Well this morning i woke up and went outside to check the mail, and found that someone had put a digital camera in my mailbox.. Its a Canon Powershot A540 which retail for $399.. I took a look at the pictures that where on it, and there are about a dozen pictures taken on the 21st of a large group of little black kids, elementary school age, from what looks like some kind of school or church field trip to a museum, im guessing a church trip since there are no black only schools around here.. And then about 8 pictures of a young black guy, that looks to be in is late teens early twenties that where takin on the 26th.. There was no name or owner information in the cameras case, and there are only two black familys that live on my street. Jim my neighbor, and an elderly couple the Blackmens who live 5 houses down, and i visited them to see if they or one of their kids may have dropped it, thinking maby one of the kids had the camera and dropped it in front of my house, and maby the mailman saw it laying there and put it in my mailbox.. But the Blackman family didnt own a camera, and the Jim's daughter did, but had hers accounted for.. I went through all the pictures with my neighbor Jim, who is a great guy, and helped me out by calling all the black familys in the neighborhood that he knew, and nobody was missing a camera, and he didnt recognize anyone in the pictures.

I live in a hugh neighborhood that has two versions of my street.. I live on "northwood west" and there is also a "northwood east" and both streets have houses with the same address with only east and west being the difference, so i thought maby somone who lived at my address on the "east" street may have lent the camera to a friend, and the friend tried to return it by dropping it in the mailbox, but got the wrong street and put it in my by mistake, so i went to that house, but they didnt own a camera either, plus it was a white family.

So im kinda at a loss on what to do about it. My neighbor Jim who is a retired police officer and i where talking about what to do, and i suggested maby putting up some flyers in the neighborhood for the camera, or maby putting an add in the paper about it.. But he didnt recommend i do that, saying you will get all kinds of crazies calling you trying to claim the camera, and he said no flyers either as the last thing i want is strangers coming to my door trying to claim it as well..

So im not sure what to do, iv basically exhausted all my options, so i guess i got a free $400 camera, but i feel bad keeping it when its not mine.. But ill admit that iv been wanting a digital camera for a long time, but have never been able to afford one. All its missing is the USB cable that is needed to hook it up to your computer, which i could easily buy for like $10..

Any suggestions?

*freaky side note*
I was planning to ask a friend of mine from work today if i could borrow his camera so i could take some pictures of my new kitty (Mikey) who i will be picking up from the Vet tomarrow (hes getting his nads removed, lol.) But i make sure not to call my buddy before 10am on our off day so i dont wake him up (hes young, and likes to sleep in, and we both have the same off days) Anyway, i was gonna call him to get the camera, but went to check the mail first, and lo and behold, theres a freakin digital camera in my box! ...

Kinda freaky!

[This message has been edited by Jonesy (edited 09-29-2010).]

My guess is whoever left it there, for whatever purpose, will eventually discover they put it in the wrong box, because the "right" person will tell them they never got it.

BUT...

I believe it's illegal (or at least strongly discouraged) to put anything else in a mailbox other than U.S. Mail, so whoever did it was WRONG to do so, I don't care what the purpose was.

Man, you sure did try to do the right thing. I commend you. Not many people like you left in the world.

...What camera? (See what I did there? )

lol @ Valkyrie..

Thanks Cheever i appreciate that.. I told a buddy of mine and he said "dude screw it, you got a free $400 camera".. But i just dont feel right about keeping someone else's property, especially something so expensive. But theres not much i can do about it.. I thought about just putting it back in the mailbox, and maby the person who dropped it in there will come back for it when they realize their mistake, but thats probably not a good idea since the one of the mailmen will probably end up just taking it home (i have like 3 or 4 different mailmen depending on the day) So ill just wait a week or two, and if nobody comes back to claim it, ill go buy a USB chord and start using it i guess..

[This message has been edited by Jonesy (edited 09-29-2010).]

i had someone throw a $450 HD video camera over my fence still in a box, i have no idea why, i own two dogs they weren't gonna come get it back later that night on my property. i figured it was stolen from the nearby kmart, took it there.. they ran a quick inventory and nope all accounted for. took it to best buy, wal-mart same thing all accounted for. so i took her by the local police station and dropped her off. a month later, (i forgot all about it) some clerk called me and said come pick it up its yours. so ya might wanna do that first to see if someone reported it stolen.

[This message has been edited by HI-TECH (edited 09-29-2010).]

LOL. Im sorry, but you have black neighbors named "Blackman" ???

Other than that, didnt you feel a little racist going around like 'is this your camera, cause there's black people on it...'

Im not racist, but I just thought that was a little humorous.

quote Originally posted by HI-TECH: " local police station and dropped her off. a month later, (i forgot all about it) some clerk called me and said come pick it up its yours. so ya might wanna do that first to see if someone reported it stolen.

That sounds like a great idea, gave you a "+" for the suggestion.

Maybe post it on Craigslist, but saying it is just 'a digital camera', with no other details?
I too take my hat off to you, and would have done the same as yourself. Kudos for being a decent human being!
Nick
PS..you just got an extra big '+' from me, although it doesn't show up yet

[This message has been edited by fierofetish (edited 09-29-2010).]

quote Originally posted by fierofetish: Maybe post it on Craigslist, but saying it is just 'a digital camera', with no other details?

that could cause some serious misunderstanding... bdub has the right to keep it now, and should not feel ashamed or guilty. i have a feeling that the young dude in the more recent pictures stole the camera, from the church. not because hes black, just because those seem to not fit in with the other pictures. if you REALLY feel bad about keeping it, go the route of giving it to the police station, and maybe they will call you up in a bit and say its yours, then you KNOW legally it is now your camera

Police might be able to pull some prints off it, putting you in the right direction. Though I don't know if they'll be that motivated.....

Wait 7 days... If nobody says anything, you're gold.

quote Originally posted by HI-TECH: ... took her by the local police station and dropped her off. a month later, (i forgot all about it) some clerk called me and said come pick it up its yours. so ya might wanna do that first to see if someone reported it stolen.

That's the best answer. Call the police and report the incident. They will probably pick it up for safekeeping. Get a receipt. If no one claims it within a month or so, it's yours. If you don't report it, you may be in possession of stolen property ... which is against the law even if you received it innocently.

[This message has been edited by Marvin McInnis (edited 09-30-2010).]

i'm willing to be its stolen.

Oh hey!! You found my Camera!!! I was down in Alabama as the only white guy in a church group trip to umm.... The grocery store... yea that is it...

You won't see me in any of the pics, cause I was the one taking them... Duh...

quote Originally posted by Marvin McInnis: That's the best answer. Call the police and report the incident. They will probably pick it up for safekeeping. Get a receipt. If no one claims it within a month or so, it's yours. If you don't report it, you may be in possession of stolen property ... which is against the law even if you received it innocently.

I agree, not sure of the time frame but it keeps you out of trouble. It is possible someone is setting you up for receiving stolen property.

Steve

------------------
Technology is great when it works,
and one big pain in the ass when it doesn't.
Detroit iron rules all the rest are just toys.

'A digital camera miraculously appeared overnight in my postbox. I don't know from where, whom, or why, but I would like to return it to the genuine owner. If you believe it to be yours, tell me the make, model, and what the photos in it are, and how it got there,and we will go to the Police station to oversee the return to its rightful owner. Scammers will be apparent immediately, so you would be well advised not to try!'

quote Originally posted by 86GT3.4DOHC: LOL. Im sorry, but you have black neighbors named "Blackman" ??? Other than that, didnt you feel a little racist going around like 'is this your camera, cause there's black people on it...' Im not racist, but I just thought that was a little humorous.

ummmm. no.. What should i have done, the camera has pictures of black people on it, you want me to go visit the chinese family down the road and ask if its theirs..

Dont you feel a little racist thinking that a black family named the blackmens is funny? No? Nuff said!

Yeah im gonna get with my neighbor Jim (ex-cop) and see about reporting it.. Cause i dont feel right about keeping it, and im sure those kids would like to have their pictures of their museum trip..

[This message has been edited by Jonesy (edited 09-30-2010).]

Not sure if anyone posted thisn but perhaps stick a one on the outside of your mailbox saying 'if you left something in this mailbox by mistake, please (something like 'leave your info, knock on my door, leave your number, call this number' one of those)

Ooooo, 'the power of intent' at work!

Right now, some guy is crouched down,holding a can opener in front of his eye while a bunch of a buncha kids saying "cheese" and scratching his head...
"I pressed the button down, the flas went off, then, I'm holding this can openenr..."

Rumor, i love you man, you always make me laugh (cause your so freakin AWSUME!) But i have no idea what your talking about, lol..

I think you've done all you need to do.

When it comes down to it, it's just a camera. You looked at the pictures, there's no illicit or illegal images on it, it's just a normal camera.

You walked around to all the neighbors you could, and you tried to find the owner.


In the end, it was left in your mail-box... you didn't steal it, you didn't take it from anywhere, you don't know anything about it.

There's no reason to call the police, they'll just take it, and then after a period of time, it will get auctioned off at a government auction or one of the officers will get to keep it.


I consider myself to be pretty honest, I won't even take a pen from work because I think that's stealing.

I say just keep it, and if someone comes by asking about it, then give it to them. Otherwise... it's yours.

------------------
Todd,
2008 Jeep Patriot Limited 4x2
2002 Ford Explorer Sport 2dr 4x2
2002 Ford Crown Victoria LX
1987 Pontiac Fiero SE / V6
1973 Volkswagen Type-2 Transporter

It was "heaven sent." you needed a camera and the Lord sent you one. Why question the intentions of the Lord?

quote Originally posted by Jonesy: school or church field trip to a museum, im guessing a church trip since there are no black only schools around here..

I would contact/call the local churches and ask the pastor/ have him ask the congregation on sunday, mention its a digital camera and when someone does make a claim, make the "Claimee" give the discription of the camera.

if a pastor knows about a trip recently, he might know the faces on the camera

DON'T keep it!! I don't know, but...supposing somebody has a grudge against you? Supposing they put the camera in your mailbox, hoping that you would say ' Hey!! Look!! Finders keepers!!', and you keep it.Two weeks later, there is a knock on the door..' Good evening Sir. We have a report of a valuable stolen video recorder lodged with us, and we have subsequently been informed that you appear to have acquired the self-same camera within that time-frame. We have a warrant to search your house...' and they come in, find the camera, and say 'This IS the stolen camera, the serial number matches it exactly. Now then Sir...would you be kind enough to explain where you acquired this stolen camera?'
You, twitching nervously, and suddenly realising there is no believable answer available...stutter' I found it in my Mailbox Officer!!', looking desperately at both visiting Officers...
'Ah!!!!' the first Officer says, smiling sardonically at his fellow Officer...' Can you provide a witrness to corroborate this very fortunate discovery, Sir?'...'Errrrmmmm....well....errrmmm...n-n-n-n-n-n-nooo, Officer', sweat breaking out on your forehead, and running into your eyes...'No, I can't'.
In which case, Sir, I am arresting you for the theft of a digital video camera, which you are unable to supply a legitimate reason for having in your possession...cuff him!!'

Might be a good basis for a story ....but it COULD be exactly what is going on! Take it to the Police Station immediately, WITH your friend in tow......don't even THINK about anything else...turn it IN!!!!
Hey, you might get lucky, and become the LEGITIMATE owner, or some rotten copper might end up with it himself...but NONE of those endings are worth risking keeping it, IMHO.

[This message has been edited by fierofetish (edited 09-30-2010).]

Well i talked to my neighbor Jim, whos a retired cop, and ran the idea of taking the camera to the police, and surprisingly he didnt recommend it.. He said you could do that, and in a perfect world, it would be the right thing to do, but if i did that i had a very high chance that the camera would never been seen again.. He said when it comes to trivial things like that the police just don't care, and one of the cops or office people will just end up taking it home and keeping it themselves. He applauded my effort to find the owner, and to just hold on too it for a few weeks in case someone comes for it, but he said i highly doubt that will happen. We looked over the pictures some more to see what we could see in the background.. I tried too read the name of the school on the bus but its unreadable in the few pictures where its actually visable.. Also he believes that the little kids where at the American history museum in Birmingham, which is over an hour away from where i live, so how it ended up here is anybodys guess. I also got the dates wrong, the kids pictures where taken on the 21st, which was a tuesday, so it must have been a school trip of some kind..

As for the young man in the pictures, i seriously doubt he stole the camera, based on the pictures, they are all of him in his apartment, and its a very nice apartment and its basically pictures of him wrapped in a blanket while hes playing on his laptop, and acting silly to whoever is taking the pics... Too me it looks like maby his girlfriend was taking the pictures..

Theres no way im going to put a note on my mailbox telling people too knock on my door, me and my father both work together at the same place (hardware store) and we are gone for 11 hours every day, which leaves my mother home alone all that time, and i dont want strangers knocking on the door while shes home alone..

What i will do is put up a sign at the entrance to my neighborhood saying Digital Camera found, with an email address asking for a description and make/model of the camera, and what pictures where on it.. That way my mom, while home alone all day, wont have to deal with tons of crazy people calling trying to get the camera. They can just email my hotmail account.. I'll put up the sign on my way to work in the morning.

And as for someone trying to set me up for something, i seriously doubt that, i dont really know that many people, and those i do are all friends.. And if the odd chance that the cops did show up at my door asking about the camera, all i have to do is call my neighbor Jim, who is a retired cop, and who went through the whole process with me trying to hunt down the owner, so im not worried about that.

So im just gonna put it on my desk, and leave it there for two weeks.. If nobody comes asking about it, then ill just consider it mine and go buy the USB cable i need to hook it up to my computer, and then show you guys pictures of my new kitty Mikey! Who just came home from the vet today after getting all his shots and stuff (and his nads cut off, lol.)

So thats what im gonna do, thanks for the advice guys..

[This message has been edited by Jonesy (edited 09-30-2010).]

Ummm...I guess you were typing that, at the same time I was typing my scenario, and couldn't read it before posting...maybe you are furiously typing an answer right now...but...consider what I have said seriously. PLEASE.
Nick
PS..it might sound very far-fetched...but so is finding it in your mailbox!!!!

[This message has been edited by fierofetish (edited 09-30-2010).]

quote Originally posted by Jonesy: Rumor, i love you man, you always make me laugh (cause your so freakin AWSUME!) But i have no idea what your talking about, lol..

I meant that if someone left it there by accident (they were dropping it off after using it) they might return, once they talk to the person that thought lived at your place. If you left a note, when they opened the mailbox, or came close enough to see the sign, they could contact you (in whatever manner you suggest on the note) and then balance would be restored to the univers.

Or not.


Thing is, can you handle the circle of truth?

quote Originally posted by Jonesy: Well i talked to my neighbor Jim, whos a retired cop, and ran the idea of taking the camera to the police, and surprisingly he didnt recommend it.. He said you could do that, and in a perfect world, it would be the right thing to do, but if i did that i had a very high chance that the camera would never been seen again.. He said when it comes to trivial things like that the police just don't care, and one of the cops or office people will just end up taking it home and keeping it themselves. He applauded my effort to find the owner, and to just hold on too it for a few weeks in case someone comes for it, but he said i highly doubt that will happen. We looked over the pictures some more to see what we could see in the background.. I tried too read the name of the school on the bus but its unreadable in the few pictures where its actually visable.. Also he believes that the little kids where at the American history museum in Birmingham, which is over an hour away from where i live, so how it ended up here is anybodys guess. I also got the dates wrong, the kids pictures where taken on the 21st, which was a tuesday, so it must have been a school trip of some kind.. As for the young man in the pictures, i seriously doubt he stole the camera, based on the pictures, they are all of him in his apartment, and its a very nice apartment and its basically pictures of him wrapped in a blanket while hes playing on his laptop, and acting silly to whoever is taking the pics... Too me it looks like maby his girlfriend was taking the pictures.. Theres no way im going to put a note on my mailbox telling people too knock on my door, me and my father both work together at the same place (hardware store) and we are gone for 11 hours every day, which leaves my mother home alone all that time, and i dont want strangers knocking on the door while shes home alone.. What i will do is put up a sign at the entrance to my neighborhood saying Digital Camera found, with an email address asking for a description and make/model of the camera, and what pictures where on it.. That way my mom, while home alone all day, wont have to deal with tons of crazy people calling trying to get the camera. They can just email my hotmail account.. I'll put up the sign on my way to work in the morning. And as for someone trying to set me up for something, i seriously doubt that, i dont really know that many people, and those i do are all friends.. And if the odd chance that the cops did show up at my door asking about the camera, all i have to do is call my neighbor Jim, who is a retired cop, and who went through the whole process with me trying to hunt down the owner, so im not worried about that. So im just gonna put it on my desk, and leave it there for two weeks.. If nobody comes asking about it, then ill just consider it mine and go buy the USB cable i need to hook it up to my computer, and then show you guys pictures of my new kitty Mikey! Who just came home from the vet today after getting all his shots and stuff (and his nads cut off, lol.) So thats what im gonna do, thanks for the advice guys..

If the cops do end up taking it in the end, so what? It wasn't yours to start with. And if they do have the motivation, maybe it will go to the rightful owner.

Youve already went a lot out of your way. Id just post an ad, maybe some flyers telling them to describe the camera and the photos on it and you will return it.

Any chance you can tell which museum the pictures were taken at? Their employees might have some input as to which school or church group was there if the images are dated.

I may be in the minority here but I'd do nothing with it. You haven't stolen it; it just appeared in you mailbox. If someone comes asking about it, yes, give it back. But you're not obligated to go searching for the owner.

If you had lost or had a digital camera stolen from you, you'd like to know whoever ended up with it was trying to find the owner(s). Nice job trying to locate its owner.

Have you tried calling the manufacturer (Olympus, Canon, etc.) and see if the serial number is registered to anyone? If it is you might find out who it belongs to that way.

The only thing I can picture with how it got into your mailbox was someone stole it, was walking down your street with it, and saw a cop drive by, so he/she stuffed it into the nearest mailbox and forgot about it.

I hope you find out who it belongs to. Good luck.

quote Originally posted by maryjane: Any chance you can tell which museum the pictures were taken at? Their employees might have some input as to which school or church group was there if the images are dated.

I thought about that, it looks like they are at the american history museum in birmingham, iv been there before and i think i recognize some of the displays in the pics. But it is about an hour and a half away from my town.. I could call them, but i dunno how much help it would be unless the employees at the museum saw the pictures, and i dont really have the time (or desire to be honest) too drive all the way up there for that..

[This message has been edited by Jonesy (edited 10-02-2010).]

quote Originally posted by css9450: I may be in the minority here but I'd do nothing with it. You haven't stolen it; it just appeared in you mailbox. If someone comes asking about it, yes, give it back. But you're not obligated to go searching for the owner.

In the UK, 'theft by finding' is regarded as just as wrong and illegal as plain theft. It is, supposedly, our duty to hand it in as soon as possible to the Police. Failure to do so is regarded as theft. Secondly, in the UK, a year and a day has to pass from the time you hand it in, until you can claim it as yours by finding.
And I WAS serious in my other post
Nick

quote Originally posted by faaaaq: that could cause some serious misunderstanding... bdub has the right to keep it now, and should not feel ashamed or guilty. i have a feeling that the young dude in the more recent pictures stole the camera, from the church. not because hes black, just because those seem to not fit in with the other pictures. if you REALLY feel bad about keeping it, go the route of giving it to the police station, and maybe they will call you up in a bit and say its yours, then you KNOW legally it is now your camera

He only has the "right" if it wasn't stolen. If it is, he can be prosecuted.

Best bet is to wait a couple of days to see if its owner come back ( don't want the guy to start something beacuse its gone ), and if not turn it in to the cops. And yes, i have heard that if no one claims it for x days, then its yours, BUT it has to be turn in first.

Dude, just keep the camera. Honestly, cops coming to your house and arresting you? Thats out of this world. Now if you had like 20 digital cameras sitting around, that were all reported stolen. Then sure. I could see them "bringing you in." You did way more than most normal people would. Now its time to enjoy the gift that has been givin to you. I wouldn't even worry about posting flyers.

Nick

quote Originally posted by Jonesy: I thought about that, it looks like they are at the american history museum in birmingham, iv been there before and i think i recognize some of the displays in the pics. But it is about an hour and a half away from my town.. I could call them, but i dunno how much help it would be unless the employees at the museum saw the pictures, and i dont really have the time (or desire to be honest) too drive all the way up there for that..

They would have record of the school/church groups that toured on the date on the pics. They might be able to give you limited info over the phone if you told them you were trying to return a camera that someone in one of the groups apparently "lost". That would give you a good starting point for contacts. Worth a phone call anyway.

As previously posted, under these circumstances, I would treat it as stolen and dumped. If it was dumped you can bet they were planning on returning for it before the next time the mail was delivered. Otherwise it would have been thrown out the window. Not a good situation to be in.

It's a real shame that your police department can't be trusted to do the honest thing...

Good luck in your return efforts and I applaud you for it.

There is a agency that takes care of it. I'm sure you have a branch in your town. Drop it off and fill out a form and if no one comes in and takes it you should be able to claim it.

** it may be tricky because it was left in the mail box but it was on your property so if no one comes forward and claims it you should get to keep it.

Well just to give it a try, i called the history museum from work this morning to see if they had any school field trips there on the 21st, and told me they could not give out that information (kinda weird i thought) .. Told them the story about the camera, and that i was trying to locate the owner.. They said the best they could do was for me to stop by and they would look at the pictures and see if they recognized anyone in them.. Well im not driving nearly 2 hours to the museum for a "chance"..

Oh well, i did my best, been working on it all week now.. I'll just leave it on my kitchen counter for another week and see if anyone comes by to claim it..

quote Originally posted by spud321x: You did way more than most normal people would. Nick

I'd like to consider him as "normal". It's too bad so many people wouldn't even try to do the "RIGHT" thing as he is.