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User profile for user: breanna189 
breanna189 Author
User level: Level1
I lost my phone and I can't use the IMEI number to track it using Find my iPhone but I was wondering if I could use it to report the phone lost/stolen?
iPhone 8, 12
Posted on Feb 18, 2019 10:07 AM
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User level: Level10
2 replies
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User profile for user: ElderVictimMin-OH 
User level: Level1
Feb 18, 2019 10:12 AM in response to breanna189
You shouldn't need the IMEI number to report a lost phone to law enforcement. I've read a lot of incident reports and don't recall seeing serial numbers on them.
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User profile for user: QuickTimeKirk 
User level: Level10
Feb 18, 2019 10:10 AM in response to breanna189
No.
Ask your carrier to lock the device.
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User level: Level10
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User profile for user: QuickTimeKirk
User level: Level10
Question marked as ★ Helpful
User profile for user: ElderVictimMin-OH
User level: Level1
Feb 18, 2019 10:12 AM in response to breanna189
You shouldn't need the IMEI number to report a lost phone to law enforcement. I've read a lot of incident reports and don't recall seeing serial numbers on them.
Link
User profile for user: KiltedTim 
User level: Level10
Feb 18, 2019 10:13 AM in response to breanna189
In theory, cellular carriers can track any device on their network using the IMEI number, however, they will not do so without a court order. Unless a serious felony is involved (abduction of a child, etc), the police aren't going to do anything other than make a note of it and file it away.
User profile for user: Phil0124 
User level: Level10
Feb 18, 2019 10:15 AM in response to breanna189
The Police can request your mobile carrier via a warrant or judicial requirement to track a stolen device. The Police themselves do not track lost iPhones.
The mobile carrier / company uses the IMEI to identify and track the iPhone.
You can give the Police the IMEI if you want. Whether they want to go through the trouble of asking your carrier to track it is a different question all together.
If you had Find My iPhone turned on, you can try to track it yourself: If your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch is lost or stolen - Apple Support
User profile for user: breanna189
breanna189 Author
User level: Level1
Feb 18, 2019 10:31 AM in response to Phil0124
The phone I am trying to locate is offline so I cannot track it via Find my iPhone. However, when I called my network provider they directed me to use the IMEI number to track it through Find my iPhone, which I am having trouble doing. Is this possible?
User profile for user: KiltedTim
User level: Level10
Feb 18, 2019 10:35 AM in response to breanna189
Whoever you spoke to obviously doesn't understand how Find My iPhone works. FMiP has nothing to do with the IMEI of the phone. It tracks it based on having signed into the device with your iCloud account and turning that feature on. If the phone is powered off or does not have a data connection, it can not be tracked using Find My iPhone.
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User profile for user: QuickTimeKirk
User level: Level10
Feb 18, 2019 10:35 AM in response to breanna189
If the device doesn't have power then you can't track it.
You can't track it with any number. Only Find my Phone.
User profile for user: Phil0124
User level: Level10
Feb 18, 2019 10:37 AM in response to breanna189
No. The IMEI is merely an identification number. It has no magical tracking properties of its own. Also there is no option for using the IMEI number on Find My iPhone at all.
If the device is offline, it cannot be tracked using Find My iPhone.
Again, the network provider may be able to triangulate last known location via the last towers it was connected to, but in general that is only done by Police request via a warranty or judicial requirement.
User profile for user: breanna189
breanna189 Author
User level: Level1
Feb 18, 2019 2:48 PM in response to breanna189
Is there any way to track my phone since it's offline since I'm unable to track it through Find my iPhone?
User level: Level10
Feb 18, 2019 2:53 PM in response to breanna189
Its probably been broken up for parts and exported
User level: Level10
User profile for user: Phil0124
User level: Level10
Feb 18, 2019 3:39 PM in response to breanna189
No. If the iPhone is offline, there is no magical way to track it.
It needs to be "online" to report its location for tracking.
Offline means it cannot be reporting its location.
User level: Level10
Feb 18, 2019 3:51 PM in response to breanna189
I hope you either cancelled the SIM or had a SIM PIN set.
User profile for user: breanna189
breanna189 Author
User level: Level1
can I use the IMEI number to have the police track my phone?