Apple - Mac

What to do if an iPad is stolen

Whatever the theme may be obvious, but sooner or later you need to know what to do when you are stolen iPad.  And while some aspects apply to the iPhone, iPod Touch and iMac, I want to take advantage of it to personalize it in honor of what I learned one day over there:

1. Avoid exposing yourself to theft as much as possible.

The iPhone is a necessary communication tool at all times, the iPad is a work tool. It replaced our paper diary, pencil, laptop, camera, book, and gameboy. So you have to avoid exposing it unnecessarily, whoever hopes to steal electronic consumables will follow you and look for any oversight.

  • If you are going to have lunch, do not leave it on the desk, but under the key even though everyone in your office is honorable.
  • If it is forgetful, do not take it to any side where it is not urgent.
  • If you are going to eat with a friend, do not take it, it is a tool of work, not a distractor in moments that must be dedicated to important people.
  • If you carry it in the car, do not carry it on the side seat, the tank in front, or on the tray in the door. Don't let your child carry it in the back seat playing Angry Birds, don't use it yourself while driving. And above all, do not take the glass open in the urban area, every day it is more frequent for a motorcycle to stop next to the traffic light or slow traffic, forcing you to give the mobile phone, wallet, or whatever is in sight .
  • Carrying it hidden in the car may be more useful than you think, especially if your car is stolen.
  • If you go to the mall with your children, if it is not necessary, do not take it. Separate that work tool from family life, at home it can be used to watch Facebook or play with your children (because it also acts as an entertainment tool)
  • And if you must wear it, then make sure you know how to hide it. An iPad mini fits in the middle of a notebook, in the inner pocket of the jacket, even under the arm.

2. Know beforehand what you will do if you lose it.

No one expects you to succeed, but it is best to be prepared for it, so keep these recommendations in mind.
  • Always keep GPS on. These objects bring a device, so if it is stolen, you can track the Internet where it is, or at least where the thief went.
  • Keep the iPad search app installed, and enable the functionality in the general settings. In previous versions of iOS this could be disabled, now it requires the user password. Keep in mind that it only works when the computer is connected to the Internet, so if you are in another country and you do not have an active SMS it will be difficult.
  • Keep a key active on iCloud.com, and test how the device location works first. If your device is stolen on the street, for no reason follow the thief, go directly to the Internet and think about what to do. If you left it forgotten, you only need to identify where it is. If it does not identify it, it is possible to configure that a message reaches the mail when the equipment connects to the Internet, for this you must activate the theft mode option, which will also save a position on the map each time it connects.
  • Keep the lock key active. It is somewhat uncomfortable to be typing it at all times, but in the event of a theft or loss, it gives you some time before running to reset it for fear that they will remove important information.
  • Log into the accounts you think are open on the iPad and close active sessions. Facebook and Gmail allow this without having to change your password. Remember what type of accounts you use frequently, preferably have them noted, such as Twitter, Skype, Dropbox, if necessary change the password, this can be done with peace of mind while the equipment is locked.
  • Once accounts are closed, if the device is not connected to the Internet, you can dare to unlock it, if the thief is an asshole, he could try to connect to the Internet. If you have the photos synced with Dropbox, you could even see the photos the guy takes and they could be used for something, even if it's to throw curses at him.

3. Decide what to do to get it back

  • If you see that the device is still connected, one way to follow it is with an iPhone connected to the Internet, you just have to register there that you want to search for another device, activate the Apple password and you can follow it. Do not follow it on foot.
  • If you are in the same building or office, relax, just get as close as possible and activate the sound. It could ring on the toilet seat, in your co-worker's suitcase or even in an old woman's pants… Know what she will tell you.
  • If you are in a public place, try to recover it but do not go alone, it could be a guard of the establishment.
  • If you are in a pawn shop you will need the bill and possibly a police order.
  • If you are in a dangerous area, reconsider how much your life is worth. It could be that you end up losing your other iPhone, your car, and even your life. Depending on the country you are in, see if you can trust the local police for a rescue operation, no one wants to make enemies in the future over an artifact that has no soul.

4. What to do if you can't track it

Previous versions of the iPad were very easy to reset or disable the gps. They could continue to be because they do not accept recent versions of iOS.
However, it can happen to you with new appliances. There are very specialized thieves and honestly there is no guarantee if once the equipment is turned off it can be located.
  • If you detect that the device is not recoverable, from the iCloud account select delete content. With this you will be calm.
  • Do not forget to report the theft, as it could appear at a crime scene and the report can avoid us a mess. They also have a mobile chip that criminals can use for extortion.
  • Don't suffer, don't cry, don't beat yourself up, or let your wife lecture you. Just accept that it happened to you by maje. Excuse the word, but the day you lose it you won't feel less.
Then think about how to buy another and from now on better be more paranoid. If you have been using it for a year you will find that you cannot live without it.
I'm just asking: why doesn't a total station that cost $ 9,000 have a device to retrieve it? A simple $ 250 iPod has it; we would be willing to pay extra for that.

Golgi Alvarez

Writer, researcher, specialist in Land Management Models. He has participated in the conceptualization and implementation of models such as: National Property Administration System SINAP in Honduras, Management Model of Joint Municipalities in Honduras, Integrated Cadastre-Registry Management Model in Nicaragua, Territory Administration System SAT in Colombia . Editor of the Geofumadas knowledge blog since 2007 and creator of the AulaGEO Academy that includes more than 100 courses on GIS - CAD - BIM - Digital Twins topics.

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One Comment

  1. Hahaha. I do not know because I seem to be drawn from a real life story

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