STOLEN IPOD Serial Number: 7L8195GDY0P

[SpeedRacerSlots]

Well this morning I walked outside to get in my car and come to find out that some kids walking the neighborhood overnight last night wanted the iPod out of my car worse than I wanted to keep it. They also took the Monster Tuner/Charger cable for it.

So today I do some digging to figure out how to inform Apple and their iTunes group that my iPod had been stolen. Guess what... there is NO way to report a stolen iPod to Apple! Yeah, you can call their customer service dept and tell them about it. They can even take the serial number for you (there is a way to retrieve that from iTunes on your computer), but they DONT DO A THING WITH IT.

The big question is COULD Apple do anything with it?
SURE!!! They know (thru iTunes) that an iPod is connected to it, shoot it even authenticates and tracks in iTunes when you attach the thing. It also traces the iPod serial number with each and every sync and downloaded music/video track.
So WHAT could they do?
Well lets see... inside iTunes, currently you can DEACTIVATE the iTunes account; you can DEACTIVATE the COMPUTER that iTunes is running on (ie: iTunes will no longer authenticate with iTunes Store via that computer); you can even DEAVTIVATE the audible account on that computer (ie: you cant listen to iTunes music any more on that account on iTunes).... so the question is... WHY dont they have the ability to DEACTIVATE an iPOD? Seems pretty stinkin simple to me.

If you could DEACTIVATE the iPOD, then whomever stole it could NOT use it under any circumstances with iTUNES ever again... problem solved. You can use the iPod if its "deactivated" then what good would it do to steal them?

OH YEAH.... Apple doesnt want to help curb the theft of iPods, because hmmmmm lets see... IT DRIVES SALES of REPLACEMENT iPods that people would most likely otherwise not buy unless their current one died.

Seems to me though that Apple would want to help stop the "illegal use of music".... after all, there were songs on there that were licensed TO ME.... instead of to the person that stole it... thats illegal use. If Apple can tell where the stolen iPod is located (yes, iTunes even tracks the user account and IP used to connect over the internet, thus an ISP, thus a location that can be pinpointed down to within a few miles vis IP Geolocation tools like Quova).... They could track the stolen units and help put the theives behind bars, and maybe even garner fines for "unlicensed use of music"...

Oh well off my soapbox now.

To the person(s) that stole my iPod on July 30th out of my Altima in Fairfield... I hope that the songs that were contained on the device have an impact on your life and your heart!
Kind of ironic that the 4GB iPod they stole was loaded completely with CHRISTIAN MUSIC!!! Everything from Chris Tomlin, Greg Johnson, Todd Agnew, Barlow Girl, SuperChick, Newsboys, Toby Mac, Audio Adrenaline, Kim Hill and a bunch more!

Anywhoo the REAL reason that I wrote this rant, is that since there are PAID services that report iPod theft (and to publish the serial number...) I decided to put it out here, because at least the internet search engines will index this page and anyone searching for a serial number will find it and realize that they are in the possession of a stolen ipod.
The information from from my STOLEN IPOD is:
iPod nano (3rd Generation) running firmware version 1.1.3
Serial Number: 7L8195GDY0P

[Rson]

Sucks that the IPOD is one of the highest stolen items.

there is no recourse, each ipod has a hard boot sequence and resets to a new owner.

Sucks to hear that.

[Crashoran]

This is nothing new - Same thing applies to stolen satellite radio units, gps units, etc..
I learned it the hard way :(

[Rson]

Engrave you drivers license number and name.. if it is ever recovered, you might get it back.

[Toad]

That's too bad about Apple not doing anything.

If your xbox is stolen, they will take the serial number, and than ban it from ever connecting to xbox live. To me... not having xbox live would make the xbox worthless.

[z-monster]

Originally Posted by SpeedRacerSlots

WHY dont they have the ability to DEACTIVATE an iPOD?

Simple answer, Apple is under no obligation to do this.

I would imagine that the cost for such a service isn't cost effective. These companies are in the buisness to make money not lose it otherwise, THEFT would haven been included in the warranty of each product.

Bottom line is that you should secure valuable items at all times. Sure it's pain in the ass but I remove my GPS, the faceplate of my Stereo and my iPhone if it's on the car charger at all times when I leave my vehicle.

[SpeedRacerSlots]

I normally do take everything out of the car when I am anywhere...
The fam used to make cracks at me for taking both my laptop backpack (work) and my camera backpack into a restaurant/movie whenever we were out and about and they happened to be in teh car for whatever reason i needed them prior to the meal/movie, etc.

they dont laugh any more about those

Oh well, now I have a new excuse to get a new one or see what shows up for the anniv or b-day.

[shamrock]

My son has had two ipods stolen by "friends". Both were engraved. Neither ever turned up. And yes, we had the same experience with Apple - no help provided. Of course, we got the same response from Dell when his netbook was stolen.

I think i've finally convinced him he needs new friends.

[blues8110]

Sad I know several people too, they should put some resource to it.

[z-monster]

Originally Posted by shamrock

we had the same experience with Apple - no help provided. Of course, we got the same response from Dell when his notebook was stolen

Let's say that I bought a lens from you. Several weeks later I come to you about it being stolen, what would YOU do as the person/company who sold me that lens?

[Rson]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20078671/

MSNBC did a great show on ipods.

[shamrock]

Originally Posted by z-monster

Let's say that I bought a lens from you. Several weeks later I come to you about it being stolen, what would YOU do as the person/company who sold me that lens?

A lens, which has no way of being tracked that i am aware of, is a far cry different from a device that is designed to connect to a database that tracks its identity. Compare like to like, if you want a rational answer.

Now a camera body, which imbeds its identity into the photos it takes, is a different story. While i do not have the technical knowledge or ability to track a stolen device in such a situation, i'm sure that the solution exists, or could be devised.

The solutions for the ipod have already been presented. In the case of the computer, which had several licensed pieces of software on it, making it inaccessible and virtually useless to the thief would be easier. Yes, it might be a costly solution at first, but once the servers and databases were in place to track and lock up the software, or even the hard drive of a system that was in a police database as stolen goods, it might deter the theft of these items.

[Crashoran]

Originally Posted by z-monster

Let's say that I bought a lens from you. Several weeks later I come to you about it being stolen, what would YOU do as the person/company who sold me that lens?

It only makes me mad when things that are capable of being disabled/tracked are ignored by the companies. Such as when you plug in your GPS to update the maps, activate a satellite radio, or update the firmware on an iPhone or iPod

[Marv800]

Originally Posted by Rson

Engrave you drivers license number and name.. if it is ever recovered, you might get it back.

The problem with that is, your DL# changes if you move out of state. Better to just engrave your Social Security number and date of birth on anything you own that has a high likelihood of being stolen ;)

[VisualOddity]

That sucks man. The best thing you can do now it to search CL and EBAY or it. :(