To wonder where my stolen/missing phone is?

[harverina]

Two weeks ago I was on a night out and my phone was either stolen or I have lost it. I have a new phone but I just don't understand how my old phone can be gone without a trace!

It was an iphone5 and Find My IPhone was activated but it has been saying offline ever since. What's that all about, can anyone explain?

Simple. Steal phone, switch off immediately.

Take sim out, connect to a computer and restore to factory settings.

Then the phone is no longer associated with your findmyiphone account.

Really? As easy as that? Jeez, I thought it was a bit more savvy than that! So my phone will forever be offline?!

Was there a pin code on it?

With the most recent iOS you are supposed to switch off find my iphone before you restore, and it requires your pass code to do that.

But there are (fairly simple) ways around that. Which any intentional thief will know how to do.

Yes, happened to us too.

If you contact your phone provider, they should be able to permanently block the handset (they can do this with Samsung phones, so I'm assuming they can with iPhones too) so that no - one else can use it, but that's about all you can do and you're unlikely to see it again, unfortunately

Yeah it was blocked but not until a few hours later. We switched lost mode on within half an hour too. There was a pin code too. So hopefully whoever has it won't be able to use it. Though I'm sure they will find their way round it somehow. Very annoying

If they send it abroad or sell on ebay as blocked then it can be used... Sorry

Handy hint- from learning the hard way. If you suspect your phone has been stolen DO NOT ring it- as all the thief has to do is swipe to answer it hang up then your phone is unlocked for them to use. Cunts.

My iPhone locked after I answered phone calls while it was locked. It's not that easy to get into it! There's always ways round the security settings sadly OP.

Ah hadn't thought of that Sharon. We phone it for ages though it did go to my answer phone so I think it had been switched off straight away but good hint thanks.

Ah well