Tom_in_CA
Gold Member
- Mar 23, 2007
- 13,837
- 10,360
- 🥇 Banner finds
- 2
- Detector(s) used
- Explorer II, Compass 77b, Tesoro shadow X2
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?
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?