Find, but you can’t keep

By Sarah Schwager
THE term ‘finders keepers’ is being repudiated by Casey Police.
They are urging people to hand in any items found in the streets to avoid being charged for theft by finding.
The warning came after an incident in southern England last week in which containers were being washed up on to beaches after a cargo ship was shipwrecked.
The beach had to be closed off to stop scavengers from looting the washed up containers.
Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Garry Kear from Narre Warren CIU said keeping lost property would not be tolerated here.
“We would encourage anyone who finds lost property to contact the police and hand the property in so inquiries can be made to discover the owner,” he said.
Acting Sen Sgt Kear said if the owner was not found within three months then the lost item could possibly be kept by the finder.
He said a few people had already been charged recently with theft by finding.
“It is a much better safeguard for people to contact us first instead of taking it into their possession and leaving themselves open to charges, especially with valuable items.”
Lost items should be handed into the nearest police station.