Can the police track your phone if its lost?

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I have lost or had my phone or tablet stolen, what can I do to help find them?

If the unthinkable happens and your phone or tablet is lost or stolen then there are things you can do to help get it back, or if you can't to at least wipe your device so all your data is safe.

To be able to trace your phone your location settings must be enabled on your device.

On iOS there is the 'Find my iPhone' app which is exceptionally easy to install and use

For Android Phone you can use Android Device Manager but to use all of the features you need to enable it ahead of time in your settings, find Security and either Device Administrators and check Android Device Manager and this will give you the ability to remotely wipe or lock your phone if needed.

To then find your phone, just navigate to Google Play via a web browser, click the settings wheel and hit Android Device Manager. From here you can locate, ring, lock and erase your device if needed.

For Windows Phone go via WindowsPhone.com and log in with your details to spot its location on a map and make it ring, display a message or erase the whole device. If you're still rocking a BlackBerry, you can use the BlackBerry Protect tool to achieve a similar thing. This needs to be preset on the BlackBerry device, however.

It is also important to let the police know as much information about your phone if it is stolen so we can identify it and get it back to you but you need to know more than the model and colour of your handset.

Each handset manufactured for use in the UK has a unique International Mobile Equipment Identity number (IMEI) hardwired into it during the manufacturing process. Knowing the IMEI will help the police identify your handset should it be stolen. And UK network operators will also prevent a stolen handset from working across their respective networks if they know its IMEI.

You can find your handset’s IMEI by:

typing *#06# into the keypad of your handset
looking inside the battery or SIM card compartment of your handset
looking on the side of the box, or on the associated paperwork, that you received when purchasing the handset.

Finally you need to contact your service provider to let them know, do so might prevent someone from running up a big bill that you are then liable for and the service provider can also disconnect the handset from the network and block it so it can't be used with another SIM card.

Nowadays, mobile tracking has become a child’s play. But tracking a switched off phone is a little difficult because when a phone is turned off it will stop communicating with nearby mobile towers. It can only be traced through its last location when it was switched on by calling the service provider or through Google services.

Read More: Will I know if someone monitors my phone?

Moreover, there are various solutions such as the Find My Device app, IMEI tracking app, and more to track your phone that is switched off. However, all these solutions work only when your phone is switched on.

Can I track a phone without a data connection?
Yes, both iOS and Android phones can be tracked without a data connection. There are various mapping apps that have the ability to track the location of your phone even without the Internet connection. The GPS system in your smartphone works in two different ways. When your phone has a data connection or is connected to WiFi, it uses Assisted GPS or A-GPS. This uses the location of nearby cell phone towers and known Wi-Fi networks to roughly figure out where your device is.
Can I track my iPhone if it is switched off?
You can find your iPhone even if its battery is dead or if it is not connected to the Internet. The ‘Bluetooth location’ feature by Apple enables you to locate an offline iPhone, as long as it is switched on. Moreover, you can find a switched off iPhone by tracking its last known location using the ‘Find my’ app and iCloud.
How can I track a cell phone using Google Maps?
You can trace your lost phone using the ‘Find My Device’ app and Google Maps. However, you must have installed the app before it is lost. While the phone is lost, you need to log in to your Google account that is linked to your lost phone using a computer or some other device. Pull up the Google Maps and click on the menu and further tap on the ‘Your Timeline’ option. Now, put in the date to check the location history of your lost device of that particular day.
How do the police find stolen phones?
Police can track a stolen phone using its IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number or through GPS tracking.
Can someone see your location if your phone is on Airplane mode?
Putting your phone to Airplane mode will restrict anyone from tracking your location.