Police send unpleasant email

[Tom_in_CA]

I recently read an article, of a fellow from the Lake Tahoe area of California, who read a "lost and found" ad on Craigslist. A person had lost an expensive ring on one of the recreational beaches of Lake Tahoe, and put the "lost" ad on Craigslist. The metal detector hobbyist responded, went out, and found it in short order. Although he did not ask, or charge, for his services, he did not turn down a $1000 tip! (apparently it was a BIG diamond).

After reading about that, I began to watch the local craigslists L&F ads in my area, since I'm within striking distance of beaches along the coast. Thus far, I haven't had any leads, as most of them are usually lost in a restaurant, or in a parking lot, or whatever. But in the meantime, I thought I'd try a reverse post, and post a "found" ad. To test the waters, I posted a pair of prescription glasses, that appeared to be fairly recently lost. I figured prescription glasses "aren't cheap", and surely don't do any good to anyone else, except to the person who lost them I posted them on a "found" ad, saying found with a detector on such & such beach, email to identify, etc....

The next day, a lady police officer responded to the add. Here is a cut & paste of the text:

"Hello,

I am with the _______________ Police Department. I work with the Evidence and Property Division. We did have a report of a pair of glasses lost in a blk case, flat on top and oval on the bottom.

Please let me know if they may be the same. We also have an eyeglass and key box at the PD which is open 24 hrs to drop items off that may have been found.
With the use of a metal detector I'm sure you find a few things. What would be helpful is that you turn in those items in to us and you sign for them so that after the 90 days waiting period passess, and if there are no claims it would alleviate any mis appropriation of found property situations.

We get many reports of items lost on the beach.

Thanks for your help in advance"

She then goes on to give her name, badge #, ph. #, etc...

As you can see, this is pretty un-settling. It sounds like they don't want people doing their own ads, and expect (legally so?) for anything "found" to be turned in to them. Naturally I didn't say that I/we also find rings & such But you can guess, from the tone of such an email, where THAT would go

It almost makes me think twice about posting a found ad again. Sure, I'd watch the lost ads, and deal direct with the person who posts. But to turn everything in to a police station would just make me wonder: Even though they say you'll get un-claimed items back, what's to stop a small town police station person, from simply calling their buddy, and saying "hey joe, want a nice gold ring? just come down to the station, and describe it as such & such, tell them you lost it on the beach, and PRESTO, you'll have yourself a nice ring".

Anyone else ever try to post a found ad, and have such police contact like this?

 

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[jeff of pa]

Awsome Response from Her in My opinion.

#1 Definately Take the glasses in if you havn't.

#2 definately promise to Bring in "Lost Items".

#3 Definately Make sure they can contact you
at anytime for your service or to give you leads.

#4 make sure they realize you will do this as a Public service (FREE)

on the side; If you find Items you can trace,
don't bother them, trace it yourself, and return it.

in My opinion you don't need to turn in
coins, relics, Etc./ If they tell you different
also bing in all those tabs & Foil with dirt sticking to them.

seriously though Don't ask Don't tell on the coins & Relics

just Promise to bring in "Lost Items" which I would consider
"Recently lost Neeeded items.
(Cell phones, glasses, Etc)

It's called

"Gathering Brownie Points"

 

[RGINN]

That's kind of strange. If I was a cop in these days, when I had a burglary, I probably would be checking the Internet, since it seems so many folks have computers now. I see the potential for someone other than the police to set this up as a scam. 'Small town police station person'. I was a cop for 25 years. There are bad cops out there, and they will always be with us. That's the ones you remember. The majority of us were very idealistic and only wanted to help people. We also had the most fun you could have with your clothes on. We started out young and wanted to save the world at very little pay, until a lot of us decided the world didn't want to be saved. For the most part, I think you can trust your local PD. But if you have contact with them, remember they are slaves to procedure and policy.

 

[Sandman]

Most states and authorities want you to turn in all found property to them but they do not try to find the owners. Many of the objects turned in to my state (MI.) DNR get sold at auction if they don't disappear from the property rooms. I have never placed a found ad on Craig's list and it has been a long time since I placed one in local paper too.

 

[goldeagle]

I think in are field of MD'ING that we need to as a group vote someone into office or start take up collections to have or make up a special rights group that supports what we do!its time for us the law abiding citizens to put an end to all this horsesh@t! things need to change and if we come together as a whole we can push for laws to be changed.i know it takes money because that's what are gov. is all about special interests groups do this all the time and in MY HONEST OPINION IT IS TIME!!!!!!!!!!! WE ARE THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE FOR THE PEOPLE!

 

[blurr]

What part of the email was unpleasant? Seems like a very friendly email, that should be looked at as an opportunity to help the police.

John

 

[jeff of pa]

Fact is even people who
loose things don't purchase papers to read
the lost & Found Even when they loose something
and even less go on the net looking for their lost items.

too many places to look.

a few will contact police.

if you lost your class ring in 75 would you
search the internet for it ?

lost and found adds are a waste 99 out a 100 times

put an add in anyplace
Found Pair of Glasses Call & Describe
Or found Ring Call & Describe

Daaah

unless it was lost that day or the day before
not enough info.

all class ring adds I Place include Names,
Year of Graduation, School name
where found etc. So others may recognize the person.
and alert them.

You Got a lead From the Police
COOOOOOOOOL !

If it was Police from another area telling you, you
need to turn them in to your police,
then Yes I would say Rude & Non of their Buisness.

 

[lostcauses]

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,263589.0.html
Should let folks read between the threads.
As you already know the law exist in CA Tom.

As for prescription glasses some can get very expensive.

CA CIVIL § 2080 - 2082

2080. Any person who finds a thing lost is not bound to take charge
of it, unless the person is otherwise required to do so by contract
or law, but when the person does take charge of it he or she is
thenceforward a depositary for the owner, with the rights and
obligations of a depositary for hire. Any person or any public or
private entity that finds and takes possession of any money, goods,
things in action, or other personal property, or saves any domestic
animal from harm, neglect, drowning, or starvation, shall, within a
reasonable time, inform the owner, if known, and make restitution
without compensation, except a reasonable charge for saving and
taking care of the property. Any person who takes possession of a
live domestic animal shall provide for humane treatment of the
animal.



2080.1. (a) If the owner is unknown or has not claimed the
property, the person saving or finding the property shall, if the
property is of the value of one hundred dollars ($100) or more,
within a reasonable time turn the property over to the police
department of the city or city and county, if found therein, or to
the sheriff's department of the county if found outside of city
limits, and shall make an affidavit, stating when and where he or she
found or saved the property, particularly describing it. If the
property was saved, the affidavit shall state:
(1) From what and how it was saved.
(2) Whether the owner of the property is known to the affiant.
(3) That the affiant has not secreted, withheld, or disposed of
any part of the property.
(b) The police department or the sheriff's department shall notify
the owner, if his or her identity is reasonably ascertainable, that
it possesses the property and where it may be claimed. The police
department or sheriff's department may require payment by the owner
of a reasonable charge to defray costs of storage and care of the
property.



2080.2. If the owner appears within 90 days, after receipt of the
property by the police department or sheriff's department, proves his
ownership of the property, and pays all reasonable charges, the
police department or sheriff's department shall restore the property
to him.



2080.3. (a) If the reported value of the property is two hundred
fifty dollars ($250) or more and no owner appears and proves his or
her ownership of the property within 90 days, the police department
or sheriff's department shall cause notice of the property to be
published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation. If,
after seven days following the first publication of the notice, no
owner appears and proves his or her ownership of the property and the
person who found or saved the property pays the cost of the
publication, the title shall vest in the person who found or saved
the property unless the property was found in the course of
employment by an employee of any public agency, in which case the
property shall be sold at public auction. Title to the property
shall not vest in the person who found or saved the property or in
the successful bidder at the public auction unless the cost of
publication is first paid to the city, county, or city and county
whose police or sheriff's department caused the notice to be
published.
(b) If the reported value of the property is less than two hundred
fifty dollars ($250) and no owner appears and proves his or her
ownership of the property within 90 days, the title shall vest in the
person who found or saved the property, unless the property was
found in the course of employment by an employee of any public
agency, in which case the property shall be sold at public auction.




2080.4. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2080.3 or Section
2080.6, the legislative body of any city, city and county, or county
may provide by ordinance for the care, restitution, sale or
destruction of unclaimed property in the possession of the police
department of such city or city and county or of the sheriff of such
county. Any city, city and county, or county adopting such an
ordinance shall provide therein (1) that such unclaimed property
shall be held by the police department or sheriff for a period of at
least three months, and (2) that thereafter such property will be
sold at public auction to the highest bidder, with notice of such
sale being given by the chief of police or sheriff at least five days
before the time fixed therefor by publication once in a newspaper of
general circulation published in the county, or that thereafter such
property will be transferred to the local government purchasing and
stores agency or other similar agency for sale to the public at
public auction. If such property is transferred to a county
purchasing agent it may be sold in the manner provided by Article 7
(commencing with Section 25500) of Chapter 5 of Part 2 of Division 2
of Title 3 of the Government Code for the sale of surplus personal
property. If property is transferred to the local government
purchasing and stores agency or other similar agency pursuant to this
section, such property shall not be redeemable by the owner or other
person entitled to possession. If the local government purchasing
and stores agency or other similar agency determines that any such
property transferred to it for sale is needed for a public use, such
property may be retained by the agency and need not be sold.



2080.5. The police department or sheriff's department may sell such
property by public auction, in the manner and upon the notice of
sale of personal property under execution, if it is a thing which is
commonly the subject of sale, when the owner cannot, with reasonable
diligence, be found, or, being found, refuses upon demand to pay the
lawful charges provided by Sections 2080 and 2080.1, in the following
cases:
(1) When the thing is in danger of perishing, or of losing the
greater part of its value; or,
(2) When the lawful charges provided by Sections 2080 and 2080.1
amount to two-thirds of its value.



2080.6. (a) Any public agency may elect to be governed by the
provisions of this article with respect to disposition of personal
property found or saved on property subject to its jurisdiction, or
may adopt reasonable regulations for the care, restitution, sale or
destruction of unclaimed property in its possession. Any public
agency adopting such regulations shall provide therein (1) that such
unclaimed property shall be held by such agency for a period of at
least three months, (2) that thereafter such property will be sold at
public auction to the highest bidder, and (3) that notice of such
sale shall be given by the chief administrative officer of such
agency at least five days before the time fixed therefor by
publication once in a newspaper of general circulation published in
the county in which such property was found. Any property remaining
unsold after being offered at such public auction may be destroyed or
otherwise disposed of by the public agency. In a county having a
purchasing agent, the purchasing agent may conduct such sale, in
which case the provisions of subdivisions (2) and (3) of this section
shall not be applicable. Such sale shall be made by the county
purchasing agent in the manner provided by Article 7 (commencing with
Section 25500) of Chapter 5 of Part 2 of Division 2 of Title 3 of
the Government Code for the sale of surplus personal property. If
the public agency determines that any such property transferred to it
for sale is needed for a public use, such property may be retained
by the agency and need not be sold.
(b) "Public agency" as used in this section means any state
agency, including the Department of General Services and the
Department of Parks and Recreation, any city, county, city and
county, special district, or other political subdivision.



2080.7. The provisions of this article have no application to
things which have been intentionally abandoned by their owner.



2080.8. The Regents of the University of California may provide by
resolution or regulation for the care, restitution, sale or
destruction of unclaimed property in the possession of the Regents of
the University of California or of the University of California
Police Department. Any resolution or regulation adopted pursuant to
this section shall provide therein (1) that such unclaimed property
shall be held by the Regents of the University of California or the
University of California Police Department for a period of at least
three months, (2) that thereafter such property will be sold at
public auction to the highest bidder, and (3) that notice of such
sale shall be given by the Regents of the University of California or
the University of California Police Department at least five days
before the time therefor by publication once in a newspaper of
general circulation published in the county in which such property is
held. The Regents of the University of California may dispose of
any such property upon which no bid is made at any such sale.




2080.9. The Trustees of the California State University may provide
by resolution or regulation for the care, restitution, sale, or
destruction of unclaimed, lost, or abandoned property in the
possession of any state university. Any resolution or regulation
adopted pursuant to this section shall include therein (1) that such
unclaimed or lost property shall be held by the particular state
university for a period of at least six months, (2) that thereafter
such property, as well as abandoned property, will be sold at public
auction to the highest bidder, and (3) that notice of such sale shall
be given by the Trustees of the California State University at least
five days before the time therefor by publication once in a
newspaper of general circulation published in the county in which
such property is held. The Trustees of the California State
University may dispose of any such property upon which no bid is made
at any such sale.


2080.10. (a) When a public agency obtains possession of personal
property from a person for temporary safekeeping, the public agency
shall do all of the following:
(1) Take responsibility for the storage, documentation, and
disposition of the property.
(2) Provide the person from whom the property was taken with a
receipt and instructions for the retrieval of the property. The
receipt and instructions shall either be given to the person from
whom the property was taken at the time the public agency obtains the
property or immediately mailed, by first-class mail, to the person
from whom the property was taken.
(3) If the public agency has knowledge that the person from whom
the property was taken is not the owner, the agency shall make
reasonable efforts to identify the owner. If the owner is
identified, the public agency shall mail, by first-class mail, a
receipt and instructions for the retrieval of the property.
(b) The receipt and instructions shall notify the person from whom
the property was taken that the property must be claimed within 60
days after the public agency obtains possession or the property will
be disposed of in accordance with the disposal provisions of this
article. Within 60 days, the person may do one of the following:
(1) Retrieve the property.
(2) Authorize in writing another person to retrieve the property.

(3) Notify the public agency in writing that he or she is unable
to retrieve the property, because he or she is in custody, and
request the public agency to hold the property. If a person notifies
the public agency that he or she is unable to retrieve the property
within 60 days, or have an authorized person retrieve the property,
the public agency shall hold the property for not longer than 10
additional months.
(c) The public agency shall not be liable for damages caused by
any official action performed with due care regarding the disposition
of personal property pursuant to this section and the disposal
provisions of this article.
(d) As used in this section, "public agency" means any state
agency, any city, county, city and county, special district, or other
political subdivision.

From http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cacodes/civ/2080-2080.10.html
Also http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stuscacivil_2080_2082.htm#s2080

 

[Ray S ECenFL]

Glad I don't live in CA.



Ray S

 

[stefen]

To me, the letter was very diplomatic and offered solutions to 'Found Items' which avoids future problems.

There is no implied threat. Its a simple, diplomatic recommendation.

Being that a person owns and operates a metal detector, does not place him (or her) above the law.

What I do see is that there are those who claim to be good law-abiding Christains, attend services regularily, pay their taxes, help old ladies across streets, and yet when they get their hands on a MD unit, they'd screw their neighbor in a split second.

 

[lostcauses]

Strange is it not??

"What I do see is that there are those who claim to be good law-abiding Christains, attend services regularily, pay their taxes, help old ladies across streets, and yet when they get their hands on a MD unit, they'd screw their neighbor in a split second."

 

[jeff of pa]

I don't see anyone trying to screw anyone.

Just looks like a Response to the add
By someone Doing their Job.
Researchig a Lost Item Report.


I am with the _______________ Police Department. I work with the Evidence and Property Division. We did have a report of a pair of glasses lost in a blk case, flat on top and oval on the bottom.

Please let me know if they may be the same.

and Tom hasn't said if that is the pair,
just that he took the response in a bad way

Tom, I Take it you took this

if there are no claims it would alleviate any mis appropriation of found property situations

as a Threat & Not as a way of Saying
"We Would be Protecting your rights to
Have things you Find and Can't find the owners of"

 

[Cappy Z.]

Here I go....

The bottom line is finders keepers. NO govt is legitimate. If police acted more civil they'd have more people helping them.

Ronald Reagan, "Get the govt off the backs of the American People.."

 

[Tom_in_CA]

thanx for the replies everyone.

The pair I had found, did not match the ones the lady officer described, so that part of this, is a mute point.

I should also say, that YES, the tone of the email was pleasant. I should have specified the exact part I found unsettling, is this quote:

"With the use of a metal detector I'm sure you find a few things. What would be helpful is that you turn in those items in to us and you sign for them"

I can imagine that this is true of any police dept., in any city, in any state. Is it not? So that's the unsettling part I was alluding to. Not the rest of it. Does everyone here keep the gold rings they find? (barring returnable ID-able ones)? Do you keep gold rings Sandman, or turn them in to the police each time? Why wouldn't your city have the same rules? THAT'S the part I was wondering about. The letter itself was pleasant (sorry for that misunderstanding). It was just the legal implications that this doesn't *just* include cell phones, glasses, car keys, etc... But literally, I suppose everything (except coins & tabs?).

I suppose I could trust the cops to return all the un-claimed jewelry back to me. I'll have to see if that's there policy for "after 90 days" (notice her email doesn't say I'll get it back). Sandman, you seem to say that "un-claimed things get sold at auction" in your state. So assuming you are a law-abiding citizen, do you turn in all your jewelry to them, even knowing that you will never see them again? (I know you've gotten your share of jewelry over the years )

Jeff of PA, yes my fellow hobbyists & I around here have helped the police in the past search for weapons, bullets, etc.... It's probably a good idea to get on their rolodex for casual jewelry lost & founds too I suppose. Good idea. I will be talking to this lady officer tomorrow, and letting her know my # for any future lost beach jewelry reports.

Hope this clears up that I was only speaking to the legal implications that we md'rs should be turning in everything to cops. Notice that the email even implies that to have posted a "found" ad, was .... uh ..... not the thing to do. I should have put them in her box, ALONG with "the other things found with a metal detector".

Last I checked, a casual look at the T'net beach forum, finds forum, etc... shows that lots of us md'rs across the United States (including some who seem to have taken issue with my post here), have nice collections of rings, bracelets, necklaces, etc... hmmm

 

[jeff of pa]

I Actually Feel I Do a Better Job of Returning then
the Police do, But this is just Personal Belief that their
time is Best spent working on Crimes.

I'd Wager with rings They will Only return
to the Owner Not a relative. if it is old.

My understanig They only auction items found
By Officers & Other official workers.
Not items found by Citizens
who find & Want them.

I would think Finders Keepers apply to Citizens
If the owner can't be found. Unless the Item
is very Valuable.

I had a Reason to check on Boats here in PA Once.
& was told if there is a Number they trace the owner & Give them
a set time to Respond. If no response the Salvor Gets it.
If it works with Boats, it should be the same with rings Etc.

Large amounts of Money they would Likely declair it drug mony
so they can keep it.

As always This is not Legal advice
Just an opinion.

 

[Cappy Z.]

Large amounts of Money they would Likely declair it drug mony
so they can keep it.(JeffofPA)

Shucks....heck..no police officer would ever do that..they take an oath!

 

[jeff of pa]

Large amounts of Money they would Likely declair it drug mony
so they can keep it.(JeffofPA)

Shucks....heck..no police officer would ever do that..they take an oath!

Yes I apologize Cappy

The Police Have never said anything was or Could be "Drug Related"
unless it was Proven in a Court of Law" first

 

[stefen]

Just for giggles and grins (and because its Wednesday) run an ad on Craigs List stating you are looking for the owner of a breifcase full of $100 bills...and watch the local police and FBI clammer over you like flies on stink.

 

[jeff of pa]

Just for giggles and grins (and because its Wednesday) run an ad on Craigs List stating you are looking for the owner of a breifcase full of $100 bills...and watch the local police and FBI clammer over you like flies on stink.

Yep they would be at your Door Before you could
think Twice about it.

& Wouldn't believe it was a Joke.

Of course you Know practical Jokes are illegal in the U.S.
ask anyone who spilled white powder for a joke.

 

[Cappy Z.]

Just for giggles and grins (and because its Wednesday) run an ad on Craigs List stating you are looking for the owner of a breifcase full of $100 bills...and watch the local police and FBI clammer over you like flies on stink.

Yep they would be at your Door Before you could
think Twice about it.

& Wouldn't believe it was a Joke.

I haven't seen a cop crack a smile since the Barney Miller show in the 1970's.