I bought a iPad at a garage sale and the previous owner for got to unlock it and he has left the country and I can't get a hold of the

Afraid not mate , depending on what iOS u have installed u can back up your device ( not in your case as screen needs to be unlocked ) plug Into PC hold top button and center button for 20 seconds while connected to iTunes and follow prompts

If you bought a second-hand iPhone/iPad stuck on the activation lock screen and don't know the previously used Apple ID and password, iMyFone iBypasser can help you activate iPhone/iPad without Apple ID. This excellent tool came out in 2020 and has helped many users who reset their own iPads without logging out the previously used Apple ID.

Take it back to where you purchased it from and get them to unlock it

This means the ipad is reported stolen by the owner and is being tracked.......the owner is the only person who can unlock it!
it is a security app, 'find my ipad' and cannot be unlocked without the apple id!

Hi Ann, I'd 1st take it to the police and ask if it's stolen and if it's stolen then it's better off back with the owner but if not stolen take it to a cell phone store as I'm sure they should be able to help you....... CHEERS..

previous owner needs to unlock it. that is part of the protection from being stolen and resold. good luck

Call Apple. Here is a link that might be helpful for you.

iPad Apple Support

You don't need a computer to unlock the device, but if you bought it used and there is an activation lock on it, then you need to take it back and get a different device or make them get the previous owners credentials to unlock it,

Even if you restore the device to factory settings and clear the previous owners settings, images etc from the device the device will still have the same serial number which apple or the previous owner may be able to trace when the device goes to register online (something it will need to do to access the itunes store).

There are also apps which allow owners of stolen devices to take a photo of whomever is holding their device which they can then bring to the police along with the GPS location settings showing where the device is.

Of course, if the previous owner had the device set up to upload images to their cloud account images you have taken of you, your friends and surroundings may already be in their possession......

Woman says photos of iPhone thiefs family showing up on her iCloud

Questions: if the device is indeed stolen,

1 - do you really want to answer to the police why you are in possession of a stolen device?

2- if it was your ipad that had been stolen, wouldn't you appreciate someone helping you get it back?

Have a Magical Day

K

Try a factory reset.