Finding money

[Wertbag]

There was an article on one of the local news programs where they did this same test. They placed a wallet with $50 in a shopping mall and had cameras watch to see what people would do.
Most handed it in to the nearest store, a couple handed in the wallet minus the cash, and when the actors went to claim the wallet it turned out that some of the shops kept the money (or at least the worker behind the counter did). The conclusion was there was an ok chance of getting any cards, photos and the wallet back, but don't expect any cash.

There was also a case locally where a person found a brown paper bag with $30,000 in it. He took it straight to the police, and it was claimed by a Chinese man who had taken cash to buy a car but dropped the bag. He gave a $100 reward for the return of the money.

It all seems to be a scale, the bigger the value the more of a crime it is. Everyone loses spare change, but once the money is big enough to be of concern then it is a worry. The exact amount is upto the individual. I'd have no problem picking up a couple of dollars, knowing that whoever dropped them will probably never miss them, but a large amount would have me heading towards the nearest shop/police station.
The comparision to a car is a big step. Someone will always miss a car, its a valuable thing that really matters to someones life, a couple of dollars lost will be quickly forgotten if its noticed at all.

 

[Bryan]

If there is any way possible to find the owner of ANY found item, it is our moral duty to exhaust those possibilities.

If you done whatever you could, and still can't find an owner, thank the Lord for the blessing that he has just bestowed upon you.

 

[Gary]

I do want to state my position again.

I believe that the money CANNOT be mine, irrespective of the amount.

Depending on the amount (I would say up to one day's wages), I would attempt to find the owner but, if unsuccessful, donate it immediately to charity. Only the Lord need be my witness to my truthfulness in this effort.

If the amount were substantial (greater than a day's wages), I would inform the nearest shop/department store. I would leave a name and phone number but not disclose the exact amount. That would be a mechanism to determine if a claimant is the correct person. I would tell the store that after a week, I was going to donate the amount to a worthwhile cause, probably a Christian outreach to the poor. I would make it clear to the recipient how I had found the money. In turn, they may want to hold onto it for a week or two before distribution or use in case the rightful owner comes forward.

I do believe that we also have to teach our children to be absolutely honest and show the highest integrity in issues like this. It starts with the small things, even a dollar.....

 

[Gary]

Deut 22:1-3

“You shall not see your brother’s ox or his sheep going astray, and hide yourself from them; you shall certainly bring them back to your brother. And if your brother is not near you, or if you do not know him, then you shall bring it to your own house, and it shall remain with you until your brother seeks it; then you shall restore it to him. You shall do the same with his donkey, and so shall you do with his garment; with any lost thing of your brother’s, which he has lost and you have found, you shall do likewise; you must not hide yourself.

Your first duty is to love God. Loving one's neighbor is next. Lost property is a LOSS to our neighbor. We see this from the Old Testament where the Israelite is told that he must not hide his eyes from such an obvious loss. It was his duty to pursue and bring back the lost property of his neighbor.

If you do not understand who your neighbor really is, read the parable of the Samaritan again.

 

[Jack Lewis]

Deut 22:1-3

“You shall not see your brother’s ox or his sheep going astray, and hide yourself from them; you shall certainly bring them back to your brother. And if your brother is not near you, or if you do not know him, then you shall bring it to your own house, and it shall remain with you until your brother seeks it; then you shall restore it to him. You shall do the same with his donkey, and so shall you do with his garment; with any lost thing of your brother’s, which he has lost and you have found, you shall do likewise; you must not hide yourself.

Your first duty is to love God. Loving one's neighbor is next. Lost property is a LOSS to our neighbor. We see this from the Old Testament where the Israelite is told that he must not hide his eyes from such an obvious loss. It was his duty to pursue and bring back the lost property of his neighbor.

If you do not understand who your neighbor really is, read the parable of the Samaritan again.

You're missing the point. My boys found a $10 bill about a month ago. We went to the nearest office and told them we'd found some money (didn't say how much) and that if anyone came in asking about it, have them call us. we waited a week, and when noone called, I let the boys have it. There is nothing wrong or immoral about handling the situation that way. Insisting that it must be donated to charity is just plain silly.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. -- Matthew 13:44

 

[Gary]

Jack: You're missing the point. My boys found a $10 bill about a month ago. We went to the nearest office and told them we'd found some money (didn't say how much) and that if anyone came in asking about it, have them call us. we waited a week, and when noone called, I let the boys have it. There is nothing wrong or immoral about handling the situation that way. Insisting that it must be donated to charity is just plain silly.

I am not missing the point. We may disagree. That does NOT mean I am missing the point.

Donating FOUND (ie LOST property) to charity, especially a cause which supports people with less than we have, MAY appear "silly" to you. To me, my Christian friends and my whole family, it seems more Christ-like.

 

[Gary]

Thought I'd dust this off and give it another go.

I chose "Grab it".
.

 

[WIP]

It depends. If it is loose cash with no means of identifying the owner, I'd probably pocket it...unless maybe if it is a large sum in which case I might take it to a local law enforcement agency. The problem is, what IS a large sum? That is difficult to say.

If it is in a wallet or purse, I'd try to find identification and return it to the owner.

 

[reba]

Found an envelope of cash in our local store... about $600.... i held it while shopping thinking of all i could use it for...all the justification ... nope not mine what if this was all some one had? It was all she had i took it to Lori (the desk) the old lady had left without buying her groceries.. she had asked the desk if any one turn in her money.... So Lori called her

Back in 1959 i so want to walk to the Jolly Kone.... In dad's desk was the offering plate.. Setting all alone on that rich deep purple velvet was a franklin 50 cent piece... I took it bought a soda played the juke box... got found out... to tine day i can not see a a liberty bell with that dumb ol crack in it without remembering what i had done

 

[for_his_glory]

If it was just a small amount like $10 I would pick it up and analyze the area in which I found it to see if someone had lost it and if nothing turned up I would keep it. Now if it was a large amount I would advertise it in the paper and bulletin boards in the local shops, but I would not say how much I found as everyone and their brother would make a claim.

 

[WIP]

This brings up a question. What is a small amount vs. large amount? In other words, at what point would it be prudent to bring it to someone else's attention like a store clerk, law enforcement, etc.?

Penny?
Dollar?
$10?
$100?
$1000?
...

 

[reba]

agree WIP...... that 50 cents was huge to me and the $600 was that ladies SS for the month..

Part of what WIP says IMO would have to do with where the money was found... A 20 Blowing around in a parking lot on a windy day? if no one is chasing it? .... or a 10 found kinda when you kicked a blown up pile of leaves.. a bag of money most likely the owner is looking for it ...

Some of this is right up there with Christians purposely running up bills then filing bankruptcy and having the nerve to thank God for it...

 

[WIP]

I lost my checkbook once. Sometime later I got contacted by someone that informed me that they found it. It was nice to get it back with all the checks still inside.

 

[turnorburn]

i found a $20.00 bill in a cash machine about 6 years ago the store had just opened so i figured if i sat there for a while someone would return to get it.. After about 1/2 hour i asked a store employee what to do, she said they wouldn't take it because anything could happen.. So i asked the Lord what to do with it he said to give it to the next homeless man you meet "and yes he said man" stuck it in my shirt pocket and kept putting it in my shirt pocket every day until that event occurred.. about two weeks later i was coming out of a store an saw this guy sitting on the sidewalk with a backpack next to him when i asked him if he lived close by he said "I'm homeless" Finally there he was said he was trying to get bus fare to Oregon. so i handed him the 20 and told him the story... That's just another option guys when in doubt ask the Lord "Always" btw that was the first time I'd met a homeless person that way in my entire life

tob