@Davejon
I take it that the "thief"is not interested in a substantial "reward" for the safe return of your phone?
I have managed to recover the bf's lost phone three times by sending a text offering a reward on a reluctant "finder" who was not actually using the phone (damaged when lost) but the sim card. The other two times calling the phone produced good samaritans who refused a reward.
If it truly is a thief you can do some sleuthing by checking out the numbers called or texted. You can resume your service briefly to text a message or call to see if someone answers to offer a "reward" for its return. You can also leave a text with a contact number for you. Use the find your phone app during this time to get a decent lock on its location. If you call it and it goes straight to voicemail you know the phone is either powered off or the battery is dead. Suspend your service once you finish trying to make contact.
If someone calls you or picks up your call always remain polite and grateful and never let on you think they are a thief. A good samaritan will not question a meeting place in front of a police station or somewhere with a lot of surveilence cameras nor the amount of any reward. Whereas a thief will be extra cautious and will want the reward to be more than the black market resale value of the phone ( maybe 10-20% of its actual value.) Report the phone stolen online with your local police service. Bring back up if you agree to meet someone and remember it is perfectly legal to steal back your stolen property. Good luck!
BTW....you can still access your voicemail while suspended. Call your phone number and once it goes to voicemail just press * when it connects and enter your 4 digit pin #.
