To think my friend shouldn't have taken this money?

[Gracelet]

She was at a National Trust type place which had a second hand book section. As she was browsing she found £165 hidden in one of the books. Rather than hand it in she just kept it and looked rather shocked when I said it was theft.

My perspective - the book belonged to the shop and therefore so does the money.

Her perspective - just luck she came across it so decided to keep it/the shop should have checked the books.

Just for extra info, she doesn't struggle with money but does live payday to payday.

If this is true, the NT were very careless not finding it, but any decent person would hand it in.

If it was me I would have handed the money in

Yes, she should have given it in - they may have been able to track down the person who donated it.

I’m sorry. But that’s stealing.

It's theft, in my book😆

At least you now know that your friend is a thief and not to be trusted.

Your friend should of handed the money in! It's dishonest to keep it
I would have handed it in!

I’d have handed it in, but I’d not really have taken issue if someone kept it. I don’t really see it as the national trusts. But the original owner of the book.

I never thought about that! Good point.

Did she buy the book? Or just take the money out of it?

Did she atleast buy the book 😂

I dunno tbf, if she hands it in the person behind the till either keeps it or it goes into the NTs big pot of money and does practically nothing. It's not like she stole from a person, I couldn't get het up about it. That kinda money would really make my month alot easier.

I agree with her, it’s not theft. She bought the book.

If I'd already bought the book, got it home and then found money in it, I might keep the money. I don't think your friend had any right to take this money any more than she had a right to take the book itself.

Not the point, I know, but I’d suspect that it came from a house being cleared after someone with dementia had died or moved to a care home.

Hiding money in books is common. When there’s dementia you have to check everything that could possibly serve as a container (old shoes, cereal packets, etc.) before chucking.

They would absolutely never have been able to track down who it belonged to. I've donated tonnes of stuff to charity shops. They don't even know my first name. Once it's in the storage room they don't even know what was yours if you were still stood right there.

No!

She didn't buy it

Oh that’s awful. How can she not comprehend that’s theft?!

oh dear,
perhaps she needs the money
i found money at a soft play cafe, £60 or something, handed it in, but remember it clearly

Guffaw

If she’d bought the book, and found it when she got home that would be more understandable but pocketing anything while you’re in a shop is stealing.

Oh very good🤣

Of course she stole it. It’s theft pure and simple. Wish they had cameras.

Shoddy behaviour.

How was the wad of money secured in the book?

We're the pages cut out in the middle to make a hole die the money to go in?