Found an iPad

[KeyboardDemon]

I found an iPad today, it has a Vodafone SIM so I checked on the Vodafone website and they are saying hand it in to the Police, but I'm not confident that this will get the iPad returned to the owner as I'm sure the Police have better things to do than chase people in order to return lost property.

What would you guys advise?

[GoNz0]

take it to the police or it is theft by finding.

[Splash]

Realistically you're not going to be able to trace the owner: Vodafone can't hand out their contact details without breaching DPA. Hand it in to the police and if the owner has reported it missing they'll be reunited. If not... it'll probably get auctioned off after a while in lost property.

[Dooms]

I'm guessing its locked so you can't just turn it on and find their email address?

[Ferral]

If the SIM is registered then Vodafone would be able to locate the owner without giving you owners details. You can do a check via the SIM number.

Personally I would take it into a Vodafone store and say you found it and it has their SIM in it, they may be able to locate if prepay, if its a contract SIM then they will have the name and address.

[MrRockliffe]

Take it to a Vodafone store. They'll be able to get hold of the owner, the police won't and probably won't want to

[KeyboardDemon]

I don't really want to trace the owner, I just want to make sure that I take the right action to ensure it gets back to the rightful owner.

As for it being theft, I think legally it can only be classed as theft if intent can be proved, I found the iPad, and I intend to take reasonable steps to reunite the iPad with its owner, I have not taken it from the owner or the from the owner's property, so I don't think there is any legal grounds for the owner to claim it was theft.

[GoNz0]

I don't really want to trace the owner, I just want to make sure that I take the right action to ensure it gets back to the rightful owner.

As for it being theft, I think legally it can only be classed as theft if intent can be proved, I found the iPad, and I intend to take reasonable steps to reunite the iPad with its owner, I have not taken it from the owner or the from the owner's property, so I don't think there is any legal grounds for the owner to claim it was theft.

nowadays you never no, it often is not worth the risk or hassle if you find out the hard way they have tracking setup on it.

[cookie365]

I don't really want to trace the owner, I just want to make sure that I take the right action to ensure it gets back to the rightful owner.

As for it being theft, I think legally it can only be classed as theft if intent can be proved, I found the iPad, and I intend to take reasonable steps to reunite the iPad with its owner, I have not taken it from the owner or the from the owner's property, so I don't think there is any legal grounds for the owner to claim it was theft.

If you find something and keep it as your own, that's theft by finding. By not handing it in the police, you're proving all the intent that'd be needed.

You already know what you need to do, take it to the police.

[g8ina]

Personally Id just chuck it in the bin and do the owner a favour

[KeyboardDemon]

I think I'll just hand it in to the Police, explaining where I found it and then if the owner has reported it missing the Police will be able to return it.

[finlay666]

Funnily enough I was in a similar situation finding a mobile phone on public transport last night after a night out.

Tried to take it to the police station today but it was closed and now the battery has died on it (and typically doesn't use a standard charge port being a dumbphone!). Managed to get the details of the owner so will try to return it tomorrow.

[KeyboardDemon]

Well in the end I took a walk to my local Police Station, they were closed and will be until Wednesday.

[j.o.s.h.1408]

Personally Id just chuck it in the bin and do the owner a favour

I'd use it as a plate holder

[j.o.s.h.1408]

Well in the end I took a walk to my local Police Station, they were closed and will be until Wednesday.

Lol typical

[Allen]

I thought if you handed lost property in to a police station and it wasn't claimed in 3 (or was it 6?) months it was legal to claim the item for yourself?