Finding a wallet scenario

The thread reminds me of something I saw when I was a kid in City Centre.

Some guy was walking down the street and something fell out of his pocket. Immediately the woman behind him bent down, picked it up, put it in her pocket and carried on.

marknjb wrote: »

not a wallet but i handed in a bank card plus 300 euro the other day at my local bank the machine was slow and the woman in front off me thought it wasnt working and went in to the bank to get help
when i came to the machine the card plus money were sitting there
she was in the bank when i handed it in

That's a classic with the financially distressed suburban housewife. Withdraw cash at ATM go into bank before cash has dispensed and have your "friend" grab the money while your inside. Its all on CCTV so you are in the clear, so you get your cash refunded into your account and then share the cash with your "friend".

If someone justs keeps the money or wallet, than they are the same as a pick pocket, thief or robber. You cant justify keeping it. Saying that we found a wallet out in the street with no id or any kind of paper work, just £80 in it. 40 bucks each.:D

When I was younger I'd have kept it but now I'd give it back.

I found a wallet in the city centre, when I was a first year college student, about 10 years ago now (that makes me feel old).

It had about 350 euro in cash in it, plus credit cards, receipts etc.

There was nothing in it that I could use to directly contact the owner. I handed all of it in to Pearse street Garda station, and got them to give me a receipt for handing it in. I also asked them to ask the owner to give me a call when she received the wallet. (As it'd be easy for the Gardai to find the owner from the credit cards).

Owner called me up a day or two later; called me pretty early in the morning when I was still sleeping; she said thanks. As I had just woken up, I didn't think to ask if she had received all the cash, but I presume she did.


I would not have a problem with keeping (untraceable) cash found on a city centre street; but as the owner of the wallet was going to be traceable, from the credit cards, I handed it in.

Possibly the owner really needed the money, and was going to be in a tight spot without it. Probably not, but possibly.

Its what I'd want someone to do for me. I've benefited from the kindness of strangers; had a phone returned to me, that I lost on Dublin bus once; chipped an elbow in a cycling accident (involving a bad driver who drove on) and had a stranger do a lot for me, bring me home, etc.


I've read some economics. I know its locally irrational, to hand in the cash in the wallet. The most locally self-regardingly rational thing to do is probably to tell stories like this on the Internet, so everyone else hands in wallets, but while really secretly keeping the money when you get the chance. I understand that argument.

I didn't hand the wallet in because I believe in some religious system of ethics, or fear of divine punishment, either.

Theres a level at which I believe we are all in this together, basically.
You've got to start from somewhere. Its just a choice.

I'd hand in the cash and keep the wallet, my own one is in bits!

B.A._Baracus wrote: »

I've heard some stories about handing it into the gardai and they be looking at you with two-heads thinking you stole it :rolleyes:

Honestly, I find that very hard to believe. I didn't get the merest suggestion of that, and really, do the Gardai get a lot of thieves coming in to the station to hand things in?

I'd presume that thieves try to avoid spending time in Garda stations, and I'd be surprised if the Gardai thought otherwise?

found a wallet with a photo of a serious, serious babe in it.

made a date for the handover, her dad turned up instead. babe was 'unable to come'.

b'astard.

I found a wallet which contained about €2,000 a few years ago. I tracked down the owner; an old man. He gave me a reward for my trouble. A euro. One friggng euro :mad:

I'd hand in the purse as my friend lost hers and two wks later it was returned the garda station rang her as her contact details were in the purse& she got her money back too now if i found money on the street I might pick that up as id see it as a sign of good luck for me for once!! Lol!!

fergalr wrote: »

Honestly, I find that very hard to believe. I didn't get the merest suggestion of that, and really, do the Gardai get a lot of thieves coming in to the station to hand things in?

I'd presume that thieves try to avoid spending time in Garda stations, and I'd be surprised if the Gardai thought otherwise?

Its happens. But depends on the gardai in question.
Sometimes you can get hit with the 20 questions rountine to suss you out. If they dont like the looks of you.

(1) where did you find the wallet?
(2) did you inspect the wallet?
(3) how did you come by the wallet?
(4) whats your name?
(5) whats your address?

[They can proceed to ask the same questions again to see if you stumble on your answers:]

(6) where was the wallet found again?

[If they plain ol' dont like the look of you:]

(7) was there any cash in the wallet? Thats an offense if ye took it out ya know.

(etc)


Gardai are thought to be sussing out everyone at every moment. If they dont think you stole it, they'll do their best suss you out at least. But of course, as I say depends on the gardai. Some will take it and asks the bare questions ending with "cheers for that" ... just certain people.

If I found a wallet, I'd try to contact the person, or go to the Gardaí. I'd be racked with guilt if I kept anything in it.

TheStook wrote: »

And some people saying that if they found notes on the street they would hand it into a gardai station, are you mad? Yes its nice but why, the owner will never get it but i'm guessing the gardai will get a slice....Theres a difference between being nice and just idiotic

My mam found a fifty euro note on the street a few years ago. She took it to the guards, and the guy at the desk was so surprised that money was handed in, he called out some of the lads from the back to tell them! It wasn't claimed, they called her (after about a year I guess?!) and she gave it to charity.

purplepapillon wrote: »

If I found a wallet, I'd try to contact the person, or go to the Gardaí. I'd be racked with guilt if I kept anything in it.



My mam found a fifty euro note on the street a few years ago. She took it to the guards, and the guy at the desk was so surprised that money was handed in, he called out some of the lads from the back to tell them! It wasn't claimed, they called her (after about a year I guess?!) and she gave it to charity.

I'm honestly suprised the gardai didnt keep it for themselves. Sure how is handed-in money meant to be claimed anyways? :pac: we could all say we lost a 50 euro note :pac: