Tracked my stolen phone with Dropbox, ADM & Police

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bramwell

161 posts

Master Geek

#133611 27-Oct-2013 23:49

Thank you to all in Geekzone community who helped with suggestions on how to find my stolen phone (Android, HTC).

As soon as I realised phone was missing I had it blocked.

I had Dropbox already loaded onto the phone, the thief took photos on my phone and they automatically uploaded onto my computer.

Next was Android Device Manager which helped me track it to the exact address!

Gave Police address and photos of thief's lounge wall (yes, they had photographed their framed photos on their lounge wall!) - Police went tonight and identified said wall so they knew they had correct address.

RESULT!

Happy happy me :-)

I hope this post might help others to track their phone down in a similar situation.

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#922854 28-Oct-2013 00:17

The stupidity of thieves always amazes me.

michaelmurfy

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#922860 28-Oct-2013 02:48

Good job! It's pointless stealing phones in NZ, you're going to get caught if you do.
Also god forbid anyone stealing my phone, they won't be able to use it with any other sim cards and I'll find them even if they factory reset it :)

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
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johnr

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#922862 28-Oct-2013 05:59

That is awsome

jeffnz

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#922863 28-Oct-2013 07:06

great result, well done for your perserverance

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naggyman

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#922870 28-Oct-2013 08:01

Great story! Phones are just so easy to track these days that why bother stealing one!

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Wade

2225 posts

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#922871 28-Oct-2013 08:14

I love reading threads like this one!

Agree with above comments re: smart phones being too smart for the average opportunist thief.

Wife lost her iPhone a couple of weeks ago, took us a couple of hours to realise, jumped on icloud and could see phone sitting at supermarket we had been at earlier. Turns out it was found and handed in by an honest shopper so all ended well which was great.

RunningMan

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#922877 28-Oct-2013 08:31

Wade: I love reading threads like this one!

Agree with above comments re: smart phones being too smart for the average opportunist thief.

Wife lost her iPhone a couple of weeks ago, took us a couple of hours to realise, jumped on icloud and could see phone sitting at supermarket we had been at earlier. Turns out it was found and handed in by an honest shopper so all ended well which was great.

It's really refreshing to hear the good news stories like this one too!

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johnr

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#922878 28-Oct-2013 08:33

Can you show us the PICs the end user took?

bramwell

161 posts

Master Geek

#922896 28-Oct-2013 09:33

Thanks everyone

Haha johnr, would love to post end user's pics but they'd bore you ...

freitasm

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#922901 28-Oct-2013 09:46

Well, that was a surprise. Well done.

bramwell

161 posts

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#922904 28-Oct-2013 09:57

Yes I must say I know the Police have much bigger things to be concerned with than a stolen phone, so wasn't really too hopeful that the Police would take the time to chase it up.

I think a number of things worked in my favour in that it was a Sunday night so perhaps they weren't too busy, plus I kinda 'pestered' them a bit ... several phone calls asking about progress.

:-)

thecatsgoolies

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#922906 28-Oct-2013 10:03

Never ceases to amaze me. The sheer stupidity of these fools who should not attempt to steal a 'smart phone' lol

sonyxperiageek

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#922926 28-Oct-2013 10:37

bramwell: Yes I must say I know the Police have much bigger things to be concerned with than a stolen phone, so wasn't really too hopeful that the Police would take the time to chase it up.

I think a number of things worked in my favour in that it was a Sunday night so perhaps they weren't too busy, plus I kinda 'pestered' them a bit ... several phone calls asking about progress.

:-)

I would've thought Sunday night (especially it being a long weekend) that they would've been busier! ;) But glad you got your phone back safe and sound! :)

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Yabanize

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#922928 28-Oct-2013 10:44

I think you should install cerberus for next time :P

Well hoping there is no next time but nothing beats cerberus

richms

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#922939 28-Oct-2013 11:13

I have been told they like ones like this because it gets them enough to get into the place where they will usually find a whole lot more which they wouldn't be able to use if they entered other ways.

Richard rich.ms

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