Found: bag of jewels

Bag of jewelry found - Report and return a bag of jewelry?
@bounce58 (17387)
Canada
January 24, 2010 12:42pm CST
A friend of mine called me up yesterday to say that he found a bag of jewels. He asked me to come over and take a look at it. So I did. There were a lot there. I'm not exactly sure how valuable each were, but since there were a lot, I thought it could be worth something. I asked him what he'd do with it? I said he should report it to somebody, or bring it to a police station. He said he was going to sit on it for a few days, while he thought what would be the best thing to do. If you were my friend, what would you do? Personally, it was none of my business. And I already did what I thought I was supposed to do, which was to advice him to return or report it. If you were me, what would you have done?
5 people like this
14 responses
• United States
24 Jan 10
Wow! That is some story. Sounds like something out of a novel. Don't hear of too many people finding jewels. I guess the right thing would be to turn them in. But I know how tempting it would be to sell them for money, especially when times are tough. Glad that I am not faced with such a decision. :(
1 person likes this
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
24 Jan 10
Pawn shop - instant cash - Pawn off found jewelry
Thanks M. For one thing, I don't even know how to sell it for money. I bet my friend doesn't know either. Do you just go to a pawnshop and make it as if it were your own? That'll be weird, a guy trying to pawn off women's jewelry. I should tell my friend that! One more thing for him not to keep it.
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
24 Jan 10
The timing does make for a great story.
• United States
24 Jan 10
He could take it to a jeweler. Somebody that deals in estate jewelry. Also if there is any gold he could sell the gold for money. Maybe he was suppose to find the jewels. Maybe it was his treasure to find? Maybe the person that it belong to just threw it out the window for somebody to find? You never know now, do you? Shouldn't just suspect it was stolen. I don't know. Makes a good story, huh?
@jewels49 (1776)
• United States
24 Jan 10
Hey bounce, sounds lke you did what you could. I would turn them in..especially if I was having a hard time. I tend to believe that those kind of temptations are given to us during what could be considered a weak moment, to test our strength of character. Now I have a question for you..If he sells them..will it effect your friendship?Even if you remain friends, will it alwas be there between you?
1 person likes this
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
24 Jan 10
Could be just a test for him. And I'm here serving as the angel leading him to the right decision. I just wish I would have my own angel leading me when I am the one who gets tested. I never thought about that. That's a difficult one. My excuse is that as guys, we never talk about these things. Also, I have faith in my friend. I'm sure he'll figure it out, and do the right thing.
@jewels49 (1776)
• United States
24 Jan 10
I like to rely on my faith too. It rarely is mis-placed.
@hellcowboy (7374)
• United States
24 Jan 10
I know I have heard of people finding bags of money or wallets but I have never heard of people finding jewels and if I found a bag of jewels or if I found out a friend of mine found a bag of jewels I would tell them to report it or I would report it to myself,because it is always important to do the right thing which means turning the jewels into the police,because a clear conscious which is the best thing in the world,and besides if you turn them in and if someone finds out you turned them in they might give you a reward.
1 person likes this
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
24 Jan 10
Thanks hellcowboy. I value the friendship I have with this friend of mine. That's why even though I know that the right thing is to report it, I'm giving him time and space to decide this for himself. Goodluck again you two!
1 person likes this
• United States
24 Jan 10
You are very welcome and I can understand that you are giving him his space and sometimes it is better to back off and let people make their own choices so that way if they mess up they learn from their mistakes,and thanks again for your well wishes and kind words.
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
25 Jan 10
Hey bounce! I think that you gave him the best advice that you could have! I don't know the details so it is difficult to say whether they might have been stolen or someone might have lost them, but I do think that he should also hand them over to the police. I don't know where he found them or what he thinks they might be worth, but if they were stolen and he tries to "sell" them he just might get in trouble anyway! Handing them over to the police, I think is the best move!
1 person likes this
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
25 Jan 10
Thanks Opal. I think I really did my part in giving him the only advice I could give him. I hope my friend does realizes that and the possible trouble he could get into if he doesn't report it.
@arystine (1273)
• Philippines
26 Jan 10
I'll advice him to return the bag of jewels. It doesn't feel good to own something just because you find it. I mean first, there is that obligation to look for the rightful owner. Only when it seems as if there is no owner or the owner cannot be reached when it feels right to claim the lost bag of jewels. I don't think I can enjoy something knowing that someone out there feels so bad about having lost his precious belongings.
1 person likes this
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
26 Jan 10
That is very true arystine. Hopefully, my friend comes to his senses and brings the bag to the police.
@asdomencil (4265)
• Philippines
25 Jan 10
The role of media here in our country (Philippines) is considered a power tool for that kind of situation. So if I am in that situation, I will advice my friend to report it in media station that is viewed by majority. Many cases of lost valuables like money, important documents and money were returned with the help of media (radio or TV). Since there are no identifications in the bag, those who will claim the bag should be asked/interviewed thoroughly like asking what are the contents of the bag, and describe how does the jewelries look like.
1 person likes this
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
25 Jan 10
That does sound like a great idea. Using the media to isolate himself from all possible implications. But I doubt I could convince my friend to go to the media, as he is a bit introverted too. Thanks for responding asdomencil.
• United States
24 Jan 10
Being a suspicious sort. I would put on some gloves and a big baggy . I would put the jewels in the baggy and off to the police station I would go. If one of my friends told me he/she found a bag of jewels I wouldn't have gone over but I would tell them to take it to the police. Who knows what it is linked to! It could be the clue to a huge case.
1 person likes this
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
25 Jan 10
Like cherryxbunny suggested above here, I didn't think of it that way too. That these jewels could be part of a case, and that by keeping it, we would be interfering with the investigation. It does make the story more exciting if it were true. Hopefully, my friend comes to his senses and brings the bag to the police station.
1 person likes this
• United States
24 Jan 10
I'm with you on this one...I would have told him to turn it into the police. If they did not find who the stuff belonged to they would most likely return it to your friend. So he can do the right thing, but may also end up with them! (Make sure he knows that! ;P)
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
24 Jan 10
Thanks for the tip. I didn't know that myself. I think that's why he's hesitant to return it because, he's thinking he might not see it anymore once he returned it. I would give him a call right now. And maybe ask if he's decided on what to do. Thanks LilyoftheThorns.
• Malaysia
25 Jan 10
I would probably find a way to sell it and keep the money for myself. Sorry but if I was in the same situation, people most likely won't give my stuff back to me. So its only right I do the same
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
25 Jan 10
For some reason, your username is appropriate to what you intend to do.
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
24 Jan 10
hi bounce as your friend probably has no idea where this came from the stuff could be stolen. I would have told him to call the police, report the bag of jewels and wait for the police to come. Whoever owns these is probably desperately looking for the bag of jewels and wondering what to do, or maybe already reported it to the police. you did just what I would have done.
1 person likes this
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
24 Jan 10
Thanks Hatley. I'm hoping that my friend comes to his senses and does report it. I also think the bag was stolen, and I'm afraid that by sitting on it, he'll just make the situation worse for himself.
@ladym33 (10979)
• United States
24 Jan 10
I would have done just what you did. The right thing to do of course would be to report it but you can't exactly force your friend to do that, all you can do is suggest that he do the right thing and report is so that the person who owns them has a chance to claim them. If they are never claimed then he should get them back.
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
24 Jan 10
Oh! I should have added that this friend of mine have fallen on hard times as well. I think this is one other thing that complicates the situation. Maybe he's thinking about getting some quick money for this. But you're right, all I can do is suggest.
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
24 Jan 10
I would report it, after all, they must be precious to someone, and there could be a reward in it either way... By reporting it, your doing the right thing so no guilty conscious later, and you may still get a reward, which face it, is on everyone's mind... How can I get the money you know? Oh and HI! Popping in till $10!
1 person likes this
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
24 Jan 10
I know that he should. And that's what I told him. But it's all up to him. He found it, he should decide for himself to report it. Hopefully he does. Hi, and I understand. In the meantime, I'll just keep saying goodluck until I don't see you here anymore. Goodluck.
@jugsjugs (12967)
24 Jan 10
I would have said the same as you and i would have advised my friend to take it straight to the police as you never know how comes the jewels were there they could have been stolen or worse than that.If things are not claimed that are handed in to the police then they usually give the things to the person that has founds them.I would have said the same as you as some things are also being looked out for that have been stolen and your friend could get accussed of that as well.
1 person likes this
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
24 Jan 10
The bag does look like it has been stolen. I forgot to mention that he found it in a ditch by the road. My first thought when I saw the bag, was that someone stole it, took all the identification, money and credit cards, and threw the rest. And that's why my friend is afraid to return it, because he thinks he'd be accused of stealing the bag himself.
24 Jan 10
Very Simple Answer Mate... If in The Bag Wasn't Any ID,Document To Prove The Owner Of That Bag, Full Of Jewels, It Means The Bag Is Yours... Of Course, You Could Wait Hour or Two, Maybe Someone Came back and Take His Bag, But I Think It Would Be Really Dumb.
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
24 Jan 10
There are no identification in the bag, that's why it was very tempting. Anyway, I think my friend will make the right decision, whatever it is.