Do you have to report to the police if you find something valuable on the street. (like a laptop computer)?

Question

My friend in New Mexico found a laptop computer in a bag with all the wires and connections at a bus bench. She took it home and I told her she should report it to the police and they can give it to her if nobody claims it after a certain period of time. Is she breaking the law if she keeps it and uses it and doesn't report it to the police? There was some papers with a name on them in the bag but no phone number or address. My other friend's dad is a police officer but he said that in New Mexico there might not be a law that is called Theft by Conversion or Theft by finding. Can you tell us so I can tell my friend so she doesn't get into trouble?
Thanks

Answer 1

Your friend could be charged with "possession of stolen property." She is putting herself at risk. Rather than taking the laptop to the police, she should probably take it to the transit authority that runs the bus system. If the owner is a frequent bus rider, that's where they will go to claim it.

I would also suggest that she open some of the files to see if she can gleen a contact.

Keep it though? No way.

Answer 2

The law is quite clear in most jurisdictions. Found property, as in this case, should be reported and turned over to the proper authority. In the alternative, the finder must make a good faith effort to find the owner and return it. Otherwise, a whole range of
problems could result. Every computer used on the Internet has a unique identifying adress, which could be used to track the unit.
In addition, when a program is downloaded, or a website is accessed, it leaves a "cookie" which is a data bit stored in the system registry that identifies the computer to the system that sent the data.
In summary, this person should ask herself,"If that were my
laptop, would I want someone to just keep it, or would I want someone to return it?"

Answer 3

The law is fairly clean in maximum jurisdictions. desperate property, as in this occasion, will must be reported and grew to grow to be over to the suitable authority. interior the factitious, the finder might desire to make a surprising faith attempt to seek for out the owner and return it. in the different case, a entire selection of issues could outcomes. each and every computing device used on the information superhighway has a definite picking adress, that would properly be used to music the unit. moreover, whilst a application is downloaded, or a information superhighway website is accessed, it leaves a "cookie" that's an counsel bit saved interior the perspective registry that identifies the pc to the perspective that sent the counsel. In precis, this guy or woman ought to ask herself,"If that have been my pc, could i choose somebody to easily carry it, or could i choose anybody again back it?"

Answer 4

well laptops are kind of expensive. I just paid $830 canadian for mine. and if I was stupid enough to forget it somewhere I'd really hope the person took it to somewhere I would be able to get it back at.
I'm a good person so I would do my best to return it to the owner.

It all come down to how high the persons moral is.

Some people think everything they come across is theirs...that's likely the way your friend sees it...

Answer 5

The only way she'll get in trouble is if someone snitches....or the laptop has tracking, lol. If you're this concerned about it, give it to the cops....

Answer 6

turn it in to the police. i watched a program the other night where a laptop was found. it belonged to a DA in some state, he was murdered. you never know if the person it belonged to is missing. i would turn it in.

Answer 7

The right thing to do would be to turn it in. If she lost something really valuable wouldnt she want whomever finds it to do the same thing.

Answer 8

you should check out this site where you can get a sony vaio laptop for free

Answer 9

Follow your conscience and do the right thing.