found a digital camera.

[smilingcat]

Yes it was in a case so it doesn't look broken. I posted signs in the neighborhood where I found the camera but no one called to claim it. You could read my signs from 40 feet away, in places where people would have to see whether driving, walking or riding a bike.

I'm sure the owner would love to have it back. Do you think they would go to the police and look for lost and found? I hate to post something up on Craigslist and people call to see if they can snatch it.

Not sure what to do.

suggestions? It may belong to a high school student. Camera was found on a "school route".

And no I will not look at the photos stored in the camera. That would be invasion of their privacy.

Thanks.

[Blueberry]

You can always post that you found a camera and ask them to describe (identify model, case type) before agreeing to return it. Was it close to a major store? Could you call local schools since you say it was on a "school route." You could ask the police what they think you should do.

Not sure what your issue is with looking at the photos to see if you can identify the owner. Many a camera has been returned that way. If you're not willing to do that, the above is about all you can do.

[Melalvai]

I don't know the answer but we found a camera and put up a sign just like you did, only maybe not so big, and less than a day later the person called. That was a few years ago and digital cameras were a little pricier than they are now. Good luck returning to the rightful owner.

[malkin]

Give the owner a week or so.

[Biciclista]

I have heard of cameras being reunited with their owners by LOOKING at the photos..
You might see where they live, who they are, where they eat.

[PamNY]

Good luck finding the owner. I think looking at the photos would be ethically okay -- you might find the owner that way.

You could post on Craigslist with a very vague description (and do not give your phone number!). Only the legitimate owner will be able to describe the camera.

[OakLeaf]

You won't be invading their privacy by looking at the pictures any more than you would by keeping the camera. Creepy as it may be, a lot of people have been reunited with their treasured photos by a finder doing facial recognition over the internet.

[jyyanks]

I think you can look at the photos without worrying about invasion of privacy.

A couple of years ago, I found a purse with keys, $200 cash, a wallet, gold earrings and checkbook (but no license). I had to go through the person's wallet to get the owner's name from their credit cards but the number was unlisted. There was a piece of paper hidden within it with a number scrawled on it and when I called it was the owner's friend. If I hadn't gone through the entire wallet and found the paper, I wouldn't have been able to return the wallet so quickly.

I would look through the photos and see if you recognize any landmarks in the background. If you see anything you think may be really private, you can always turn it off :)

[Trek420]

And no I will not look at the photos stored in the camera. That would be invasion of their privacy.

Thanks.

I would go ahead and look at a picture or two. When you get calls saying "Yes, I lost a digital camera" besides asking for the make, model and any other identifying items if you still had a doubt about the caller you can ask "is it ok if I look just to make sure it's yours can you tell me the last pictures that should be in it".

[channlluv]

I found a cell phone once at the school where I worked. It had no identifying marks, so I opened it and tried to check the pictures, figuring it belonged to someone I knew. I couldn't get into the pictures, but I was able to pull up the phone list and there was one called HOME, amid a bunch of names I didn't recognize. I did a data search on the number in my work database and it found the number. I was able to reunite the phone with its owner, a special needs child who'd left it behind and who used it to stay in constant contact with her parents. All parties involved were really grateful that I'd looked.

I'd say go ahead and look at the pictures. It may, as has been suggested, help you narrow your search. At the very least, it will help to authenticate the owner when people do start contacting you to claim it.

Roxy

[pumpkinpony]

I was told years ago to take a picture of my name/number (or whatever I felt comfortable with), and save/protect that image as the first image on the card, so if someone turns on the camera, they will see the owner info. Some cameras also have the ability to store owner name and number in the settings (my current camera does). So I would vote with taking a quick scan of the pictures or even the settings.