Proving ownership of iPod Touch beyond reasonable doubt.

[pete]

An iPod Touch owned by one of the little darlings is under disputed ownership (lost, found, given back, "hey, that's my ipod" from other kid, handed in again until dispute settled). Because it has buttons, I've been dragged into it.

 

Ways ownership can be proven that I've found so far:

 

1) Serial number on box / receipt / invoice.

2) An iTunes backup of the device from before it went missing (contains serial number).

 

Now, here's where I'm unsure. If the device is registered with Apple to an iTunes account / email address, is it trivial to register the device with another iTunes account / email address or does the current owner/registered user have to renounce ownership?

 

Bear in mind that there's been sufficient time between the disputed claim and it being handed back for the device to have been wiped and restored. Not suggesting that's happened, just that the device can't be trusted as evidence.

Edited March 17, 2011 by pete

[LosOjos]

Have neither set of parents been in to the school about it? Surely they'd know whether their child owned an iPod or not, and hopefully would be honest about it... just saying, if you ask the parents and one says it's definitely not their child's, problem solved...

 

EDIT: plus if both claim ownership, it then becomes a serious accusation of theft, and should be handed over to the police to deal with

[pete]

Both have called in, one set of parents can't find proof of purchase (AFAIK), the other parents haven't (AFAIK) had a look yet.

 

If they can't produce a serial number, then yes we'll just hand it over to the police.

 

If they'd spent a bit more and got an iPhone this would be so much easier.

[pete]

What a stupid situation to be in.

 

I would be having words with the teacher who origionally took it off the student ... as they should know who they took it off.

 

It was found abandoned on the floor and handed into the office (yes, our kids are pretty trustworthy), probably fallen out of a bag/pocket.

 

Anyone know about the registration question? Google suggests it's not to be trusted for proof of ownership if the device hasn't been in a controlled environment (i.e not handed back and then recovered).

Edited March 17, 2011 by pete

[FN-GM]

Just to confirm the device has been wiped?

[TomStanley]

A good way I would do is get the serial number and do an online warranty check with Apple. Then ask the kid when they bought the iPod, and see if it matches with the warranty expiration date.

[pete]

Just to confirm the device has been wiped?

 

Don't know - it has data from one potential owner on it and it has been recently synced with iTunes that I can tell. The iPod was handed in with a flat battery and then return to the apparent owner. Ownership is now disputed and the iPod is back in our possession until it's resolved or we turn it over to plod as unresolvable.

 

It's not a case of "you nicked my ipod", it's more a case of "the iPod that you thought was your lost iPod and claimed may have had similar battle damage to my iPod".

 

edit: Just tried the online warranty check with Apple and it's unregistered.

Edited March 17, 2011 by pete

[FN-GM]

Plug it into a computer, open iTunes. The iPod should be named after the kid. For example Johns iPod. It might give you an idea.

 

Even if its been synced it doesnt change that name on its own.

[elsiegee40]

Plug it into a computer, open iTunes. The iPod should be named after the kid. For example Johns iPod. It might give you an idea.

 

Even if its been synced it doesnt change that name on its own.

 

However when you plug it into a new computer it gives you the option of setting up the iPod from scratch. That will only prove who last set up the iPod, not necessarily who the original owner was.

[SneakyBeaky]

Is the ipod named?

Whenever you connect your iPod to iTunes to update your media library, iTunes identifies your iPod by whatever name you chose to name it.

Of course it could have been re-named but a slim chance it still has a name linked to a download.

[pete]

Plug it into a computer, open iTunes. The iPod should be named after the kid. For example Johns iPod. It might give you an idea.

 

Even if its been synced it doesnt change that name on its own.

 

Yeah, done that. But given ownership is disputed and it's so ridiculously easy to wipe, we can't trust anything on the device. The iPod was out of our possession for several days until the counter-claim came in.

 

I think this'll be one for plod to sort out.

[owen1978]

Take a page out of King Solomons book!

Tell them both that you are going to split the ipod in half!

And they can have half each!

[Edu-IT]

None of the kids have the boxes still? The serial number is marked on the box.

[featured_spectre]

What about the box it came in? what about the apps and music stored on it? - can they name some?

[quietriot1983]

 

If they'd spent a bit more and got an iPhone this would be so much easier.

 

 

I suggest sending a letter to both sets of parents just saying the above.

[enjay]

TBH, I think you should say "there's no technical way of proving ownership" and give it back to Heads of Year / Headteacher to sort out.

[pete]

Update (since there's more replies):

 

One parent has relinquished ownership of it (their receipt/box serial didn't match). No idea what's going on with the other (done all I can, rest is up to plod).

[pete]

I suggest sending a letter to both sets of parents just saying the above.

 

While that would cause an amusing response, it's also true. Running ideviceinfo against an iPhone (even a locked one) gives enough info to prove ownership.