OMG!

[WilliamLX]

Read This:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-11843543

Not sure why the police are involved, finders keepers, losers weepers!

[Fruit'n'nut]

Read This:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-11843543

Not sure why the police are involved, finders keepers, losers weepers!

"Theft by finding" - without making sufficient attempt to locate the proper owner and return the property to him/her. "Finders keepers" isn't a valid legal defence.

[WilliamLX]

True but that is just one of those laws that should not exist. If the owner is so rich he can run around with £80K and forget he has set it on the roof, then he does not deserve to get it back.

[Fruit'n'nut]

True but that is just one of those laws that should not exist. If the owner is so rich he can run around with £80K and forget he has set it on the roof, then he does not deserve to get it back.

Forget that it's £80K.

What if you lost your mobile phone, or £40, or an item of sentimental value to you, and somebody else found it, took it and kept it, with no intention of seeking the rightful owner. Don't you think they've acted dishonestly?

[WilliamLX]

It is slightly dishonest, and I would try and find the owner but I really do not think the police should be involved. He was stupid, he lost it, should be end of story.

[neilybhoy1888]

now children lol

[John LE]

I agree that the police are quite rightly involved. If you were to leave the keys in your car accidently and someone drove off with it, do you not think you should get it back?

[dv8]

have to agree with Fruit on this one, or where does it stop.
Whilst most if they come come accross a £10 note, would pocket it and a very few would hand it in, even less would think of popping to the local nick to see if its been handed in, as it would be yours in a few weeks anyways, how you would prove it is yours is something else. The same goes to a person who see's your kids bike in your front garden, the person would just say he found it in the road or anything for that matter, etc etc etc. you get the drift.
but there are plonkers everywhere and we all make mistakes.

[Grumpy1954]

I've left walking sticks on the roof/boot and driven off before, but 80K? That's 4,000x£20 notes or, even with £50 notes, 1600. How the hell do you not realise you've done that?
Agree with Fruit and Nut, if I found it, I'd be tempted, but that amount of cash would have to find out who'd lost it.

[WilliamLX]

I agree that the police are quite rightly involved. If you were to leave the keys in your car accidently and someone drove off with it, do you not think you should get it back?

The car scenario is not at all the same. A car can be easily traced to its owner. If I found a lost wallet with anything in it that could be used to trace the owner (ie drivers licence, bank cards etc) I would not hesitate to do my best to return it to the owner even if it was stuffed with cash. The news article does not go into a lot of detail, but if this was loose cash, or in a unlabelled bag etc, with no information regarding ownership and is left on the street, then I am inclined to look on it as finders keepers. Now at £80K it does not take a brain surgeon to realise the original owner may try the police (unless it was a crinimal's ill gotten gains) but for a more normal sum, say a couple of hundred pounds, I would be inclined to think, if I hand that into the Police they will just pocket it, so I may as well (I have a very low opinion of the honesty of many police officers).