To Catch an iPhone Thief

[Nuke_em_05]

Phone Lifters:

1. Don't steal a phone and use it immediately.

2. Don't steal a phone that can be tracked and accessed remotely.

3. You can't avoid the grid.

4. The internet is not your friend.

For the $300.00 initial investment, plus the $600.00 replacement: yeah, totally worth it.

 

[WorkerMurphey]

I feel like I just watched a Bourne Identity movie. Intense story.

I chuckled at the author's subtle racism.

 

[DeAvatar]

Man, $10 to recover a $700 iPhone, definitely worth it.

 

[ygetoff]

That is an impressive and uplifting story. I never knew that someone could get that much information on someone with a little work...

 

[US Crash Fire]

I would pay too see this made into a movie!
"Taken 2: iPhone Hunter"

 

[Woodscare]

That guy loves his phone

 

[ItsAPaul]

And people wonder why I don't have an iphone.

 

[elricik]

Oh my god I can't believe that this is real, BUT IT IS!!! Also I'm slightly scared that he was able to pull up all this information on these people, I think I'll be changing a few phone numbers tomorrow. Oh yeah and for those of you that want to know the ending, its below.

Spoiler: The End

The guy cyber stalks the thief and his family for about a week, then he finally gets his phone back via mail. I bet the guy shit himself when he found out he had been cyber stalked for that long, but I can't say I sympathize with him, being that he did steal the phone.

 

[WhiteTigerShiro]

That's awesome.

Also kind of creepy how far some people are willing to go over a friggin' phone, but still awesome.

Maybe you need to read (or at least skim through) the source. It would have cost him $700 to replace the iPhone, which I think included having to get a new phone plan on top of that. Certainly sounds like a worthy amount of effort to save himself 700 clams that he shouldn't have to spend in the first place.

Edit: Yeah, here it is. Easy to find because it's the entire Wednesday portion of the article:

I did not see any trace of the phone all day. Whoever had it had either turned it off, or reprogrammed it. I began looking for a new phone. A new iPhone without renewing your plan runs about $700 after taxes. Man, I was feeling down. It's so depressing when you realize you've been had.

 

[DrummerM]

Jesus. Now that is dedication.

 

[Chakanus]

Notwithstanding the amazing awesomeness of this dedicated iPod owner, I have to say I find this kind of news always a bit disturbing. Maybe because I know fully well you don't need to own the phone to track it (the boyfriend of a friend of mine used to track her down every time - pretty creepy stuff), I can't believe how easy it is for any freakshow to suddently make your life a living hell.

Heck, maybe it'll start a trend of stalker-lottery. You're a stalker, you buy a ticket, and you get a random phone number and step-by-step directions on how to find out everything about that person. If you're lucky you get a cheerleader, or whatever is your fantasy... Niiice! *sighs*

 

[bluepilot]

Fantanstic

If onlt petty crinimals were exposed more to this kind of treatment. It would act as a deterrent towards such crimes.

Let the criminal face harassement, not the victim.

 

[Orange Monkey]

Damn... I read the whole story. It's incredible what you can do with technology these days ain't it?

 

[Mozza444]

Alot of people are saying that this is abit much over a phone?? Like he says it would cost him $700 t get another, to me thats alot..
Plus its not the fact he had the phone, some people (like me) just really don't like people stealing from them no matter how important the item was..

 

[DanDeFool]

BAMF of the Day.

I have a whole new respect for the iPhone now. Not to mention for the people who know how to use them.

I'm still not buying an iPad though.

 

[Kamaitachi]

Read the whole thing, but the guy who stole the phone was so pathetic it wasn't even funny.
I hope he is arrested, when he accepts the check

 

[Kamaitachi]

Fantanstic

If onlt petty crinimals were exposed more to this kind of treatment. It would act as a deterrent towards such crimes.

Let the criminal face harassement, not the victim.

It wouldn't, it would only force them to use diffrent tactics.

 

[traceur_]

This dude needs help, it's a fucking phone dude, and an iPhone at that, he did you a service by stealing it, let it go.

 

[brunothepig]

Awesome. The guy deserves a cookie for sheer skill at head-fuckery. A bit of effort, I suppose still cheaper than replacing it. And I'd do it just for that final phone call. A thing of beauty.

 

[jthm]

Wow... privacy is a joke.