Finders keepers? No.

Beyond ethics, there is a California Code for finding money.

"The law's answer is clear: California Penal Code Section 485 stipulates that if you find money you need to make "reasonable and just efforts to find the owner." Otherwise, you're "guilty of theft." If you find even a quarter, you're technically obligated to turn it in," says Sgt. Michael Andraychak of the San Francisco Police Department. He acknowledges that no one at the department recalls any "significant amount" of cash being turned in, but that the property division has received found money in amounts ranging "from $1 to $200 or so." Really, $1? "  The entire article is a good read SF Gate 4/26/11.

Posted by Kathy Meeh