When I was about 10 years old I found a twenty dollar bill. Wow! I was one rich kid. I spent it in riotous living and luxury. Money was no object. When I finally told my parent the source of my new found wealth they asked me if I thought it was right, what I did. Why sure I responded. They then pointed out that that may have been some one's only money for the week, money that someone needed and depended on but if I thought it was right, well OK.

What ever I spent that money on is gone and long forgotten but I have a memory of guilt and regret. I'm not sure, I never asked but I think my folks tried to find the loser of the money. I never kept another thing of any great value that I have found since without making a good faith effort to find the owner. I have returned wallets, a few, and other items. One day of revelry, forty years of remembering but a good lesson in the event.

Common decency, self respect and the law all agree that every reasonable effort should be made to return a found item of worth. When you hand someone back their personal information, photos and money or a precious keepsake such as a ring what a great reward just to see worry vanish from their face and gratitude replace it. You can't buy that!