You go to the mini bank and the first thing you see is the cash is still in the machine left from the previous person.
Yes, i've done it myself taken the card and left the cash.
So the person before you is nowhere in sight and the cash is looking at you.
Now its fair to say that i would probably take the cash because if i don't someone else will.

1. Would you pocket it or not.

2. A recent case showed that someone did and got a police caution, should he have got it or not.

Your views please.

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I've been in this very situation.

Fortunately I remembered the person who was in front of me and set off chasing. They were happy at there £100 back.

Ifthey weren't their I would complete my transaction then go into the branch and advise the cashier that the person directly BEFORE my transaction left there money at the machine. They will then be able to locate that persons account becuase they were directly before you. Jobs a good un!

I would do the same as Da Bouncer and hope that the cashier would contact the person and not pocket it her/hiself

BD, what if it was on on a Saturday night outside Morrisons, no banks open.
Also what about the police caution, do you think it was justified.

I would go back on monday and also there is now a lot of CCTV near cash points (due to crime) and I would feel happier if I gave it in cuz then my conscience would be clear....

...any chance of there being a spell check on this here forum as I can't spell

I'd certainly take it into the bank/store either then and there or when it was open.

Caution was in order as honesty is still its own reward.

Still attempt to get the money back to the owner.
Then again, if it's a any cash point outside a supermarket, how do you know which bank it is.

Take it, save it, and when the police get in touch... tell him you have been saving it till they got in touch!

No opinion if the caution was justified.

Originally posted by DaBouncer
If they weren't their I would complete my transaction then go into the branch and advise the cashier that the person directly BEFORE my transaction left there money at the machine. They will then be able to locate that persons account becuase they were directly before you. Jobs a good un!
Good point DB never thought of that, maybe then it would be justified to take the cash back in to the bank.

xxxxxxxxxxx

I think you are all very honest

I would wrestle with my conscience I think.

If the bank was open it would be easy, I really would just go inside and give it to them, but a dark wet rainy night and me broke? well...I honestly wouldnt like to say what I would do.

You'd keep it LouiseB and who would blame you.
As for Huwj, your reasons are justified the difference being you have not stolen the money, its there in your face for you to do what you like, no one has been mugged or pick pocketed, the cash you see will be found, found by you.
No wallet to tell you an address to return it to.
Stop feeling guilty and do what most of us will do and thats put the cash for a good cause and that means the one who found it.

When that happens to you then Paul, you may sing a different tune!

It has DB, and yes its annoying but is someone really going to go back to the bank to see if some kind chap has handed in my dosh i forgot to take from the cash machine, I just put my experience down to bad luck and made sure it did not happen again.
I,m not saying i,m right to do that but i,m me i don,t steal or break the law but finding cash well thats different in my book.
But what is your opinion about the legal side to this, do you think i should be arrested for this or left to take my good fortune with me.
Be honest, would you charge me for theft.

I really can't see what the debate is about. It's not your money and it should be returned. It doesn't matter whether the next person would have stolen it, whether it's raining, whether you're poor, whatever. If you only do good things for the reward then I feel sorry for you. If the owner can be found by the shop, police, bank then you may get a reward. If not, you can claim it after a period of time. If you can't get back to the bank then email them and ask where they want it returning.

I find it amazing that many of you who have written on here about burglars, asylum seekers and other law breakers are condoning theft because you don't know who the rightful owner is. That is hypocrisy. Boy, coupled with the theft are you ever going to burn in hell (alongside all those evil homosexuals that the pope in a frock has condemned)

Just in case you missed the point:

It's not your money.

Outside the bank in question... yes I'd charge you for theft.
Outside a supermaket and the person has left the scene... if you waited aorund for 5-10 mins for the guy to come back and nothing.. then NO I wouldn't charge you.

Originally posted by maxt


It's not your money. I really can't see what the debate is about.
Its about wether you would take the cash or not and if it would be unlawfull.I find it amazing that many of you have writen on here about burglars, asylum seekers and other law breakers are condoning theft.
Were not condoning theft here maxt, were trying to establish wether it is theft for a start, your point of view is valid and so is mine as i say it should be lawfull and its not stealing.
Stealing is to knowingly deprive someone of there belongings.
Here we have stumbled across the cash by accident.
Spot the difference.

i found a tenner at Alton Towers and handed it in as it was in the shop, if it was outside id have kept it prolly, if it was anything more than a tenner id hand it in

Stumbling across the money in the street may not be considered theft and there could be a case for keeping hold of it. Finding it poking out of a cash machine is theft. You would know full well that the atm owner would be able to determine the identity of the previous user and return the money. Apart from anything else it may be that the money belongs to the atm provider and you would know who that is. There would be no doubt in your mind that it is one or other.

I'm sorry, DB there is no room for debate here. It is theft, you know who owns the money and you are depriving them of rightful ownership.

I'm sorry maxt there is room for debate. Who are you going to hand it in to? Ther supermarket thats closed or the drunk on the bench?

If you read my posts carefully... you'll notice I said I'd keep it safe at home if there was no alternative and wait for the police to come to me. No contact then it's mine. Prolly fone local nick, but thats it.

Finding money in the street, well, unless you see who dropped it... it's yours!

And the point CR was making he doesn't know who owns it.. so who do you give it to? Assuming the supermarket was open, would you hand it in to the manager? Whats stopping him keeping it in a safe place for a couple pf weeks then spending after he has received no word on the matter? May as well do that yourself!

You missed my point about someone else keeping it, either the store manager or the next person. Whoever keeps it is a thief.

If you don't trust the supermarket owner then contact the atm owner. It's no good saying I don't trust anyone else to hand it to the correct owner, the point is, using that argument you are just as bad as a common thief.

If someone found a wallet outside one of the clubs you police would you expect them to say 'I'm not giving it to DaBouncer, he'll probably keep it himself'? I'd expect not but the situation is exactly the same. Either you or the punter have the ability to trace the owner and should make every attempt to return their property.

The end result is the same, if you keep it you're a thief.

This is the last point I'll make cos I'm gonna be late for work.
If I found a wallet I would hand it in.
Found cash, would depend on circumstances.

End Of!

Originally posted by DaBouncer
This is the last point I'll make cos I'm gonna be late for work.
If I found a wallet I would hand it in.
Found cash, would depend on circumstances.

End Of!

Exactly, in the atm circumstances you can find the owner same as a wallet.

Hand it in, it is not your money and to take it is theft. When I was on holiday in the Black Forest, I walked away and left my money in the Machine: 100 Euros and an honest Lady came running after me with the money.

I was so gratefull, I could have kissed her, but she said she would rather be shot than poisoned Ha Ha. Seriously though, it was a wonderfull example of German honesty and I couldn't thank her enough.

Originally posted by maxt
It's no good saying I don't trust anyone else to hand it to the correct owner, the point is, using that argument you are just as bad as a common thief.

[Why not, why should i trust someone i don't know.?]

If someone found a wallet outside one of the clubs you police would you expect them to say 'I'm not giving it to DaBouncer, he'll probably keep it himself'? I'd expect not.

[Why not, i don't know him, he could be the biggest crook in Sheffield, being a bouncer don't make him a saint.]

Either you or the punter have the ability to trace the owner and should make every attempt to return their property.

[On a saturday night, no thanks....Tell you what, i will ring the bank up and tell them i have the money and if they want to trace the owner,thats fine but you come to me and get it.
I have no obligation to go running round handing in money someone else was careless to leave in the first place.]

The end result is the same, if you keep it you're a thief.

Disagree totally, its been found i,m not a thief, and thats my final comment.

Originally posted by The Cycleracer
Disagree totally, its been found i,m not a thief, and thats my final comment.

You could say you're a 12 foot giant but it wouldn't be true.

Maxt this is in the hope of reaching a final standpoint on this becuase neither your nor CycleRacer are budging on this.

Is it YOUR 'OPINION' that if cycleracer kept the money he's a thief? YES.
Well in cyleracers 'opinion' he is NOT, at theif.

No-one can say who is and who isnlt right, it all depends on circumstance.

You can keep saying its theft its thef its theft as long as you like, but CR will keep saying its not its not its not.

This will just lead to a long thread going back and forth like a ping pong.

AGREE to Disagree!

Can't help you DB. The law is the law. Morality is morality. There are no opinions on this one, to take the money is theft.

If the police cautioned this person then it must be against the law.

Agree to Disagree!

The best thing to do is leave the money alone, and let the cash machine swallow it back up (it will do, after a short time).

When the bank staff or their contractors next service the machine, it will tell them that cash has been left. The machine will also have a record of whose cash it was, so that their account can be credited.

It is unusual for someone to get a police caution for this, that is why i still say its not theft, anyway point made.
DBs right we both differ on opinions and thats that.

The police would really find it easy to track someone down if you took the cash and then use your card to draw some more money.

If you didn't place your card in then your mug shot would have to appear on something like crimewatch if they would have to track you down via video (if there is one there), unless one of them knew you.

I'd take Andy advice, stand there till the money swallowed up. Failing that, I'd hand it in to the police.

If I found money in the street, I'd hand it in - there is probably 0% success rate someone claiming it unless it was a massive quanity stash someplace.

Either case, if no one comes forward to claim it after X months then I believe its yours. Tried looking up facts but gave up after a while. Feel free to correct me otherwise.

This thread was number one spot in my search for truth. :lol:

Just to finish this 'debate' off I was talking to a fellow fencer last night who is also a police officer. We got to talking about the forum and this thread came up. The law on this is that it is 'theft by misappropriation', deliberately denying a person their rightful possession of goods.

He also added that, technically, finding anything and keeping it is also theft but as it is difficult to prove the thief intended to deny the rightful owner possession permanently it is seldom prosecuted.

The bottom line, no debate on this one DB, is that it is theft and the police will prosecute.

theft is to dishonestly appropriate property belonging to another with the intention to permanently deprive the other of it.
It happened to me at the Uni when I was there and I caught the lass up with her £40. I would hope someone would do the same for me.
And contrary to popular belief, possession is not nine tenths of the law!

Originally posted by maxt
Just to finish this 'debate' off I was talking to a fellow fencer last night who is also a police officer. We got to talking about the forum and this thread came up. The law on this is that it is 'theft by misappropriation', deliberately denying a person their rightful possession of goods.

He also added that, technically, finding anything and keeping it is also theft but as it is difficult to prove the thief intended to deny the rightful owner possession permanently it is seldom prosecuted.

The bottom line, no debate on this one DB, is that it is theft and the police will prosecute.
Jesus maxt..... so what; just let the subject rest eh!

Originally posted by DaBouncer
Jesus maxt..... so what; just let the subject rest eh!

Yet another thread spoilt by facts, sorry.

No. yet another thread spoilt by regurgitating old drivel. It wasn't me disagreeing remember. I believe Cycleracer was. I was pointing out that it's all a matter of point of view.

Whether or not the police would prosecute is irrelevant. It would have to be proved first!

Obviously you cannot let it rest until you've proved YOU'RE right!

OK... so what... they'd prosecute... big deal! Are you happy? You were right, the police would prosecute.

Do you post insulting drivel because:

a) you have to have the last word

or

b) you're trying to get your post count up?

Originally posted by maxt
Do you post insulting drivel because:

a) you have to have the last word

or

b) you're trying to get your post count up?
No... I was having a bad day, and you referring to me (in the way you did in your last post) added to my anger. Be thankfull it wasn't worse.

You have to shoulder some of the blame yourself though maxt, I was the one trying to make you and cycleracer reach a compromise. You then decided to bring me into things AFTER I thought things had finished.