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.

Wow. I'd be distancing myself from her. Theft, I agree. I was once informed after the fact that my friend had shoplifted when with me. I was horrified. Both of us learned a lot about each other that day!

It's a way to describe a hearty laugh - usually from a posh person!

@PassingStranger @MumblesParty

Please see my follow up post.

I'm British and I've known for a very long time what 'guffaw' means.

But regardless of that, you don't have to be British to use MN; we have loads of people on here from all over the world. It's a UK-based site, but everybody is welcome.

I'm guessing there are a few Americans (or at least non-Brits) on this very thread, as several people have been using the word 'paycheck'.

If it belongs to the original owner of the book, why would you not take issue with someone stealing it?

Many apologies, Patrickiscrazy - I've just re-read what you wrote and I was being seriously dim, as you were clearly saying that YOU are not British rather than berating somebody for using a 'non-British' word!

I can’t believe she didn’t even have the decency to buy the book!

Where does OP say she bought the book?

Hollow laughter.

She didn't even buy the book?

But you don't know that the owner of the money isn't looking for it. For all anyone knows, the book was donated a few days ago and the owner has only just realised and is frantically dialling NT as we write. There's absolutely no reason to assume that all books in NT second hand shops were donated decades ago by people who have now died, rather the contrary.

I was wondering what you were going on about! 😁

I do this on here sometimes. Misread the post, and then feel like a plonker!

If she handed the book to the cashier, took the risk it could be found, and bought it then it's sort of included in the price and she's lucky, but a bit unkind. If she just took it then it's theft.

Why didn't your friend take it to the police? They stood a better chance of tracing Lisa Harris through the licence or otherwise than your friend would.

I probably would have handed it in 😬 but I wouldn't be too shocked at her keeping it, a lot of people probably would!

I would have at least bought the book.

I’d have definitely handed it in but I do have form for that.

A couple of years ago, I found a wallet with a few hundred quid in it on a low wall in the car park of a Hardware store I’d just been shopping in. I took it back into the shop and handed it into the customer services dept. I’m pretty certain the original owner would have realised their wallet was missing fairly quickly and hopefully retraced their steps. I’d say that 99.99% of the staff in our local shops are extremely honest.

People are always posting found bank cards, phones, keys etc. on our local Facebook page and tracking down the rightful owner.

If she needed it to feed her kids, then fine.

Otherwise no.

If i lived close enough i would take it back, if not i would donate it to a local charity.

She could have at least bought the book to say it was hers lol 😂 joking ! I agree with you

Yes, that's a very good point.

If somebody has just realised - maybe they've just found a note in their deceased loved one's personal paperwork saying "I've hidden some money that I saved up for the grandchildren in the pages of my copy of Great Expectations", having already been getting on with clearing out their house - then of course they would get in touch with the NT property.

Relief on finding that her old copy of Great Expectations, with her name written in it, was still unsold and there on the shelf would quickly evaporate upon realising that somebody had found it and taken the money, without even bothering to buy the book.

They may well not have CCTV in the second-hand bookshop room, but I doubt they'd take very kindly to somebody just helping themselves. Any staff member/volunteer with a particularly good memory might remember her spending time in the shop, especially if it had been recently donated at a less busy time, and recognise her if she goes in again.

Regardless of the moral perspectives on this, she would have covered herself so very much better if she'd just paid a quid or two to actually buy the book - and then go through it for the money at home.

I'm puzzled.

£165 would be a sizeable lump. Even if the notes were individually inserted between the pages, the book would be distorted.
Just can't see how it was missed.

maybe they've just found a note in their deceased loved one's personal paperwork saying "I've hidden some money that I saved up for the grandchildren in the pages of my copy of Great Expectations"

Fucking hell this site slays me

Everyone giving these examples, this isn't really the same at all, finding a wallet/purse/handbag etc is something that is obviously lost (not discarded) and the person would be traceable and would be missing it and be really inconvenienced by not having it.

The person that donated the books obviously had no idea there was money stashed in there, and with no way to trace the owner, it's just a lucky accident for someone to find it.

I accidentally dropped £60 a couple of years ago, I retraced all my steps but couldn't find it, my takeaway from it was that while I was really annoyed with myself, I was glad it would make someone's day to find £60, and the universe decided they obviously needed it more than I did! I don't argue with fate.

She should have bought the book though, tight cow.

So would I.