Can I find my stolen phone?

[WPCentral Question]

It has been turned off by the thief and the find my phone location hasnt been updated since yesterday and it was taken last night. If its off can it still be tracked and if not what should I do? I live on a college campus and I know the thief does too, can't my servers just trace the serial so that campus police can get it for me?

 

[xandros9]

any phone when off is little more than an expensive rectangular accessory.
it can save locations periodically when on, but when its off, all bets are off.

you can call the carrier to flag it as stolen, file a police report, insurance claim, use some other tools
but there isn't much you can do if the thief is smart enough.