Q: My wife found a wallet in a grocery store parking lot and threw it in the trash at home, did she commit a crime,if so it
We are in Texas
A: The proper thing for your spouse to have done is to turn the wallet into the grocery store manager, or to the police. The wallet was lost property and the owner retained rights to his property. By moving it away from the place it was lost, your spouse effectively deprived the owner from the chance to locate the wallet. This is tantamount to theft. If you can retrieve it, you should turn it into the police. We were driving to SLC last March, my daughter found a wallet on the ground as she got out of the car. It had money, credit cards and ID in it, I looked at the ID, and got the owner's name. Was going into the Creamery (market with really good ice cream) to ask them to announce name on PA, when I saw the owner leaving. I asked him his name and handed him his wallet. Suggested he not carry it in his back pocket. His wife said: "I have told him the same thing." It is really rough to lose your wallet, replace all cards, insurance cards and DL, takes a lot of time and effort. Your spouse didn't do the guy any favors. How would spouse want someone to handle his lost wallet? Thanks for using Justia, Ask a Lawyer.
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