Money Moral Dilemma. Would you hand in a camera you found on a beach?

LilacLillie

I lost my camera 2yrs ago in a village about 25km from my home in Bulgaria.
I was very upset and told anyone in my own village, that would listen, that I'd lost it.
Within a week someone I know walked up to my door and handed it to me!
It had been handed in at the village I'd lost it in, news had travelled about my loss and a worker passing through was asked to give it to 'someone' who could hand it to me personally.
I've never been so shocked. I didn't expect to see it again for sure.
It was a lovely camera and worth money, there were no pics of me on it and I never got the chance to thank the person for handing it in.
The same camera I left on a bus last year in China.
When I rang the tour company to tell them the guide said 'You don't deserve to own something if you can't take responsibilty for it. You should take more care of your possessions'.
That told me!!!!!
It did turn up thank goodness.

LL

mellywoo

YES, YES, YES,I most definately would. My daughter left our camera in a taxi in Gran Canaria 3 years ago late one night, we immediately got the hotel to contact the taxi firm as it drove off , surprise ,surprise no trace, either the taxi driver checked the back and pocketed it or he had an immediate fare and they struck lucky and didn't mention it was on the seat. We kept trying the firm during the week and it never turned up. Lots of memories lost , we claimed on our insurance and lost out slightly ,as it was a practically new camera , new case and 2 new memory cards. Daughter was distraut too. I would always give it back anyway as that sort of thing could have sentimental memories, we hadn't downloaded any pics that were still on the card so lost not only them but the holidays too.We reported it to the police in case somebody returned any of it but never heard any more, we had a really in depth interview at the police staion with a rep from the hotel translating for us and gave all our details, it was quite scary actually. I would never even think not to now after what happened to us and how sad we were to lose it and knowing how we felt.

chrandtay

I had look through some of the photo's and was able to identify where the owners had been staying. So made a quick trip to the hotel reception to ask if a camera had been reported lost, it had and the owners were still there, so I was able to return it to them.

Made my day and theirs too!

I have my details written on the memory card inside my camera (not my mobile though... hmmm must sort that now!)

Stampede_2

Several facts and thoughts seem to be emerging:

1) our own standards of honesty and the effort we would go to to try and find the owner and ..
2) the way our efforts would be treated in a foreign country, especially the honesty of the local Police.

In France or Germany I think we'd manage with the language and would have no problem trying to find the owner one way or another, hotel, syndicat d'initiative, Police, perhaps developing the prints and writing a letter to a newspaper if a location was revealed. For what it is worth in English speaking countries I found a very expensive camara set up and handed it in, RCMP let me know it had been claimed .. just a pity the owner couldn't be bothered to say thank you. Shucks .. I'd still try to find an owner again.

For our own self protection I liked the idea someone else posted of making sure there is a print/ image in the camera with some address link so people could contact me, although for security of my empty home I wouldn't put my own address on whilst I was away from home.

Also, since the sentiment of the pictures is often more valued than the camera - lesson here is, have several memory cards and remove and store safely frequently in your hotel.
:j totally debt free .. and sufficient money saved in the bank in case the roof needs repairing in an emergency ( My late Mum's advice to me RIP )

s2000

crandall wrote: »

You are missing the point S2000 - we all have our standards and conscience (apart from you apparently!) and I would not be happy to just keep the camera, regardless of what Italian police might do after I had handed it over. You have to trust them to carry out the correct procedure and enjoy your holiday without feeling guilty.

How does anything in my message suggest I do not have standards and a conscience?! My message is an observation of the Italian police. I even point out that I am not advocating theft and support the idea of returning it to its owner directly. I merely remark that it is unlikely to find its owner if its route involves Italian cops!

Somehow you have inferred that I am suggesting keeping the camera – whereas that is plainly not what I am saying. RTWFM!! (Read the whole message)

My points are the corruption of the Italian police and the naïvety of the British in "having to trust" even cops with as bad a reputation for corruption as the Italian police!

s2000

datostar wrote: »

If the Italian police are thieves, as you suggest, then that's their problem. Honesty is not a 'goody two-shoes mentality'. I'm reminded of the time my son and I found a wallet on a Portuguese cliff path. It contained quite a lot of money and a Dutch ID card, but no address. We decided to find a police station, but fortunately before getting back to our car we passed a couple sitting near the path and speaking Dutch. I asked the man if he was Dutch. He was somewhat curious but indicated that he was. He was even more mystified when I asked him his name, but did give it. Then I produced the wallet. Absolutely overjoyed. He hadn't even missed it. He would have had awful problems getting back home without that as Schengen countries can use them in lieu of a passport. Obviously if I'd been an Italian cop, say, or possessed the non-British self-awareness you recommend, I'd have just stuck it in my pocket and walked off with it.

Here's someone else who needs to learn to RTWFM! (Read the whole message)

Where have I supported the idea of walking off with it or that the Italian police's corruption is a good thing?!

Mobbs62

I would hand it in. it is not mine and it should where possible be returned to the owner.

newmommyjen

gmgmgm wrote: »

Does no-one WRITE THEIR NAME on the camera?

My name, phone number and email is written on the camera and memory card- I'd sincerely hope if it was lost it would come back to me.

You can easily write in small letters on the base, or inside the memory card door.

Thats a good idea

wildthing01

having had some rather negative experiences with the french police (despite speaking the 'lingo' fluently), on holiday, firstly when we lost our carkeys on the beach, and a local officer quite 'helpfully' smashed the car window for us, despite me explaining that i knew how to break in without damaging the car (having seen the RAC man do it once when i locked myself out!!), that being the extent of his assistance, and then later, when as a direct result of his actions, several items (including some old smelly dirty beach trainers, and a much dog-eared french to english dictionary, plus some travel sweets!!) were stolen from our car, and we tried to report it, and were told by the police at the local station that we had to go to a different station several dozen kilometers away, which, when we got there was completely deserted, i would never hand a lost item into the police in a foreign country, as i would not trust that it would ever see the light of day again (not because i belive they're corrupt, just because of the stupid beaurocracy).

i would instead contact my hotel/holiday rep/local tourist info office or nearest bar etc and ask them for advice, and may sort out putting some posters up, if i was unable to identify the owner from any details on the camera itself.

i did once hand in a wallet i found in a supermarket carpark (to the supermarket staff) and altough they later told me it had been claimed, i never got even a thank you. so i dont know whether that person deserved it back!!!!!

kulostwo

I would not hand it .