Theft by finding?
Discussion
Following a post made here. Basically I left a motorbike tank bag at a gas station that has some valuables in it, the gas station has footage of who has picked it up and suggested the police contact them, but the Police say there isn't anything they can do about it as the person who took it never technically stole it.
"Theft by finding" seems to suggest differently. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theft_by_finding
As there are items that have my details pretty clearly in the bag (passport, permit, ferry tickets etc), to me it seems if this person does not hand it in there is a pretty clear case of not attempting to find the owner?
Anyone know what the procedure is here?
"Theft by finding" seems to suggest differently. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theft_by_finding
As there are items that have my details pretty clearly in the bag (passport, permit, ferry tickets etc), to me it seems if this person does not hand it in there is a pretty clear case of not attempting to find the owner?
Anyone know what the procedure is here?
Say goodbye to all your stuff, although you never know the git that claimed it might send your valuables on.
Actually I'm shocked that you could actually leave a bag containing all that stuff behind, i know i wouldn't have let it out of my physical grip, never mind out of sight.
Maybe it's a lesson for you to look after your valuables.
Actually I'm shocked that you could actually leave a bag containing all that stuff behind, i know i wouldn't have let it out of my physical grip, never mind out of sight.
Maybe it's a lesson for you to look after your valuables.
sherbertdip said:
Say goodbye to all your stuff, although you never know the git that claimed it might send your valuables on.
Actually I'm shocked that you could actually leave a bag containing all that stuff behind, i know i wouldn't have let it out of my physical grip, never mind out of sight.
Maybe it's a lesson for you to look after your valuables.
As an aside, did you manage to complete your trip?
Yes, don't I know it. The reason I keep the valuables in this bag is to keep my hands on it at all times, but every now and then the unexpected happens. Long weekend, Le Mans, 450 miles, etc seems to dull the senses a bit.Actually I'm shocked that you could actually leave a bag containing all that stuff behind, i know i wouldn't have let it out of my physical grip, never mind out of sight.
Maybe it's a lesson for you to look after your valuables.
As an aside, did you manage to complete your trip?
Still dont see how that is enough of an excuse not to pick up the phone to see if the items will be returned. Half the job is done already.
I have to say that in essence to "thief" took an opportunistic hit, and it is to all intents and purpose theft, I'm sure there is a requirement that anything that is obviously belonging to somebody else then it should be handed in to the Police where they will then keep for a period of time and if not claimed then the finder can then claim it as theirs.
Can you try a different Police Station?
Can you try a different Police Station?
Ridiculous!
Theft 100% and theres no other way to describe it. Unless the person who picked it up has handed it in somewhere which we wont know until the policw pull their finger out.
How is picking up a bag that is clearly not yours not theft? Its no different from me riding off on an unchained bike or driving away in an idling car.
I guess there are a lot of criminals out there breaking the speed limit that need to be caught.
Theft 100% and theres no other way to describe it. Unless the person who picked it up has handed it in somewhere which we wont know until the policw pull their finger out.
How is picking up a bag that is clearly not yours not theft? Its no different from me riding off on an unchained bike or driving away in an idling car.
I guess there are a lot of criminals out there breaking the speed limit that need to be caught.
This law does indeed exist as I (nearly) found myself at the receiving end of it many years ago.
I found a set of wheel trims for a Nova I owned at the time at a petrol station and being young and naive thought someone had just left them there so I picked them up. Looked good on the car I thought so I kept them and thought nothing more of it.
Cue several days later the police turned up. Said person had realised his mistake and returned to collect them from the garage only to find them missing and naturally reported it. cctv showed my reg so they came knocking and said I would be charged with 'theft by finding' unless I returned them - which I duly did.
I found a set of wheel trims for a Nova I owned at the time at a petrol station and being young and naive thought someone had just left them there so I picked them up. Looked good on the car I thought so I kept them and thought nothing more of it.
Cue several days later the police turned up. Said person had realised his mistake and returned to collect them from the garage only to find them missing and naturally reported it. cctv showed my reg so they came knocking and said I would be charged with 'theft by finding' unless I returned them - which I duly did.
Edited by alan-8k78e on Monday 15th June 14:16
We get a lot of these 'thefts' reported. The OP has left his stuff lying around - someones picked it up and made off with it - to who knows where and why - they may not have been happy leaving it where it was. . It could have been handed into the finders local Police station 200 miles away and unless theres anything in the bag thats traceable to the owner thats where it will sit. If it has been handed in, it'll depend on how much Police effort is put into repatriating it with its owner. Theres no way of knowing whether or not the finders kept it or handed it in somewhere or made some other reasonable enquiries to trace the owner, so the advice given to the OP by Police was correct.
Edited by Bigends on Monday 15th June 14:30
I managed to get through to someone that was very helpful. Faith in the plod restored somewhat, but its odd you can get such varying responses.
Bigends said:
We get a lot of these 'thefts' reported. The OP has left his stuff lying around - someones picked it up and made off with it - to who knows where and why - they may not have been happy leaving it where it was. . It could have been handed into the finders local Police station 200 miles away and unless theres anything in the bag thats traceable to the owner thats where it will sit. If it has been handed in, it'll depend on how much Police effort is put into repatriating it with its owner. Theres no way of knowing whether or not the finders kept it or handed it in somewhere or made some other reasonable enquiries to trace the owner, so the advice given to the OP by Police was correct.
That would make sense. However, as you open the bag, there is a Speed Chills folder with all my details in it, from email printouts to bookings with my phone number on it. I do hope dialing a phone number is not too much effort.Bigends said:
We get a lot of these 'thefts' reported. The OP has left his stuff lying around - someones picked it up and made off with it - to who knows where and why - they may not have been happy leaving it where it was. . It could have been handed into the finders local Police station 200 miles away and unless theres anything in the bag thats traceable to the owner thats where it will sit. If it has been handed in, it'll depend on how much Police effort is put into repatriating it with its owner. Theres no way of knowing whether or not the finders kept it or handed it in somewhere or made some other reasonable enquiries to trace the owner, so the advice given to the OP by Police was correct.
Even if it's known who's taken it ?Edited by Bigends on Monday 15th June 14:30
Killboy said:
I managed to get through to someone that was very helpful. Faith in the plod restored somewhat, but its odd you can get such varying responses.
Bit of a Catch 22 for the Police really - they wont know its stolen until they find whos got it. They wont make any effort to trace that person unless they have some information that its stolen.Bigends said:
We get a lot of these 'thefts' reported. The OP has left his stuff lying around - someones picked it up and made off with it - to who knows where and why - they may not have been happy leaving it where it was. . It could have been handed into the finders local Police station 200 miles away and unless theres anything in the bag thats traceable to the owner thats where it will sit. If it has been handed in, it'll depend on how much Police effort is put into repatriating it with its owner. Theres no way of knowing whether or not the finders kept it or handed it in somewhere or made some other reasonable enquiries to trace the owner, so the advice given to the OP by Police was correct.
That would make sense. However, as you open the bag, there is a Speed Chills folder with all my details in it, from email printouts to bookings with my phone number on it. I do hope dialing a phone number is not too much effort.Bigends said:
Bit of a Catch 22 for the Police really
No its not. I'm not sure what part of the reasonable person test you would like to argue here. A reasonable person would have handed it in at the garage, or at the very least opened the bag to ascertain the owner. The details are there.Killboy said:
Bigends said:
Bit of a Catch 22 for the Police really
No its not. I'm not sure what part of the reasonable person test you would like to argue here. A reasonable person would have handed it in at the garage, or at the very least opened the bag to ascertain the owner. The details are there.Killboy said:
Bigends said:
Bit of a Catch 22 for the Police really
No its not. I'm not sure what part of the reasonable person test you would like to argue here. A reasonable person would have handed it in at the garage, or at the very least opened the bag to ascertain the owner. The details are there.OP, return to the garage, slip the underpaid overworked undervalued petrol attendant a twenty and get the reg plate.
--
I had my car broken into not long ago over night on the driveway, items taken from the car and dumped around the corner. A chap and his partner found it that morning whilst walking the dog. A couple of items had my name and previous company i worked for - the bloke went out of his way to google me, linkedin in to find what company i worked for now, phoned my company reception (twice!) to be put through to my corporate mobile all before 0830am. Bought the chap a nice bottle of red wine.
Another time, i found a phone on a train home going back a few years, i kept it charged up and phoned "home", gave them my name and mobile number and organised to meet up with them to return it. Got a lovely bottle of white wine in return.
Bigends said:
It is - until Police find out the finders decided to keep the property themselves they wont generally take any further action. Many people wont hand stuff into staff where theyve found items as they dont trust the staff. Had the bag been deliberately taken from your bike - different story. At the moment its lost property which looks to have been found and its whereabouts are unknown at the moment.
So how long do you think we should give them?Bigends said:
No ideas - could well be sat in a Police store room at the moment with sod all being done about it.
Does the CCTV give a reg number for the person finding - if so i'd expect some sort of follow up to be done by now
If it is, then the police need to shape up. Does the CCTV give a reg number for the person finding - if so i'd expect some sort of follow up to be done by now
As I said, I spoke to someone else, that is putting a little more effort in. No problems if the person is going to hand it in, but no harm in following up either
Killboy said:
Bigends said:
No ideas - could well be sat in a Police store room at the moment with sod all being done about it.
Does the CCTV give a reg number for the person finding - if so i'd expect some sort of follow up to be done by now
If it is, then the police need to shape up. Does the CCTV give a reg number for the person finding - if so i'd expect some sort of follow up to be done by now
As I said, I spoke to someone else, that is putting a little more effort in. No problems if the person is going to hand it in, but no harm in following up either
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