Returning Lost Items - In Difficult Cases
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Question
Am I obligated to return a lost item I found on the street and picked up? Even if it's difficult to locate the owner or the item's value is low?
Answer
Hello,
If you picked up an item on the street and there is a chance that the owner has not yet noticed it is missing and has not given up hope of finding it, you are obligated to return it.
There are guidelines on what needs to be done to locate the owner, and in any case, it does not require excessive efforts.
If the value of the item is low and it is likely that the owner has abandoned it and is not searching for it, there is no obligation to return it. In such a case, the item should be left in its place.
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