What's the law on finding something, please?

Prothet_of_Doom

spacey2012 wrote: »

The person who registers it with the police as found gets to keep it if it is not claimed.
Next time, take it to the police station.

30 days. Always take to police station.

JimmyTheWig

Mallotum_X wrote: »

The person who lost it will hopefully go back and get it.

Its not like you have any legitimate claim to keeping it for yourself, so i'd just leave it be. You did the right thing and hopefully it will get returned.

Which is what the OP hopes, too.

But if the owner doesn't claim it, surely the OP should get to keep it rather than the store?

powerful_Rogue

I believe I read it in a law book ages ago, ah yes.....

"Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers"

pmduk

powerful_Rogue wrote: »

I believe I read it in a law book ages ago, ah yes.....

"Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers"

The legal description is theft by finding.

pmlindyloo

From my reading it seems that shops have their own policy about property that is handed in so you need to check with them first. They do not necessarily hand it over to the police and apparently do not have to.

If it does get to the police station then different forces have different practices! Some will give it back to the finder after 28 days if the property involved doesn't contain personal data. Others hold auctions and some dispose of it!

Amazing that there is no set procedure.

Valli

I have, in the past, found items and have reported to the premises that they have been found, and that I intend to hand them in at the police station.

That way, if they ARE unclaimed they become mine.

Happened twice.

(The last time I handed something in the police took the details but gave me the item immediately, and a form. I was told to retain it for a time (30 days I think) and if I heard nothing I could consider it mine after that period.)

kevanf1

Ok, a little update. Still nobody has come forward to ask about this lost camera. I suppose there could be dodgy pictures on there??? I did not look. Anyway, I have today been into the police station and asked their advice. They (the police) may get in touch with me if nobody claims it, or they may not Still, they have been informed in case somebody goes there asking about it. I have also no placed a found advert in our local evening newspaper. Obviously very scant details but if somebody has lost a camera then they'll know what it is.

Somebody mentioned losing expensive make up? Only yesterday my wife and I found a container of fairly expensive make up left behind in a supermarket trolley, still wrapped up in the bag. That has been taken to the customer service department too. Perhaps I should buy a lottery ticket

DCFC79

Id give it a bit longer for the owner to contact the shop about it. As well as putting an ad in the local evening newspaper id se about putting an ad somewhere else as they may not read the paper.

JimmyTheWig

kevanf1 wrote: »

Perhaps I should buy a lottery ticket

Nah, just keep an eye out for one lying around on the floor...

powerful_Rogue

pmduk wrote: »

The legal description is theft by finding.

Im well aware of that. Twas a bit of light hearted banter, thus the