Find a phone app that works?

[Russ Smith]

Both android and iPhone.

A friend of mine had his phone stolen yesterday. Apparently some drug addict woman reached into their car in a parking lot when they were all away and they chased after her. She dropped the wallet she'd stolen so they grabbed the wallet and then flagged down a cop who eventually caught the woman. In the process he realized she'd also taken his phone. the police searched her and found no phone and said she probably stashed it in the store (she ran into a Walgreens and the police caught her in there).

They called it the first time it rang 5 times then after that 2 then to VM which apparently means she either turned it off, or the battery was off.

he had a phone locator app on the phone, and location was always on. Went to T Mobile assuming they'd be able to find it and they said we can't do that. They turned it off so it won't make calls. then he tried the find phone app on a laptop and it didn't work at all. He was eventually able to use Android Device Manager from Google to wipe the data off the phone which means it WAS on the internet, but even that ADM couldn't find the phone.

Dawned on me I don't have an app installed on my Android or my GF's iPhone and if I do install one, I want one that works better than his did.

ANy recommendations?

 

[Russ Smith]

Both android and iPhone.

A friend of mine had his phone stolen yesterday. Apparently some drug addict woman reached into their car in a parking lot when they were all away and they chased after her. She dropped the wallet she'd stolen so they grabbed the wallet and then flagged down a cop who eventually caught the woman. In the process he realized she'd also taken his phone. the police searched her and found no phone and said she probably stashed it in the store (she ran into a Walgreens and the police caught her in there).

They called it the first time it rang 5 times then after that 2 then to VM which apparently means she either turned it off, or the battery was off.

he had a phone locator app on the phone, and location was always on. Went to T Mobile assuming they'd be able to find it and they said we can't do that. They turned it off so it won't make calls. then he tried the find phone app on a laptop and it didn't work at all. He was eventually able to use Android Device Manager from Google to wipe the data off the phone which means it WAS on the internet, but even that ADM couldn't find the phone.

Dawned on me I don't have an app installed on my Android or my GF's iPhone and if I do install one, I want one that works better than his did.

ANy recommendations?

Turns out it wasn't online. Device Manager still gives you the option to lock and wipe the phone if the phone is offline. It just can't do it but as soon as the phone comes back online, it sends a message to lock and wipe the phone.

Sounds like premium Lookout is the way to go. If someone turns the phone off, it takes a pic, same with airplane mode or changing an SD or Sim card.

So someone steals your phone, you call it to find it and they turn it off to avoid the ringing, in the process it takes their picture. In this case the pic would have been the girl the police already caught and maybe they can get her to tell where she hid the phone.

Also with Device Manager you can make the phone ring nonstop for 5 minutes, with Lookout you can make the phone "scream" nonstop apparently much louder and much easier to find.

 

[MrYeahBut]

I've used Lookout for a year or more now. It really helps if you have GPS location turned on, but I've found my phone a couple times without it. The scream feature really works well. Can't remember if the scream works if the phone is on vibrate only. Nice app, imo.