P567ORACLE 567 Mon27 Jan C4 1712:08
1/4
Finders keepers,
losers weepers?
What would you do if you found a wallet
with £1,000 inside by the side of the
road? Sue Gorska says finders doesn't
necessarily mean keepers.
Under the 1968 Theft Act anyone who
finds someone else's property has a
duty to take reasonable steps to
contact the owner. If not, her or she
may be accused of theft.
In practice, the finder should hand his
'find' over to the police. If the
original owner is traced, it will then
belong to him or her... not to the
person who handed it in.
more follows >
Your Money ...560 Holidays ...580
P567ORACLE 567 Mon27 Jan C4 1711:07
2/4
Finders keepers,
losers weepers?
What if you found a crock of gold at
the bottom of the garden? Gold or
silver coins, plate or bullion found
hidden in soil or in a building, for
which the owner can't be traced, are
classed as treasure trove. This, by law
belongs to the Crown and should be
reported to the local coroner.
If the find is of historical importance
it may be kept by the Crown, the Queen,
the Duke of Cornwall or perhaps a
museum. The finder (and not the owner
of the land) then gets a reward equiva-
lent to the market value. If the find
is not important it is returned to the
discoverer who can keep or sell it.
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Your Money ...560 Holidays ...580
P567ORACLE 567 Mon27 Jan C4 1718:18
3/4
Finders keepers,
losers weepers?
Finding long-forgotten treasures which
belonged to someone in your family can
be quite rewarding. One hump-backed
bear, made in 1910, was sold recently
at Christie's for £700. Early 20th
Century dolls can fetch several hundred
££s, a late 19th Century rocking horse
£4-500. Old toy cars and railway models
are popular with collectors too.
Sotheby's sold a 1910 clockwork loca-
motive for £715 and 3 'Dinky' cars fgr
£330 in 1983.
Old paperbacks can also be worth some-
thing. A 1935 Penguin edition of Ariel
by Andre Maurois might fetch £30 today.
more follows >
Your Money ...560 Holidays ...580
P567ORACLE 567 Mon27 Jan C4 1712:26
4/4
Finders keepers,
losers weepers?
For every finder there has to be a
loser. If your handbag or wallet, for
example, goes missing, you should
report the loss to the police ─ someone
may have handed it in.
Put a stop on your cheque book and
credit card as soon as you know they're
missing by phoning your bank and/or
credit card company. British Rail keep
records of season tickets they sell and
will issue a duplicate for a £3 fee.
House keys can be a problem if there's
no-one to let you in. Try the Yellow
Pages for a 24-hour locksmith and have
your locks changed at the same time.
more follows >
Your Money ...560 Holidays ...580