Yes, police can track stolen phones, primarily through the device's unique IMEI number and carrier data, but their level of involvement often depends on police workload and jurisdiction; they usually rely on victims using built-in tracking apps like "Find My" or "Find My Device" and may only act if a strong location is provided or a warrant is secured. While they can request carrier info to locate the device (often to a general area), they typically don't actively hunt for low-priority property crimes, so you must report it, provide the IMEI, and use your phone's own tools.
While the police may not do much to try and recover the phone, filing a report—which may require the device's serial or IMEA number—means they can trace it if the phone is ever recovered.
1 & 2, in theory, if 'Find my iPhone' is enabled, it can assist the police to recover a stolen phone, however, location accuracy is not totally effective and this is because in built-up areas such as London, a stolen phone could be shown as being at a particular location but in reality, that location could cover a ...
Whether you have an iOS or Android phone, there are ways it can be tracked even if the location services are turned off. You may have used some of these yourself to find a lost or stolen phone. For example, the Find My iPhone app uses Bluetooth to help you find a smartphone even if it's offline.
During routine checks or arrests, the situation differs. Generally, police cannot access your phone in Australia without your consent or a warrant. The exception is if they believe the phone contains evidence of a crime and there is a risk that this evidence could be destroyed or lost.
When a phone is turned off, it stops communicating with cell towers, making real-time location tracking impossible. However, law enforcement can access the last known location from network logs before shutdown.
It's always worth reporting the incident even if you don't think the phone will be recovered. You'll need a crime reference number if you want to claim insurance, and it helps the police build a picture of where crime hotspots are located.
One of the most common plans for thieves is factory resetting stolen devices and quickly selling them.
This Vertical Service Code, *82, enables calling line identification regardless of subscriber preference, dialed to unblock withheld numbers (private callers) in the U.S. on a per-call basis.
Report your missing iPhone or iPad
Report it to your local police station. They may request the serial number of your iPhone or iPad, which you can find even if you don't have the device.
Turning off the location service on your phone can help conceal your location. This is important if you don't want third parties knowing where you are or being able to track your movement. However, a smartphone can still be tracked through other techniques that reveal its general location.
If your device is lost or stolen, suspending your service will help prevent additional charges from unauthorized users. Once you suspend your line, it will be inactive and unavailable for use.
Fortunately, there's a way to track a stolen phone using its unique International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number. This 15-digit code serves as a vital tool in the recovery process and assists law enforcement agencies in locating the stolen device and apprehending the culprits behind the theft.
Thieves often pass on their loot to handlers such as high street phone repair shops. Some dump the stolen goods in bins or bushes to be collected by another criminal in their network.
You should tell your network provider straight away if your phone is lost or stolen, so they can block it and stop anyone else using it. If you don't tell them straight away you might have to pay for any unauthorised phone calls, which can be very expensive.
Quick-Glance Comparison
Dialing *77 on your phone activates Anonymous Call Rejection, blocking incoming calls from private or blocked numbers, making anonymous callers hear a message to hang up and try again. It's a landline/VoIP feature (like AT&T, CenturyLink) to stop spam/prank calls but can sometimes vary by carrier or state, potentially connecting to emergency services (like *87 to turn it off).
Turn off location services on Android
If your mobile device is lost or stolen
Make a report to NSW Police via the Community Portal. If you have tracking software installed on your device, let NSW Police know. Apps such as 'Find My Phone' or 'Find My Device' can often help locate a mobile device that has been lost or stolen.
SquareTrade noted 80 percent of the stolen devices are iPhones, with the iPhone 15 Pro Max most frequently stolen, followed by the iPhone 16 Pro Max and Galaxy S24 Ultra.
This means that if someone steals an iPhone and attempts to reset it or activate it with a new Apple ID, they will be prompted to enter the original owner's credentials. Without these credentials, the device remains locked and essentially unusable, acting as a strong deterrent against theft.
Many of these devices would have ended up in China. A criminal network suspected of smuggling up to 40,000 stolen phones from the UK to China over the past 12 months has been disrupted by London's Metropolitan Police.
While police do have the ability and means to track your cell phone, it's likely they won't be doing so unless you're a suspect in a crime. Police also have to go through a stringent legal process to be able to track your phone.
Take the item to the police
They'll try to return it to its original owner. You shouldn't keep the item or return it to the seller yourself - this might be considered 'handling stolen goods', which is illegal.