{"id":352174,"date":"2023-09-18T13:26:39","date_gmt":"2023-09-18T18:26:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ability-fl-prod.internetbrands.com\/ability-law\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/unattended-change-and-found-money-theft.html"},"modified":"2023-09-18T13:26:39","modified_gmt":"2023-09-18T18:26:39","slug":"unattended-change-and-found-money-theft","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/unattended-change-and-found-money-theft.html","title":{"rendered":"Unattended Change and ‘Found Money’ Theft"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Unattended Change and 'Found Money' Theft<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By John Mascolo, Esq.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by John Mascolo, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n

Everyone has found some change or a few dollars on the floor of a store. Often, the money was left behind by a previous customer. People generally jump at the chance to snag some free pocket change. Others may donate it back into the spare change receptacle at the checkout lane. But if the amount of money you find is more than a few dollars, do you have a legal responsibility to turn it in?<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

If you find money that doesn\u2019t belong to you, keeping it without trying to return it may be considered theft in some circumstances.<\/p>\n

Finding a few dollar bills may not seem so bad. But, finding a larger amount is likely something someone will be missing\u2014and trying to find. In “found money” cases, where do store managers and law enforcement draw the line between \u201cfinders keepers” and unlawful theft?<\/p>\n

This article explores what happens when people find money or other property. You’ll learn about the laws in play, criminal law concerns, and possible defenses. These laws are nuanced and vary by the jurisdiction, circumstances, and amount of money found. If in doubt, contact a criminal law attorney<\/a> in your area for help.<\/span><\/p>\n

Definition of Theft\/Larceny<\/h2>\n

If a person picks up money or other property that does not belong to them, someone may allege theft. A\u00a0state’s theft laws<\/a>\u00a0may use the terms\u00a0theft or larceny<\/a>\u00a0to describe the same actions:<\/p>\n