I almost ran over someone's iphone today.
By Marie Coyle
@MarieCoyle (53267)
January 11, 2026 8:13pm CST
Today I had to go to the pharmacy to get a refill on one of son's prescriptions. It's snowy out there, and it was busy, so I parked at the end of the row closest to the door in the last spot available there. When I got out and started toward the building, I discovered a phone, and I had very nearly ran over it--I missed it by less than an inch. It didn't appear damaged, and I wasn't sure what to do with it. All I know is, if it was my own phone, I would want it returned to me ASAP. It had no battery life left. I thought, well, I will check it out in a little while, went inside to get the medicine as it was going to close in about 10 minutes. I talked to my pharmacy tech buddy...he said since they were closing, to take it home and try to get it charged and see who it belonged to. So that's what I did.
I went to our community facebook page and said I found a phone, and if the person who lost it could give me the name that was on the facebook home page on the phone, etc. and tell where they lost it, I would be glad to see that they got it back. That worked!! It belonged to a young mom who thought she dropped it by the grocery store next to the pharmacy...anyway, she was frantic and so, so happy to get her phone back. I knew it was the right person, she even brought her ID, I was surprised. She actually had tears...I am so glad I didn't run over it!! She had only realized a few minutes before that she lost it and was getting ready to do the find my phone thing, she had just received the phone for Christmas and hadn't had an iphone before. All I knew was, I wanted to get it back to her as soon as possible, because if I lost mine, I would want it back, too.
I found a phone in a parking lot this last fall. It had been run over and was completely ruined...she was lucky for sure. She said she had to have her phone for her work, I can just imagine how frantic she was.
10 people like this
11 responses
@velvet53 (22766)
• Palisade, Colorado
20h
You did a wonderful thing by trying to find the owner of the phone. I had a similar experience. I was riding my bike and found a phone. I was right by the police station so I took it there. The lady that had lost her phone came to where I worked to thank me. She made me feel so good.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (53267)
•
20h
That was good to be right by a police station. And how nice she was to come and thank you. Not everyone is that nice.
A few years ago, I found a purse. No phone inside. Money, etc. it, too, was in a parking lot. I took it to the police station. A lady was in there screaming that someone had stolen her purse, and on and on...I told an officer who came to help me that I had found a purse. I handed it to him, he said wait a minute, and asked the lady to describe her purse. Then he told her I had found it, and where. She went over to the purse, dumped it out, checked for the money and her credit cards, etc.--and then said she couldn't believe I hadn't stolen the money. That was hard to take, when I had gone the extra mile to return it to her. As I was going out, the one policeman told her that she hadn't even thanked me and he felt she owned me an apology. I was getting into my car, and she stood on the sidewalk with that policeman and screamed ''Sorry! He says I have to say thank you!''....I just gave my head a nod and left. What a mean and strange woman.
1 person likes this
@velvet53 (22766)
• Palisade, Colorado
9h
@MarieCoyle She was being very ungrateful instead of being thankful. You did the right thing by tsking the purse to the police station. I hope the officer gave her a piece of his mind for the cruel way she thanked you.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (53267)
•
5h
@velvet53
I wasn't expecting a reward or anything, but a plain and sincere thank you would have been nice, rather than a forced one. The policeman was disgusted with her.
1 person likes this
@luisadannointed (10077)
• Philippines
7h
She was blessed it was you who got her phone.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (53267)
•
5h
All I know is that if it was my phone, I would appreciate it being returned to me.
@MarieCoyle (53267)
•
5h
I was, too. And it really was a miracle that I didn't run over it!
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (53267)
•
5h
I think she has her hands full with a set of toddler twins. I'm glad I managed to find the owner.
@LindaOHio (210559)
• United States
13h
You were very nice to find the owner of the phone. I'm glad she got it back because she was so frantic.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (53267)
•
5h
She was so upset. I'm glad it didn't take long to find the owner, too. Thanks, Linda.
@LooeyVille (64)
• United States
14h
I'm glad you were able to reconnect the phone to its owner
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (53267)
•
5h
@AmbiePam
I am so glad that she got it back right away, with two small children she needs a phone. She was very sweet.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (53267)
•
5h
People need to make an attempt to return things of value like this. If I had not found the owner, I would have made a trip to the police station to leave it there instead.
@Kandae11 (56921)
•
20h
Years ago l left my phone on a table in Burger King. I was almost home when l realised what had happened. I rushed back, hoping but not really expecting to find it. Of course it wasn't where l left it but l found out that someone had taken it to the cashier in case l came back. I was so happy and relieved...
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (53267)
•
19h
Oh,wow, that was so wonderful that it was there when you went back!!
1 person likes this
@Melanie_Marie (2410)
• St. Clair, Michigan
21h
I almost ran over a person today. I forgot to take my glasses so I couldn’t see much, but still made it to the store and back.
I did not go back to see if I hit the person. My mom yelled at me for that.
But I needed to record something on TV.
I’ll bet that lady was so happy to get her phone back in one piece. Smart move, asking the person to identify the FB name. Anyone coulda claimed it.
Phones are so heavy, I don’t know how someone could drop it and not hear the clunk. Well, mine’s heavy. Even when it lands a little too hard on the seat of my car I can still hear it.
Good she got it back. 
1 person likes this
@Nakitakona (59235)
• Philippines
15h
That's good for you. You're honesr finder. You'll blessed by that in return.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (53267)
•
5h
It was just the right thing to do. I try to treat people with kindness. Thank you.
