If you found a mobile phone and knew or could locate the owner would you turn it in?

Windows7forever on 17/03/2015 - 17:29
Last edited 17/03/2015 - 17:31

I found an SG5($700 phone) today and was able to return it to its rightful owner. Obviously she was very thankful for my honesty, perhaps a little embarrassed that she was careless (x 2) due to the fact that her phone wasn't entirely locked down and I had to go in to find information that would help locate her (.e.g name, photo, home phone, etc), although I didn't snoop or look at anything else.

Assume you found a very expensive phone in public and it wasn't remotely traceable/locate-able with security software or you had the means of "wiping it" i.e. you could "get away with taking it", would you take it?

This is more a question of personal ethics and honesty rather than if it is possible to evade detection.

I'd like to think that if I accidentally misplaced my phone and someone had the means or capacity to locate me then they would try to make an effort to return the phone.

Poll Options

  • 559
    Yes, definitely turn it in. Good morals and doing the right thing are important.
  • 12
    Maybe, it depends on the circumstances and whether I can get away with it.
  • 17
    No, Finder's keepers. I'm pawning that thing!
General Discussion

Comments

    • pg88 on 18/03/2015 - 11:41
      +1

      "Mama always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get."

  • Tal_Shiar on 18/03/2015 - 03:46

    i've come across a few phones and personal belongings at various jobs, as long as their phone doesn't look grubby i don't have any issue checking out their call history list and calling them to pass on the relevant information

  • Geewhizz on 18/03/2015 - 07:24

    Just out of interest for those who have found phones, do you look for an ICE number or is it pretty much a waste of time having one?

    • Shwayne on 19/03/2015 - 11:37

      My phone would be pattern locked if you found it, so I have the ICE / Call if lost number in the Owners Information section of the lock screen.

  • Shadowsfury on 18/03/2015 - 07:28
    +5

    Found a phone in a carpark a couple of years ago, just as I opened my car door.

    Was going to watch a movie, so I took it with me and started texting everyone they had recently texted saying I've found their phone.

    Owner called back asking if they could come then and there (but then I'd miss some of my movie) so I said I'd drive over to their place to return it to them after my movie.

    Their family ended up owning a dairy so they gave me 2 large boxes of Cadbury Favourites as a thanks.

  • ankor on 18/03/2015 - 07:43

    Found money on the ground outside a pub and kept it. Returned wallets and phones that have been found though.

    • blighst on 18/03/2015 - 23:30

      How exactly would you track down the owner.

      The only reason I'm hesitant to hand stuff like that in is that the person you hand it in to could simply just pocket it.

      • ankor on 19/03/2015 - 07:20
        +2

        Hence keeping the money. Wallets had a persons drivers license so I drove over to return it. A phone, I waited for the call cos it was locked and arranged a meeting place to return it to them.

        Money, couldn't track down the drink that dropped it so it ended up as my shout with some friends.

  • A Driver on 18/03/2015 - 08:03

    Yes, of course I wouldn't keep it!

    Same with finding a wallet or camera/tablet/laptop… it just wouldn't even register "finders keepers" with something not only so valuable but with so much personal info and so much hassle to replace. I've lost a wallet once and had that returned to me so I would definitely try my best to find the owner myself and failing that hand it into the cops.

    Oh can you imagine the bad juju if you kept it or tried to sell it? It's not worth it!

    • Windows7forever on 18/03/2015 - 09:01
      -4

      "JuJu menstrual cup for women looking for a safe reusable green alternative to tampons and sanitary pads."
      Hmmm, this 'juju' is a curious thing?

  • bargainjargon on 18/03/2015 - 08:26
    +2

    I would always return it no matter what the item is if I knew who it belonged to. I mostly see people drop money or stuff from their grocery bags. One time a lady walking in front of me dropped a $10 note so I went up to her to try to give it back but even as I was saying "excuse me…" she brushed me off and said "I'm not interested" and walked away. For about a half second I thought "I wonder what I did wrong" but then I thought "woo hoo ten bucks!"

  • [Deactivated] on 18/03/2015 - 09:12
    +4

    My dog found a phone at the dog park. Looked through it, rang the number displayed as 'mum'. Lucky I could speak Greek, told her I found a phone and also turned out her son had the same name as me. Son met me at the dog park along with 3 am-staffs, looked like a dude you wouldn't want to mess with, gold chains as thick as ropes! He was pretty nice though, guess he had a valuable contact list.

    • ferguscan on 18/03/2015 - 09:17
      +4

      Your dog looked through the phone, and called a number? Cool.

  • tight-a55 on 18/03/2015 - 09:43

    ha! this wasn't at Miranda Fair (NSW) was it? The misses lost her phone their on her 1st day at a new job and a nice person like you (if it wasn't you) found it and was able to find her and hand it back. Thanks if it was you.

  • KNM on 18/03/2015 - 10:36

    Definitely return it.

    I've returned about 3 phones that I've found (one was an iphone when i was still using a nokia e71).

  • parisienne on 18/03/2015 - 10:38
    -2

    Honestly,i think we would all consider the notion of keeping and selling (c'mon,i think we are all familiar enough with basic human mentality to admit that)BUT,i believe that one word would be enough to make you think again…KARMA.
    As my hubby and i have been pooed on from a great height many,many times during our lives,yet still remain good people who have been fortunate enough to have Karma be good to us i would not tempt the fallout that would occur (and it WOULD occur.That system is not just hippy ideals,as Raj from Big Bang will tell you "it's practically Newtonian")

    • Roman Sandstorm on 18/03/2015 - 13:14
      +5

      Karma? What an offensive concept. On so many levels.

      First, pity the poor deity/judge/intelligence of the universe who has to sit around and make billions of decisions over people's lives every day.

      Second is the logical implication that follows, if you accept the principle, that there is a controlling influence in the universe that is really concerned with whether we step on an ant, or hand in a wallet.

      Third, if "what goes around, comes around" (a basic premise of karma) is true, what have the millions of people who die in tsunamis or earthquakes, or whatever, done to 'deserve' this karma? Or the countless children who die of diseases? Before they even have a chance to steal iPhones. Or…. Well, you get the idea.

      Fourth, and worst of all, accepting karma implies that you only do good deeds, and live a good life in fear of retribution if you do not. That's no basis for a moral system.

      What is wrong with simply "doing the right thing"? Not for fear of afterlife (or current life) penalty, but because it's better to live in a decent, civilised society? What's wrong with attempting to treat other people the way you'd like to be treated yourself? No need for airy-fairy, absurd concepts like karma, (and don't start me on 'original sin', for that matter). No need for fear, or terror of the evil eye, or concern that you'll be reincarnated as a maggot.

      Karma? Shmarma.

      As for the found phone: hand it in, or don't hand it in. A bird won't poop on you either way. If your personal moral code accepts keeping/profiting from other's misfortune, fine. Possibly idealists who'd like to live in a kind, cooperative society may be more inclined to return the item than narcissistic sociopaths wholly devoted to their own egotistical needs. But either way, you're not going to be judged by the universe and found deserving or wanting.

      • ur2dads on 18/03/2015 - 16:09

        Ironic that you mentioned Raj from Big Bang Parisienne, because heeeerreeee's Sheldon.

        • parisienne on 19/03/2015 - 07:33

          I don't know how to take that,so with salt it is.

      • parisienne on 19/03/2015 - 08:01
        +2

        Roman Sandstorm,Ours is not to question the workings of all that we cannot fathom.
        I simply made a personal observation that i believe in and try to live by.I don't do it for any "afterlife penalty",reward or favour…i do it because the world is crap enough without my adding to it.I have no idea why bad happens to undeserving people (just as i don't get why it doesn't happen to those that do,if you work it out,let us know),all i know for certain is that,as a lot of people have,i have been pooped on (metaphorically,NOT literally)by people a lot,and by being a fairly decent person through it all i have had a few examples of "getting back what you put out".
        Oh,and can i ask one thing ? It may not be a great system "accepting karma implies that you only do good deeds, and live a good life in fear of retribution if you do not" because "That's no basis for a moral system",but if we look at society,if i don't behave at work,i have every reason to fear retribution from my boss right ? If i don't do the right thing in public,i have every reason to fear retribution from the police right ? So we do the right thing,yes because it's right….but a very good incentive is the "equal and opposite reaction" we would encounter if we didn't is it not ?.

    • [Deactivated] on 19/03/2015 - 00:34
      +1

      have been fortunate enough to have Karma be good to us i would not tempt the fallout that would occur (and it WOULD occur.That system is not just hippy ideals,as Raj from Big Bang will tell you "it's practically Newtonian")

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magical_thinking
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confirmation_bias
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-deception

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karma#Discussion

      So.. no.

      • parisienne on 19/03/2015 - 07:32

        http://www.pewforum.org/2012/12/18/global-religious-landscap… Cool waterlogged,1 billion people are wrong.

        • [Deactivated] on 19/03/2015 - 18:24
          +2

          @parisienne The comment by Sandstorm and your response to it - and also the links posted by Turnip-McDuck, all warrant upvotes (hereby applied before I forget. I'm still horribly preoccupied by my childhood wallet & fairyfloss-loss).
          (Sandstorm is probably still horribly preoccupied with Darude - but none of us should hold that against him.)

          Even when not in Roma, it's not exactly uncommon to be raised Catholic. I was, lapsed at the age of fourteen, much to the dismay of my parents, who turned out to be rather more religious than I had imagined. With that as a backdrop - otherwise unrelated - around my late teens/very early twenties, I began to believe that karma was a 'thing'.

          By way of proximity in time, I started to associate lies told (by me) with one or other bad consequence playing out in my life.
          Even though I keenly realised that thought-process to be 'magical thinking'/silly, I just decided to stop lying. White lies, included.

          In my life, anyway, that, driven by the notion of 'karma', has indeed come with good consequence (mainly..), in part because of just how creative you have be to NOT tell white lies, particularly when people's feelings are at stake.

          It turns out that the unvarnished truth and/or humour work better than generally bullshitting your way through life.
          'God' 'knows', parisienne, having a basically decent set of attitudes to life (plenty on display in this thread, at least as skimmed), does also help you feel better at the end of the day - horrendous spectre of climate change notwithstanding.

          Parisienne, the more I read and seek to fathom (to use your word) quantum mechanics and cosmology - in all its possible multiverse freakishness - the more I am inclined to believe that almost anything is possible.

          At least as applied on a personal level, for both personal benefit and for the benefit of others - with the magical-thinking part kept in very tight bounds - applying thoughts powered by the notion of karma, rarely a bad thing.
          Go for it.

        • [Deactivated] on 19/03/2015 - 20:35

          @Tas: I think believing in karma could also be unhealthy for the simple fact that if bad stuff happens to you or the people you love… aren't you naturally then expected/prone to assuming that you/the people you love deserved that bad stuff?

          Or does karma only work on occasion?

        • [Deactivated] on 19/03/2015 - 22:28

          @waterlogged turnip: G'day/eveeening turnip. In the last paragraph, I tried to frame things as carefully as I could and in a practical way, for those - like parisienne - who do, or choose to, believe in whole karma thing. (Difficult to shake for those who do, and clearly paris does.)

          I intentionally avoided mentioning the pernicious flipside, which - in one very nasty form or another - is inherent in all the magical thinking stuff.

          It rings a bell for me that at one point, and in some context, I suggested to you that sometimes you (meaning anyone intelligent) has to pull their own brain up by the metaphorical lapels.
          If you recognise in yourself an inate tendency to follow a downward spiral in your thought patterns, be it relation to embracing magical-thought 'pernicious flipside' stuff - or other thoughts just generally detrimental, you have to.. Shiiiiit, I'm actually about to write this… You Have To chiggity-check yo self before you wreck yo self.

          Word.

        • Windows7forever on 20/03/2015 - 08:47

          @waterlogged turnip: Same deal with religion really. Shit happens and you blame God for it.

        • parisienne on 20/03/2015 - 12:08

          @Tas: A massive upvote from me for that response Tas.HAHA,yep,that whole Catholic thing (i wasn't raised Catholic,but the ideals voiced by it have had a massive impact on me…hence my belief in "do unto others" belief,BUT that Karma is out there (i am in no way affiliated with Hinduism or Buddhism though),just the idea of Karma.

          I do believe that if we all lived in a way that would only end in a resulting good nights sleep,undisturbed by visions of the "bullshit" (blatant plagiarism from me there Tas) that we may have put out there that day,we would all be a much happier bunch (that white lie thing though…that's a hard one.Sometimes i feel that telling what you WANT to hear is easier,but still not ideal.

          My main problem with Karma (yep, i do have issues with it),is trying to get around the whole "bad things to good people" thing (i had a cousin,who i met only a handful of times,many,many years ago.She had been a nurse,then devoted her life to becoming a Lieutenant in the Salvos…at 27.She was as beautiful inside as she was out,but it was seen fit for her to have a head on collision in the snow whilst going to visit some friends.It was here very first placement as a Lieutenant,she was ready to change lives..then she was killed).I hated God for years after that,wondered what the hell the point of that was,but then,as an adult,it came to me…she died so that i would have someone watching over my life who would always inspire me to be the best i could be,and to live a little as she did.THERE,FOR ME,WAS THE REASONING.It sucked,but the reason became that clear.

          So there it is,no scientifics involved,no quantum mechanics pondering,not even airy fairy mysticism…just a little questioning as to "why" ,and the subsequent reasoning being something i could understand.It isn't proven to exist,it isn't an easy concept,BUT,as you said…applying that to ourselves and putting it out as an example to others is never a bad thing (no science or magic behind it).Sir Newton is now spinning in his grave at me (after all,science is my job..but i always add a little "hippy" love to the mix,because after all…no one has ever thanked me for knowing the chemical reaction of NaCl mixed with ivabs (they would have,i'm sure,if they knew what would happen),but i have been hugged hard for listening to and hugging a woman who has just lost their baby.That,(and now we are on the road to having one of our own after having lost 6 of ours)is Karma.

        • Roman Sandstorm on 20/03/2015 - 13:15

          @parisienne:

          I'm pleasantly surprised by the maturity of most of the replies here. This is uncommon in most forums (often sadly so even here. :-)), so the rational and reasonable discussion is most welcome.

          To me, another of the primary issues here is that people actually want a reason, an explanation for why things happen. LOL.

          In recent centuries the authoritarian/superstitious/religious explanations for how the universe works (and this includes the actions of humans) have largely been supplanted (at least in educated circles) by more naturalistic and scientific descriptions, based on observation and evidence. This has led to vast alleviation of human suffering and pain, extension of life expectancy, greater enjoyment of life, etc, etc.

          But our educated understanding of things does not (yet) cover everything at every level. Some people are satisfied with that, and are happy that their kids don't die of smallpox or malnutrition. Some are not so satisfied, and devote their lives to finding more knowledge, expanding the realm of science, technology, medicine, whatever. And some people cling to the 'god of the gaps' concept: seeing as we don't have explanations for every minute thing which may occur in a vast universe, therefore = GOD.

          I feel this concept has a corollary in the current discussion on karma. It is human-centric, more so, it is ego-centric. A belief that one's own actions and activities, and even thoughts, can influence the world around us in some 'karmic' manner, producing desired (or undesired) outcomes. It is a rather childlike and naive way of viewing the world, and suggests not only vast unfathomable supernatural influences, but also an existential ego which is really incompatible with a harmonious mature society.

          If an asteroid crashed into earth tomorrow, and resulted in a Cretaceous–Paleogene-type ELE, would believers of karma, in their last dying seconds, believe that all humans deserved this? Or that because they picked up a wallet, and did not hand it in, this was their karmic retribution?

          Surely not.

          We don't need 'karma' to explain what happens in the universe; it is a redundant concept, with no possibility of proof or disproof. (Rather like religion itself, actually.) We can explain many, many things. Even the poor babies who die of disease, or in a house fire, or the gentle, saintly, decent person cruelly cut down in a car crash. (Inattention, bad brakes, slippery road, whatever.)

          Most people of fair education in the modern world accept the idea of microbes, of germs which cause infection, disease. Just because we can't see these agents with our unaided vision does not mean that it is 'karma' that we come down with a cold. it means that a little bugger has gotten into our respiratory system and multiplied, creating havoc.

          What is the mechanism of karma? How do believers think it actually works? It's not sufficient really to say "it happens". There must be a means, a mechanism. And it's here that you get into hand-waving, and a whole supernatural structure, concerned with every little activity of every human (and possibly some animals) down to the minutest level. This hasn't stood up to reason for several hundred years now, and this is unlikely to change in the future.

        • [Deactivated] on 20/03/2015 - 13:54

          @parisienne: Lunch beckons. I won't add anything to the reply to you directly above this.

          You have misinterpreted some of what I wrote, but in the circumstance, that's ok. In my response to turnip, I think that she has also likely misconstrued my attempt to clarify. This would not be unusual.

          Parisienne, you have clearly experienced a lot of grief. Try not to attribute that to anything in particular.
          Happiness I hope, as a contrast. All the best with the bub-to-be.

          LUNCH!

  • [Deactivated] on 18/03/2015 - 10:42

    I find incredibly hard to believe that there's so many honest people around.

    The police frequently auctions off merchandises that's either confiscated or handed in after a set period of time, in those cases you doing the right thing just means the money goes towards someone else to benefit.

    • WaywardOne on 18/03/2015 - 11:24

      Yeah I agree.
      I lost a non-smartphone in 2007 in a cinema in Sydney. Within an hour I tried to call it and it had been switched off. I did regularly visit "lost and found", but gave up after a few weeks and had the IMEI blocked. I did lose my contacts. I was somewhat disappointed that someone didn't hand it in. Here's my theory:
      - It wasn't seen by most people
      - The honest people that saw it decided to ignore it
      - The only person(s) that did pick it up happened to be dishonest
      Alternatively, possibly it was switched off to conserve battery power. Also, perhaps it was handed in to some authority that I didn't check with (perhaps a neighbouring suburb's police station). Or perhaps someone honest did pick it up, but somehow managed to misplace it before handing it in. Possibilities are endless! :)

  • ShanB on 18/03/2015 - 10:56

    I lost a old nokia phone few of years back in a bus when called the phone some one turned off the phone, So I know the feeling of losing all your contacts and photos (this is before smart phones with auto backups). So I will try and return it to the owner or hand it to the cops.
    I have returned wallets to the owners or to the information desk at shopping centers.
    On my way to work near Sydney central I found $15 on the ground and didn't want to keep it so gave it to a college kid waiting for the traffic lights. I asked if it was his and before he answered I put the money in his hands and walked away knowing it will make him happy.

  • Lockieasy on 18/03/2015 - 11:25
    +3

    At a Big Day Out a few years back my buddy and I found an iPhone sitting in the sun in the stands. It had overheated so would only give out an error message and the phone network was overloaded anyway so we just held on for it for the time being.

    When heading home we successfully got it turned on and we rang the top contact with it. Girl picked up who was the girlfriend of the guy who had lost it and they were staying at a hotel in the city. So my buddy and I drove to their hotel and gave it back to the guy! He was very grateful and tried to offer $50 reward but we told him it wasn't necessary. :)

  • BanannaMan on 18/03/2015 - 11:26
    +1

    Yup I've done so twice, even got their details by calling up Vodafone - they put me in touch with the owner (without giving me any personal info)
    They offered me $20 reward twice but i declined.. always the kiddies losing the mobiles

  • Rodo on 18/03/2015 - 11:31
    +5

    A few years back, my wife found a phone in a shopping centre toilet. She wanted to keep it as it was a much better phone than either of us had. My first reaction was we must try and find the owner; I would hate to loose my phone (or anything else for that matter) and not get it back. I looked through the phone, rang a number and managed to get in contact with the owner. A few days later my wife meet them and returned the phone.

    In life I always follow the principle "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you".

    • Windows7forever on 19/03/2015 - 08:07

      I hope you disinfected it first lol

  • centrelink on 18/03/2015 - 11:33
    +1

    So honesty the current status me would return it. However if 5 years ago I found one in the same situation I would probably keep it. Funny that the amount of money you make determines the person I am. I am being controlled by a number for sure.

    • [Deactivated] on 19/03/2015 - 00:36

      Funny that the amount of money you make determines the person I am. I am being controlled by a number for sure.

      Good insight, but you don't have to let money define you, ever :)

  • GoogleFroogle on 18/03/2015 - 12:08
    +2

    My morals are what they are. I find something that is not mine, I return it. Too many a-holes have stolen things off me & I wouldn't want to put that feeling on anyone else.

  • misu p on 18/03/2015 - 12:23

    Yes. However I must admit I am completely surprised by the result of the poll so far. Such an overwhelming result so far 199-3-5

  • V2L on 18/03/2015 - 12:36

    word of advice: don't keep phones in your pocket when you go skiing

    found an iphone at perisher in the snow (lucky no one had skiied over it yet) and had to hunt down a staff to take it to lost and found. no easy feat it was my first time skiing ;(

    • 2ndeffort on 18/03/2015 - 12:44

      pocket is OK, just make sure you zip it closed, I cant fathom the number of folks that ski around with all pockets unzipped! I was on a chairlift in the US a month ago and seriously amazed at the collection of stuff on the ground below. I guess there are more people skiing there so more potential for loss. Didn't see any phones but loads of all of the other usual stuff (gloves, poles, goggles, chap sticks even a couple of single skis).

  • hayne on 18/03/2015 - 12:51
    +2

    Would and have.

    Found an iPhone in the back of a cab. Owner had locked it so I couldn't find a recent contact to call. So I left it plugged in and charging and waited for him to call. His friend called later that night and she sounded quite aggressive at first (maybe thought it had been stolen) but when I explained the situation she passed me onto the owner and we made plans for him to get it from me on the weekend.

    He came bearing two $5 scratchies and a box of Cadbury Roses as thanks and I told him not to bother but he insisted.

    I've lost two phones in the last fifteen years which I never got back and I know how frustrating it is, so it's just a natural reaction to try to return something to its rightful owner.

  • perez on 18/03/2015 - 13:09
    +6

    Yep… what goes around comes around.

    My wife found a Galaxy S4 on the grass in a park near us. It was out of battery and locked so it would have been difficult to track down the owner. I figured it was worth taking the memory card out and putting in my phone (same model). Took a look through the photos and luckily there happened to be the screenshot of an email containing the guy's email address! Dropped him an email… he was stunned but very appreciative! It turned out he was a backpacker and was leaving the country soon - definitely not the sort of person who can afford to lose what was almost a brand new phone at the time.

    He offered cash but it was reward enough to see his happy face when he turned up to collect it :-)

  • nayfon on 18/03/2015 - 13:13
    +5

    My sister just had her iPhone 5S returned to her yesterday. Unfortunately the Find My Phone feature wasn't working because the battery was flat.

    The finder went to great lengths to track her down (door knocking local businesses).

    Faith in humanity restored.

  • edgar28 on 18/03/2015 - 13:21
    +2

    a lot of good people around. Good to hear

  • Flying Ace on 18/03/2015 - 13:28

    Found an iPhone sitting on a seat on the Sentosa cable car in Singapore a couple of weeks ago. Handed it to the attendant, didn't even cross my mind to keep it because I know how distraught I would be if I lost it and it was never returned.

    • edgar28 on 18/03/2015 - 13:33
      +2

      likely the attendant will keep it

      • Flying Ace on 18/03/2015 - 21:50

        Well it's on his conscience, not mine.

        • edgar28 on 19/03/2015 - 12:32

          yeah

          found 20, 50 dollars before in different location, past it to the shopping centre office

          one guy took my details down, stated if no one claim it, it will be mine, another one just took it and say "ok".

          my another friend did the same, she got a call saying no one claim it so it's hers.

  • roadsign on 18/03/2015 - 13:29
    +1

    Depends. I'd suss out the phone first, take a quick look around through it. If it's locked, I Google for a way around that and still look around.

    After I'm satisfied, I either call one of the last numbers to return it, or I wipe the phone and remove the sim. I'd have to be careful to properly wipe the phone - so no little 'find my phone' things still work.

    My decision on whether to return the phone or not will be based on a range of arbitrary, personal factors, which I won't describe as I'm sure the community may take ethical outrage at each (based on the current poll results).

    Before you neg; I'm just being perfectly honest here.

    • renza on 18/03/2015 - 13:35

      Good luck getting around a locked iPhone. The most you'll be able to do is wipe it, but still it will be activation locked so you won't be able to get past the initial setup screen.

    • Windows7forever on 19/03/2015 - 08:13

      We value your honesty. It seems that it is easier to reflash or mod an Android phone to 'wipe it clean' than on an iphone, which I know little about.

  • BlessingsInDisguise on 18/03/2015 - 13:42

    I found and returned a phone of similar value maybe 4 weeks ago. I sure could have used a phone or the cash at the time, but I believe the karma is more valuable. Keep positive and represent Love and Light, we can heal the world, one decision at a time. Have faith

  • [Deactivated] on 18/03/2015 - 13:43

    I wouldn't keep a smart phone because I wouldn't be sure I could get away with it. It would also depend if they had family photos or anything important on there. I couldn't take someone's family photos away from them.

  • MissingLink on 18/03/2015 - 13:57
    +1

    Yes, if I found a phone, I would turn it in. In fact, to date, I have turned in two phones.

    I have no use for a phone that I cannot use. And, I also believe in karma. How would you feel if you lost your phone?

  • rolypoly on 18/03/2015 - 14:16

    I have found two phones and returned both of them. The first one was in high school and I handed it into the train station attendant so I have no idea if that was returned to the original owner or not, I was stupider at the time and my secondary concern (after returning it) was to not be accused of stealing the phone. I never felt good after returning either of the phones. I don't believe in karma.

  • RJK on 18/03/2015 - 14:22
    +1

    I remember one time ten years ago this guy in front of me on an elevator at the shops dropped several hundred dollars that was hanging out his back pocket.

    It wasn't a hard decision to tap him on his shoulder and ask if it was his. He just numbly took it without a word and turned his back from me.

    His friend was incredulous that his mate was so ungracious, and kept thanking me over and over and kept saying to his friend that it was lucky that I returned his money. I think the guy was just shocked and embarrassed, but it was good that at least his friend acknowledged it as I would have been a bit annoyed otherwise.

    • Windows7forever on 19/03/2015 - 08:16

      Who the hell walks around so casually with hundred dollar bills flapping around their back pocket?
      I'd feel nervous enough walking around with that much money inside a wallet of the front pocket of my jeans.
      Easy come, easy go.

  • RJK on 18/03/2015 - 14:27
    +1

    Another time we found a USB flash drive that was clearly work related, and had someone's contact details in a text file.

    We contacted the person via email and let them know we had their stick and asked what they wanted us to do with it.

    The person sent a curt reply instructing us to post it to a particular address. No thank yous, pleases, or desire to reimburse us for the time or trouble. It wasn't a hard decision to just throw the USB stick out.

    • Windows7forever on 19/03/2015 - 08:18

      You should have reflashed it and used it. I've done this before.
      I suspect that the owner might have been slightly embarrassed or worried that there was personal information on the disk that could have been potentially exposed or accessed.

      • RJK on 19/03/2015 - 21:44

        Frankly I wouldn't want to hold onto someone else's property :)

        Even if I was comfortable with that, we already have loads of USB drives - and much faster ones. I'm not claiming to be ethical, as we did chuck his property out.

        Whoever it was, lacked even an inkling of basic courtesy. I couldn't speculate as to what they were feeling, since their terse reply was devoid of any humanity.

  • netsurfer on 18/03/2015 - 14:33

    I would return it, or send it to the lost and found area (if it is found in a shopping centre). When my neighbours mails got into my mailbox by accident, I put them into their mailboxes.

    It is the right thing to do (my neighbours have done the same).

  • onlyletters on 18/03/2015 - 15:32

    Yes I would return it, but would expect a reward.

  • ilovepizza on 18/03/2015 - 15:49
    -1

    if i see someone drop money, i would give it back to them. if i found money with no idea whos it was i would probably keep it.. within reason…. if i found 100k i would probably keep 1-5k and say thats all there was and then hand the rest in..well i wouldn't say anything if they didn't say anything about it….. if i found a phone i would call the persons mother and give it back to the owner.

  • [Deactivated] on 18/03/2015 - 15:56
    +1

    I found a phone today while I was out running, I gave the first contact in his phonebook a ring and he came and got his phone, Easy.

  • goosegog on 18/03/2015 - 15:57
    +4

    My conscience would not allow me to take another persons belongings - knowing the hurt & pain it causes to lose an item ( be it a purse, wallet, phone or even keys ) that mean so much to the owner whose life is stored in them. My satisfaction has always been in the " Thank you" received from the person when the goods were returned - never expect a reward.
    I once found a handbag left in a shopping trolley outside coles. Obviously had to look through it to find the owner. Her purse, credit cards, bank cards, money, family photos etc. were all there. I brought it home, found her phone number & contacted. She was distraught @ the loss & so grateful that an honest person had found it & made the effort to return to her. She arrived to pick it up with a bottle of wine ( which wasn't necessary ) & to this day we are still in touch.
    Karma - as another person said - " Do unto others as you would have them do unto you"

    • parisienne on 19/03/2015 - 07:40

      See…this is the stuff i mean.So true goosegog

    • Windows7forever on 19/03/2015 - 08:20

      Get out the tissue box. This is a beautiful story.

  • phluffed on 18/03/2015 - 16:17

    Despite what the poll says, it's not as common for people to do the right thing. I managed a bar for several years and in that time I could count the number of lost phones handed in on one hand (unless the phone was 5yrs+ in age, those got handed in). The list of phones reported lost went on for miles.

  • Cluster on 18/03/2015 - 16:18

    I lost a mobile phone in a cinema a few years ago. Called my phone and got no answer… went back to the cinema but nothing was turned in… kept trying to call the phone and eventually a young guy answered it. I got his contact details and went over his place to pick it up. Gave him a small money reward for his honesty.

    The phone wasn't worth a fortune but it's still annoying to lose your data and contacts list. I certainly appreciated his honesty.

  • LSGH on 18/03/2015 - 16:51
    +1

    i found a late model iPod touch on the train…..called a person in her contacts list to let her know I had her iPod, she was then extremely grateful i returned it.

  • AssamLaksa on 18/03/2015 - 17:06
    +1

    I lost my brand new Xperia Z3 compact on the beach just last month, and some tourists picked it up and were frantically searching for me. Most thankful I'd ever been. Maybe I'm just surrounded by honest people, but I genuinely believe that a LOT of people get their phones back if they lost it. Every other day, some one would lose their phone and it shows up on my uni's stalkerspace with the caption "iPhone found, here's a picture, contact me to get it back". And not just phones, even wallets get posted too!

  • brickwall on 18/03/2015 - 17:46
    +1

    My mom found an old mobile phone in the park once, and she told me to just give it to the police.
    Somehow the owner called the phone and he said it's his daughter's phone no need to give it to the police, just meet up and I'll reward you (if I'm not mistaken it's $10).
    I don't really care about the reward, but since I lived nearby so I thought it's fine - just meet up.

    When he came, he was a bogan with his daughter, just took the phone and left without even saying thank you. It's fine if he doesn't give the reward, from the voice over the phone I sort of imagine this guy would look like a gangster, but that's just simply rude.

    Next time if that happens I'll just give it to the police, don't care if I can locate the owner or not. Or maybe just don't pick up stuffs that people left behind :p

    • Windows7forever on 19/03/2015 - 08:25
      +1

      They don't have a concept of good manners or being polite to others, this is in-bred via each generation of boganite. Don't take it personally. If you ever get offered you a spare fag then you know the bogan is very pleased with you and is the ultimate sign of respect.

  • OzzyOzbourne on 18/03/2015 - 18:55

    Yes of course, but there are people out there who will reach through your fence, disconnect you hose pipe and steal your $6 plastic bunnings sprinkler as someone did to me. So I guess not everyone is decent!
    The next one will have instant death chilli sauce on it, so I hope they go to the toilet after!

    • Windows7forever on 19/03/2015 - 08:26

      I've heard reports of pot plants getting stolen from the front lawn of peoples' houses. Pot Plants!

  • Food on 18/03/2015 - 19:36

    Always return:
    If Pin unlocked) arrange pick up by looking through contacts and finding owner
    If pin Locked) hand into cop shop or maybe ring the phone provider.
    I would like the same to happen to me if I lost mine

  • joequimby on 18/03/2015 - 20:39
    +5

    Last November, had my place burgled with a MacBook Pro, iPad and a bag stolen (presumably to carry the devices). Nothing else was taken and the devices are cloud locked. Police haven't found them and most likely won't. The cops did work out how they got in though.

    I'm still getting over it. Not because of the goods but more so because of what was on those devices. I had exams that week so all notes were gone. Luckily still passed everything.

    Just last month, bought a new pair of jeans and wallet fell out on first outing. I wasn't expecting to get it back so cancelled everything the next day. Later that night, a lady knocked on the door with my wallet. I was extremely grateful it was returned with everything inside, including $100ish cash.
    She declined a reward so I asked her to nominate a charity.

    • Windows7forever on 19/03/2015 - 08:28

      It's one thing to lose something and not get it back but being robbed blind must seriously hurt. Hope your luck improves(and home security) in the future.

  • benaiah on 18/03/2015 - 21:25

    Lost my phone while snow boarding in NZ 2 years ago after the zip in my jacket broke. I got it back as it was handed in. I have found an iPhone on the floor in a club and waited for it to ring then returned it. Found an iPhone on the slopes in Japan/Niseko waited for it to ring but it didn't so I just handed it in when i got to the bottom.

    My brother on the other hand left his phone on one of those round tables at a bar and turned around for a few minutes and it was stolen. He also left it on the letterbox while he did gardening and had someone steal it as they walked by. So People definitely steal phones but people also return them :).

    • Windows7forever on 19/03/2015 - 08:34

      I learnt this the hard way once. When I'm not using my phone it goes inside my pocket unless I'm physically holding it or it is in constant view of me at all times. I've seen too much of a blaz'e(?) attitude with mobile phone use in public. Also, I've seen too many broken screens occur at the point of impact and on most occasions it is a woman rushing to get somewhere with her hands full and the phone precariously imbalanced on the top of her pile of stuff, or it slips from her hand. I always cringe when I witness a smartphone hit the pavement, screen first. One of these days I'm going to anticipate the fall and do a super-dive in slow-mo, catching it to save the screen from near certain destruction, and being the hero in the process :)

  • gimli on 18/03/2015 - 22:03

    Has anyone seen a missing noki 3150

  • BertieBrown on 18/03/2015 - 22:10

    To be honest, I would be surprised if a person who was not trying to be intentionally provocative would actually admit or promote an intent to steal property.

    After both losing a mobile phone many years ago and also having being broken into, I couldn't imagine intentionally taking someone's property.

  • ozzyoi on 18/03/2015 - 23:43

    i just returned a phone in perth last week. It was lying in Hungry jacks.

  • ozzyoi on 18/03/2015 - 23:50

    Once i was walking near Lake Monger ( WA) found someone's keys.. it had a super cheap auto card in the ring, waited for almost 30 mins there but no one was looking for keys.. then i called supercheap auto call centre and gave them the member ship number to locate the guys details so they could call the person but the call centre guy was very rude and without checking properly just told me that the details are not in the system. He told me to return to the nearest SCA and they will take care of it. I went to SCA, left my details with them too..but i think that it was not picked up ever. SCA guys were very casual about it.. i think they wouldnt have followed it to return the keys

  • jacklynhydejr on 18/03/2015 - 23:54

    Found an expensive new samsung galaxy yesterday and ensured it found it's way home. Must be a week for losing things!

  • meatgasm on 18/03/2015 - 23:56

    Generally try to unlock it and call a contact and see if I can return it.

    If not, take it home, keep it on charge, and hope for somebody to call it.

  • urzu on 19/03/2015 - 00:44

    Had a guy steal a Note 3 from a safety mount in the telco store I worked at before. Probably the dumbest idea ever, stealing a phone from a telco. Obviously we knew the IMEI/number/serial number, and had cameras all around. We got the phone back shortly after somehow…

  • grang on 19/03/2015 - 00:48

    I have a funny story.
    My 5 and 3 year old boys were playing in the sand dunes at the beach, when they called me they had found a phone. The screen was cracked, but it still worked.
    The NASTY bit was that next to the phone was a used Condom in the bushes - and the picture of the girl on the cover of the phone made the link between the two items not improbable — especially as there was a "beach bon fire" close by where clearly a few folks had a good night.

    So, of course I did return the phone… but here is the catch, I had a really tough time deciding whether I should ALSO ask the girl to please clean up after themselves…

  • johnno07 on 19/03/2015 - 02:24

    My "found something on the ground" flow chart:

    Can the owner be reasonably identified?
    If yes - find the owner.
    If no - keep it.

  • khowjon on 19/03/2015 - 09:59

    A bit off topic, but every time I find a dog wondering the streets, I stop, see if there's a phone number on the collar, (if dog obviously isn't aggressive), and call the owner. Some are nearby, some are frantically looking. Our family has been frantic when we've lost a dog, which may get hit by a car, or taken and not reported to council. Gives a great deal of satisfaction to see owners faces when they are reunited with their dog.

  • jammy2 on 19/03/2015 - 10:15

    I've found 3 iphones so far, once in flinders station and twice in the state library (handed them to security in all cases so hopefully they safely reached their owners) and managed to handover a white sony xperia Z? to a tram passenger who left it on his seat just before disembarking.]

    Conversely, I had my wallet returned to me twice, once with a not-insignificant amount of money in it, could be karma but could be truthful people in general.

    On another note if anyone managed to find my ten year old tartan wool scarf (feels more like stiff felt as its been in the washing machine) which I dropped during the Sunday 2015 Chinese New Year lion dance parade in Melbourne, that would be much appreciated. (It is quite distinctive, with made in germany in the tag and wool/alpaca blend).

  • Shwayne on 19/03/2015 - 11:39

    Better question:

    If you would steal it, rather than attempt return it, would you leave a truthful comment here?

  • bin555 on 19/03/2015 - 11:42

    Simple answer. You do what exactly what you want someone else to do if they find your lost phone!

    This is my lost phone story: http://www.dealon.com.au/losing-expensive-smartphone-feb-201…
    Unfortunately, battling through the insurance claim since it was in public place.

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