Can a thief take out the sim card and use phone like new?

I recently left my phone in a public bathroom and when I went back it was gone. So I believe someone has taken it and has turned it off. I am using Find my iPhone but the person has not turned my phone on in 3 days. I'd like to know, what could he/she possibly be doing to my phone? Could she have already taken out the sim card and started using it like a new one? Is that possible? Everyone says that it becomes a useless brick after you go through the procedures of locking it and putting it on lost mode but there is a way around it right..otherwise, why would people steal them?

If the iPhone has iOS 7, you set up Find My iPhone, and there's a screenlock passcode, then the iPhone is unusable to the thief or anyone he sells or gives the iPhone to.
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH13695
The thief could have restored the iPhone which would cause it to no longer appear in Find My iPhone in iCloud, but it won't be usable. People steal them because either the thief is ignorant about Activation Lock, or they depend on buyers looking for a deal will be ignorant, which if you look at the many posts here from people who've bought an iPhone from a stranger and encountered Activation Lock is proof that such ignorance still abounds.
Regards.
Message was edited by: varjak paw

Similar Messages

  • If you have iPhone4 and can you take out the sim card from iPhone4 and transfer it in to new iPhone4s?

    if you have iPhone4 and can you take out the sim card from iPhone4 and transfer it in to new iPhone4s?

    Under the circumstances this will probably considered a dumb question.
    I currently have a jailbroken unlocked 3GS with a GoPhone plan.  Works great.  I am considering upgrading to a new factory unlocked 4S.  Will I be able to swap in my current SIM card and go?

  • Can i just take out my SIM card to erase my passcode?

    i Have forgotten my passcode and I haven't synced my phone to a computer, so can I just take out my SIM card to erase it all and start from scratch?

    Nope.  You will need to restore the device from a computer.  whether you've synced to one in the past or not is irrelevant.
    Use iTunes to restore your iOS device to factory settings - Apple Support
    Removing the sim card will simply stop the iPhone from getting cell service. nothing more.

  • How do I take out the SIM card?

    How do I take out the SIM card from 4s

    Christine,
    iPhone and iPad: How to remove the SIM card explains.

  • HT1438 do i need to take out the SIM card before erasing data or after

    Hello,
    I need to erase data form iphone 4S, do i need to take out the SIM card before erasing data or after?

    Do a back up first to icloud or itunes on your pc. then erase all contents and settings.

  • I have an I phone 4 that I use in Singapore, but would like to use it in the US while on holiday. How do I cahnge out the sim card, and is there anything else that I need to do.

    I have an I phone 4 that I use in Singapore, but would like to use it in the US while on holiday. How do I change out the sim card, and is there anything else that I need to do?

    Ignore the other post (the one from Brendan), he has no idea what he is talking about.
    Read your manual (you have a bookmark to it in Safari on your iPhone or put iBooks on your iPhone and download the manual from the iBookStore) and it will show you how to remove the microSIM from your iPhone. AT&T is not tourist friendly and does not offer a pay as you go plan for visitors with an iPhone. If you are going to be here for a short time you can probably buy a pay as you go microSIM and use it before AT&T notices, if it is going to be for a long time that won't work.
    There is a 3rd party company that will sell you a microSIM that will work with AT&T but they are pretty pricey.
    Finally, you can get a pay as you go microSIM from T-Mobile to work with your iPhone but you will only have EDGE data speeds.
    Message was edited by: deggie

  • My new iphone 5 will not ring. have done soft reset and taken out the sim card and put it back in. very frustrating

    my new iphone 5 will not ring. have done soft reset and taken out the sim card and put it back in. very frustrating

    Did you check the side control and make sure it isn't on mute.  Up for ringer down for mute.

  • If they take out the sim card from it and insert it in another iphone, will they have access to my information?

    My iphone5 was stolen this weekend. I have a passcode and the find my iphone app has been activated. The phone hasn't been turned on yet. The police reccomends keeping the app on for a few days to see if they turn it on. I read that the sim card can be removed and the phone will be wiped. Although I would love to get my phone back, I am more concerned with my information being accessed. Is it possible to remove the sim card? If so, can they insert the sim card in another phone and access the information that way or is it safe as long as there is a passcode? Any information will help, thank you.

    Since your phone was running iOS 7.0, the phone will be useless to anyone but you. Activation Lock will prevent the phone from being re-activated unless your Apple ID/Password is known.
    Your phone is now useless, except as a paperweight.

  • IPad has a feature or insert the SIM card and use it as normal phone?

    I tried to insert the SIM card into the drip tray iPad but was too small. iPad has a feature that is inserted into the SIM card and the normal operation of the phone?

    The only way to use an iPad as a phone is via one of the Voice-Over-IP services such as Skype.
    As to your SIM issue, the iPad requires a micro-SIM, and you apparently tried to use a standard SIM. But such SIMs get you access to data services only; as pjl123 said, the iPad has no phone capability built in.
    Regards.

  • I don't see no place to put the clip and take out the SIM card on iPhone 4,where and how I open the phone?

    I don't see no place on the side of the phone to put a clip to change the SIM card ....where is the place to open the SIM card?

    If it is a CDMA iPhone there is no SIM tray.
    The non-CDMA iPhone has the SIM tray as below...

  • My iPad 2 won't start, should I take out the SIM card?

    I am unable to start or restore my iPad 2.  Would removing the SIM card help?

    Not really.  The sim card simply allows for connection to a cellular network.  It should not affect how the iPad operates in any other way.
    Though there's no harm in removing it. Just pop the tray.

  • Can you legally remove the sim card and use it for another courier?

    I wanted to buy the iPhone 3G but annoyignly O2 have adopted stupid tarrifs that make no sense, so I want to replace my Samsung phone that I bought and use with T-Mobile, with the iPhone 3G. O2 will be selling the handsets individually for PAYG, but will that mean I can only use it for O2's services still?

    There isn't any info yet and don't quote me but I'd say there is very high chance it will be locked to O2 and only work with the sim card that the iphone comes with. It's doubtful it will work with the tmobile sim card.

  • Can I take out my SIM card and put it in an older phone while mine goes in for repair?

    When sending my phone in for repair, can I take my SIM card out and use it in an older phone while mine gets repaired?

    I believe so although the following also recommends discussing with your carrier: What to do when you return or send your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch in for service - Apple Support

  • IPhone 5 - Can I swap out the sim card to use in China?

    Can I swap out the US Verizon sim card in my iPhone 5 to use in China with a local Chinese carrier?  What needs to happen?
    Thanks,
    Dxeph

    Nicholas,
    Thank you for the quick response!

  • HT3406 After the steps suggested, does it mean i can "remove" the SIM card and use my iphone via WIFI? i can browse the internet but cannot make phone calls right?

    Is the wifi card a build in in ipod/ipad? yet build in on SIM card in iphone?

    But on WiFi, could I still use Skype to make a phone call? I have a camera adapter for the iPhone 4 and would just use it as a camera and to play music after I upgrade to a later versionof iPhone. Am I correct in assuming that I could still do everything except connect through 3G?

Maybe you are looking for

  • Best way to create hierarchies tables

    Good morning all, I wanted to discuss the best practices of creating hierarchies to be consumed by OBIEE. As far as I understand, OBIEE has been optimized to use flattened hierarchies, such as: ROW_WID CITY COUNTRY 1 NEW YORK CITY USA 2 MOSCOW RUSSIA

  • TS3059 iphone4s applications crashing after itunes sync.

    Hi, I'm on my 4th Iphone4s this month, every time I sync the Iphone to Itunes all the applications wouldn't open afterwards. I've created a new Apple ID that didnt work with the 3rd Iphone. The phone was working fine when I got it last week, now that

  • Modifying request before approval

    Hello Friends, I want to allow modification to the request before Manager Approval. Once it is approved user/admin should not be able to modify request. how to achieve this. If have any sample code snippet, then please, give me. Thanks and Regards DB

  • Does anyone understand Security settings for Portfolios??

    Thanks, Philip, you answered part of my question. I'm still searching for a way to keep people from printing or editing my artwork I place in the portfolio I'm building in Acrobat. Anyone's help would be greatly appreciated. I can't seem to find any

  • Using PSE13 as external editor with iPhoto w/MAC OS

    Upgraded from PSE12 to 13 and now unable to use PSE13 as an external editor with iPhoto on a MAC OS V 10.9.  Have reinstalled and no change.  Preferences in 13 differ from help for older versions.