Tourists having cameras stolen a lot

This stuff can happen in most places, but many people pinch things in Australia I'll admit. Lost iPhone or HDD, it's gone. It depends on the person, I wouldn't base this country to country... unfortunately there are a lot of dickheads out there that think the kiddish "finders keepers" rule applies to someone's wallet.

 

In my neck of the woods (the SF Bay Area is quite literally as diverse as each one of these posts combined) it depends on where you lost it. Gay pride parade in San Francisco? Good chance you might, people at those events typically are really rather nice and considerate.

Oakland? Vallejo? Check the pawn shops.

Given I live in the tourist trap of Napa there are always lost items finding their way into my hands. The vast majority aren't worth anything and there is almost next to no way to identify the owner. Protip: when you're in a hot air balloon make sure you have a good hold on that camera. They hurt.

 

OK I'll explain now since I'm waiting for the mail/a kind soul to bring me some luch and have nothing else to do

When I was taking Japanese my professor spoke about the Japanese lost and founds and how they were floors upon floors Pens not just pens but the date/time found, where it was found and even what the weather was like when it was found.

Of course there are other things but the Pens were what he was paticular about.

 

1: Note where you last saw your item.
2: Go to the lost and found. 忘物預り所
3: Fill out forms

If you lose it outside, go to the closest koban. They have a centralized system for shit turned in. It will take a few minutes, but it's worth it. If they find it, they'll send you a piece of paper in the mail saying to come get it. Speaking Japanese helps if you're anywhere other than Minato-ku.

On a train, each line has a centralized lost and found. So, let's say you're on the Yamanote line and you leave your bag at one of the minor stations (Ebisu, Meguro, etc.) you'll likely have to go to Shinjuku, Shinagawa, etc. to get it. If you can tell them exactly what train and what car, that will raise your chances. Always make note of what time you arrived at your location, and what car you were in. Also, they generally don't check the train until it terminates. The circle lines (like Yamanote) are tricky. The long lines (Chuo, Keio, etc., might mean you high tail it for miles to pick up your item). I lost a computer motherboard on the the Denentoshi line (actually Shin-tamagawa at the time) and they got it at the termination point, Chuo Rinkan, which is fucking miles out of town. I picked it up half-way.

For cabs, ALWAYS KEEP YOUR FUCKING RECEIPT!!!! God damn, people lose shit in taxi's all the time, and unless your driver and all his fares after you are very scrupulous, you may not see your item. Keep the receipt. If you lost something, you'll probably know within 10 minutes. Call the dispatch -- they'll call the cab. If you're lucky, he's still in the area.

I hear people lose their virginity there regularly.

 

I wonder if it helps to go to the lost and found in that case

 

Nah by then the ass is too ravaged to walk right

 

In Galway where i live you find something and give it to the Gardai "COPS" and you can be sure they will keep it unless its worth nothing. The Celtic tiger made us all greedy. Ireland 2011.

 

Deep in the ROI. I heard the police can be a bit shonky there.

 

Very true.

 

I think the problem in the UK is people adopting the "I lost my wallet and nobody handed it in so I'll do the same" attitude.

The three most likely scenarios are

i) Find wallet, remove money and toss it back on the floor.
ii) Find wallet, remove money and hand it in.
iii) Find wallet, give it to the police who themselves will take any money.

Interesting read:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2010/aug/18/lost-wallets-one-in-five-returned-cpp-research