[thisblows]

i was pumping my gas and i saw on top of the pump, there was a blackberry curve. i tried to get into the contacts to see if there was a home number or anything on the phone, but its locked

now i don't wanna be a douche and try and claim the phone for myself, even though the irony that a blackberry phone i wanted to get for myself on my carrier, is the same phone i just happened to find left at the gas station, so i definitely wanna try and atleast return the phone to its rightful owner

so what's my next move here

[the-economist]

If it's locked see the locked screen for any contact info. The blackberry locking screen has the option to display contact user information. If the user hasn't used the feature pull the battery. Before you do that note the carrier the phone currently camps with.

Pull the battery and copy from the sticker behind it the IMEI number. Call the carrier, give them the IMEI number, tell them you found the phone and they will tell you what to do.

[SgtRick]

Really depends on what level of security is on the phone. If they have an app that will remotely wipe it clean then you have a 5 0z paperweight. The only thing you can do is probably what you have already done, turn it on and see what happens.

[Motorcycle Mama]

If you can discern the user information from the lock screen, contact them.

Otherwise, take it to the police or to the carrier on the device.

[ezrunner]

Wirelessly posted (well lookie here!)

Contact the carrier! They should be able to contact the owner

[mas90guru]

Contact the carrier - provide the IMEI. They will definitely be able to track it down.

[jbairdjr]

I hope I wasnt the only one that read this part:

Originally Posted by thisblows

now i don't wanna be a douche and try and claim the phone for myself, even though the irony that a blackberry phone i wanted to get for myself on my carrier, is the same phone i just happened to find left at the gas station
so what's my next move here

Sounds like another "found" Blackberry that someone came here to try and find out how to use for themselves.

[tsac]

the police will just put it in the storage locker, go to the carrier.

[jbairdjr]

Wirelessly posted

Not true. Being in the business, we locate owners for identifiable property frequently. Each department can be different, but we almost always get it to the owner.

[tsac]

same " business" and we do try to do a recovery but the volume of stuff is overwhelming. We do have a xxx8220;garagexxx8221; sale yearly for items well beyond any hope of recovery. Not knowing where hexxx8217;s from and the size of the department, thatxxx8217;s why I suggested the carrier.

[jbairdjr]

Either way, the correct thing to do is try and get it back to the rightful owner.
I would imaging that the address book would be full of people who could tell you who the phone belonged to.

[John Clark]

Contacting the carrier is the best idea. However, did you go back to the attendant at the gas station and ask them?

[the-economist]

Wirelessly posted

Originally Posted by jbairdjr

Either way, the correct thing to do is try and get it back to the rightful owner.
I would imaging that the address book would be full of people who could tell you who the phone belonged to.

OP stated the phone's screen is locked. You can't browse the contacts on a locked phone.
The cops would store it in the lost/found basket before they auction it.

The carrier can locate the owner by the IMEI number on the handset. Its the best choice.

[tsac]

Remember the BB will wipe once you enter the wrong password multiple times so any useful information would be lost anyway, provided it had a password.

[Kamau]

Having worked on both sides of the law, I suggest you call the carrier. Also, I would not try to access anything else that involves trying to unlock the phone, as has been said it will wipe the phone. Unwise as it is, there are some who don't back up their phone, and that person would be up that creek.