Found papers ... what to do?

This morning I found a notebook on the ground in the alley where I park my car. The pocket inside contains someone's vehicle registration and insurance information. The notebook is blank. I asked my landlady if she recognized the name of the person on the registration and she did not. I don't want to ask the neighbors because their German Shepherd is cranky all the time (she has hip dysplasia and anyway I don't have a great record with German Shepherds).

Not sure what to do with these papers ... the address listed on the insurance card is about an hour outside of town. Do I drop it in the mail? Call the insurance company? Turn it in to the police?

Google for a phone number and call them, or call the insurance agency, or just mail them back. Any/all of these would be fine, I think.

Just drop it in the mail with brief note telling them where it was found. You don't have to put you name on it if you don't want to.

If you can find a phone number, it would be nice to call so they will know sooner. If not, call the insurance company or mail it. They are lucky it was found by someone responsible.

Will the PO even take it if there's no return address on it? I would really like to keep my involvement minimal and anonymous.

Yes, of course they will.

Drop it off at a police station. I've done that with a lost wallet.

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Originally Posted by Melalvai

Drop it off at a police station. I've done that with a lost wallet.

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+1 - Found a wallet on the sidewalk near work. I gave it to our receptionist and she called our police contact.

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Originally Posted by owlice

Yes, of course they will.

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There's a weight limit for that now (and it's low) - maybe 13 ounces? Otherwise, they will not take it.

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Originally Posted by Blueberry

There's a weight limit for that now (and it's low) - maybe 13 ounces? Otherwise, they will not take it.

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Yeah, that's what I'm worried about. I think there are security issues with delivering items that don't have return addresses. They'd probably destroy the parcel in which case I might as well toss it in the garbage rather than spend money on postage.

I'm leaning towards either dropping it off with my local precinct on my way in to work tomorrow, or I might call my own insurance agent tomorrow morning for their take -- coincidentally it's the same insurance company, just a different agent.

Calling the insurance agent is a great idea. I would worry that the police would not take it seriously.

Could you just put your work address as the return address?


Out of curiosity, and not that I'd necessarily rely on it, I'd heard that before about mail being refused for no return address, but I don't see in the USPS's own manual where it's required? I couldn't find anything that defines something over a certain weight as a parcel subject to "package services." http://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/602.htm#1085528

Priority mail is required instead of first class over 13 ounces - that's where I got that part.

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Originally Posted by OakLeaf

Could you just put your work address as the return address?

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It's a small office, and knowing my office manager, she would not appreciate it if someone decided to trace it back to the office. And I was no-where near work when I found it on Saturday morning.

Update: I dropped it off with my insurance agent, and they are going to work with the other insurance agent to return the papers to the owner.

Coincidentally as I was running my errands a story came on the radio about car thieves stealing papers out of people's cars to get personal information -- name, address, etc. And they are usually striking when people are inside a movie theater or restaurant or something like that.

I used to white out my address from my insurance cards but have gotten lazy about it recently. Maybe time to start up again.

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Originally Posted by NbyNW

Coincidentally as I was running my errands a story came on the radio about car thieves stealing papers out of people's cars to get personal information -- name, address, etc. And they are usually striking when people are inside a movie theater or restaurant or something like that.

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A friend posted a link to that on her FB wall. I commented that it's probably advantageous that DH and I both drive smaller, older, budget-minded cars. Crooks aren't likely to target us, if they assume our home and possessions match our vehicles (which, with the exception of our bikes, they do).