When will I get my iPhone back from the cops?

So, more than a month ago I had made a prank call to a store and said something that I shouldn't have said. The cops tracked me, came to my house and took my iPhone 5c that I had got just three days earlier for my birthday. We have called them like 4 or 5 times and at first, they had said that they were waiting for some paperwork from the store, and I could have my phone back when they had got it. Then when they finally got it, they said that they had to read through it. Then after they had read through it, they said that they had to send a fax to the store, and I could have my phone back when they sent it. They had said that they will have it sent by Tuesday. Will I get my phone back by then? Or will they just come up with another stupid excuse? We will call them on Tuesday if they don't call us.

You should call the officer's supervisor and file a complaint.

Wait till Tuesday. I know you want your phone As soon as possible but trust me be patient, don't tick cops off for stupid things or they'll make it worse for you in the power and ability.
I'm suggesting to wait because the officer said the phone will be returned on that date.
If the phone isn't returned by the date, THEN file a complaint call the supervisor. If you file a complaint now the supervisor is going to laugh it off because the officer told you the phone will be returned on a certain date which is Tuesday so just wait and see.

First off, the police will never return the phone. In December of 2016 your criminal attorney can ask the DA to release the phone to you.

Here are the steps they go through.
- sieze the phone
- type up an affadavit for a search warrant
- go to a judge to get a search warrant
- take the phone to the forensic lab, to download the info they need
- they may also have to get a search warrant from the cell phone provider for info stored on servers
- take the results of the investigation to the DA

This process takes 12 months

If they go to trial, your criminal atttorney can take the downloaded data from the cell phone and cell phone company servers to his own technical consultants.

This process could take 3 months

Go to trial, get a conviction. Wait for the appeals process to end

This process could take an extra 12 months

Ask you criminal attorney to call the police in December of 2016 and it should be ready.

Just curious, what was the nature of the prank call? You can't be charged for prank calling, unless you committed a crime.

Well, if you didn't want to lose the phone, maybe you shouldn't have CHOSEN to engage in illegal activity!

You CHOSE to have your phone taken. End of story.