WIFI 16GB, color white, serial number DQTJRDDFF196
Lost Ipad at Roosevelt feild mall, Macys department. Please contact me if found!
Lost white ipad. Serial # DN6GG2EMDKPJ. Please contact if found. Thank you.
Found iPad on Amtrak 3/14/2013. I called Apple to have it returned to it\’s owner, but they wont help. Local police wont contact Apple either.
I am trying to find out how to return it to no avail.
Mel,
If you can turn on the iPad, tap on the Setting icon, then tap on Mail, Contacts, Calendars on the left of the screen.
Most likely they have email setup on the iPad and you can locate their email address under Accounts. It’s going to depend on which type of email account they have, but tap on whatever account is there (iCloud, Gmail, Cox, etc.). You should see their email address. I would send an email to that address asking if they lost an iPad. They should still have a computer, or smartphone to check their email. I would let them provide details about the iPad and where they lost it to confirm they are the owner.
My device\’s serial number was not registered. When I tried to register it after my iPad got stolen, the system on My Support Profile told me my device\’s serial was already registered under a different Apple ID. But I only have one Apple ID and I can prove it\’s my serial number, it\’s on the invoice with my name. So why does Apple allow known stolen goods to register under a different Apple ID? Each time Apple sells an app to my thief, Apple benefits from the proceeds of the crime, it\’s called corruption.
I lost my iPad at Disneyland. Using find my iPhone, located it in Miami, fl. We decided to attempt contact my mailing postcards to all the homes in that area. We received an email back asking how to return it to us. Apple advised us not to give any personal info to them, but to have them turn it in to an apple store or police department. We still have not gotten it back and it has been several weeks. Of course, the emailer has not responded again…any advice?
Lost Ipad on American Airline plane on 5/3/13, flying from Boston to Dallas. Please contact me if found!
My son lost his Ipad at a freinds house in Glendora, New Jersey. And they cant find it. Its a silver Ipad with a red angry bird cover. Serial# DMPGK8DQDFHW Please contact me if found!
Stolen white iPad Mini
Model: iPad Mini (GSM+CDMA)
Color: White
Serial Number: F4KJN1B0F19P
Model Details: iPad2,7
Model Type: MD545
Software info:
iOS Version: 6.1.3
iOS Build Version: 10B329
Passcode Locked: No
Jailbroken: No
Device ID: a80fbbee2873b92ce70bf4908ed2a35ef727794e
Cellular info:
Carrier: Verizon LTE_US (14.2)
Activation State: Activated
MLB Number: C7L244101BLF98YA2
ECID: 3110569386954
IMEI: 990002397308931
IMSI: 311480045566863
ICCID: 89148000000449581652
Hardware info:
Hardware Model: P107AP
Wi-Fi MAC Address: e4:8b:7f:b1:e0:38
Bluetooth MAC Address: e4:8b:7f:b1:e0:39
Ethernet MAC Address: e4:8b:7f:b1:e0:3a