Ways to track iPad incase it's stolen

Question

Hello,
My iPad was stolen once.  I did turn on the tracking feature on that ipad via icloud but the problem was I did not turn on Cellular Plan even though the iPad had both WiFi and Cellular.  The iPad was locked but as soon as it was stolen from my house, there was no way for me to track it because it did not connect to the Internet.
Now I just bought a new iPad and it has both WiFi and Cellular.  My plan is to turn on the Cellular option so even if the Ipad was stolen and moved from my house, it will have the Cellular signal so I can track it via iCloud.  Since I don't know if this method is a good way to track my iPad in case it's stolen, I'd like to ask the experts here to comment on my method and suggest other methods.  Is it possible for the thief to turn off my iPad even if it's locked?  If the iPad is turned off, there is no way to track it.
thanks for your help....

Answer 1

If the iPad was running iOS 7, the thief/finder will not ever be able to use it.
iCloud: Find My iPhone Activation Lock in iOS 7
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5818
Apple (and no one else) can not assist (with serial number or iCloud) in finding a lost or stolen iPad.
Report to police along with serial number. Change all your passwords.
These links may be helpful.
How to Track and Report Stolen iPad
http://www.ipadastic.com/tutorials/how-to-track-and-report-stolen-ipad
Reporting a lost or stolen Apple product
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht2526
What to do if your iOS device is lost or stolen
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5668
iCloud: Locate your device on a map
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH2698
iCloud: Lost Mode - Lock and Trace
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH2700
iCloud: Remotely Erase your device
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH2701
Report Stolen iPad Tips and iPad Theft Prevention
http://www.stolen-property.com/report-stolen-ipad.php
How to recover a lost or stolen iPad
http://ipadhelp.com/ipad-help/how-to-recover-a-lost-or-stolen-ipad/
How to Find a Stolen iPad
http://www.ehow.com/how_7586429_stolen-ipad.html
What NOT to do if your iPhone or iPad is lost or stolen
http://www.tomahaiku.com/what-not-to-do-if-your-iphone-or-ipad-lost-or-stolen/
Apple Product Lost or Stolen
http://sites.google.com/site/appleclubfhs/support/advice-and-articles/lost-or-st olen
Oops! iForgot My New iPad On the Plane; Now What?
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303459004577362194012634000.html
If you don't know your lost/stolen iPad's serial number, use the instructions below. The S/N is also on the iPad's box.
How to Find Your iPad Serial Number
http://www.ipadastic.com/tutorials/how-to-find-your-ipad-serial-number
iOS: How to find the serial number, IMEI, MEID, CDN, and ICCID number
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4061
 Cheers, Tom