Yeah that won't happen. Apple won't even disclose information regarding an iPod that was stolen and re-registered. Apple will say just buy a new one. It's the owners responsibility to keep them from being stolen and that is what insurance is for.
Nothing detracts thieves. A thief is a thief, they just work harder. They will keep selling rims, stealing cars with tracking and alarms, stealing from banks with cameras and alarms, etc. I can't tell u how many MacBook pros on Craigslist I see ads for that are stolen. I called one up a fees weeks ago and asked can I have the serial number so I can verify the details of the laptop and who it's registered to and the guy goes, 'why u need that info. U don't need it'. I told him I did and he hung up. When a person buys it, apple could easily track down the laptop for the original owner, but they never will.