20 Aug 09
Originally posted by uzlessI doubt it. otherwise anything we don't touch would be up for grabs.
If you are walking down a street, and a $20 dollar bill falls out of the pocket of an old-lady walking in front of you, are you legally able to put the money in your pocket and walk away if she doesn't notice she lost it?
20 Aug 09
1 edit
Originally posted by uzlessNo, that would be theft.
If you are walking down a street, and a $20 dollar bill falls out of the pocket of an old-lady walking in front of you, are you legally able to put the money in your pocket and walk away if she doesn't notice she lost it?
Legal principle being that it is property belonging to another, and you dishonestly take ownership of it (appropriation), with the intention (I assume!) of permanently depriving her of it.
The key here is that the owner is identifiable to you.
Of course, this is the legal explanation. You admitted you saw her drop it. No doubt under arrest you might say different and the case wouldn't go anywhere!
Had you just found it without seeing anyone drop it, the law looks at how reasonable it is to expect you to seek out the owner. The value of the property then becomes important, as does how idenitifiable the owner is. If you found £10, and said you had looked around and saw noone, so you kept it, that would be OK in law. A £10 bracelet with a name and address on it - you wouldn't have much of a defence.
If it was £10,000, then you would be expected to take it to a police station. If that makes sense.
20 Aug 09
Originally posted by PolicestateI disagree sir. I would site precedent in Kramer vs Belushi, wherein the council for the defense argued succesfully the principle of finders keepers losers weepers.
No, that would be theft.
Legal principle being that it is property belonging to another, and you dishonestly take ownership of it (appropriation), with the intention (I assume!) of permanently depriving her of it.
The key here is that the owner is identifiable to you.
Of course, this is the legal explanation. You admitted you saw her drop it. No doubt ...[text shortened]... t was £10,000, then you would be expected to take it to a police station. If that makes sense.