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What if you found an item you bought in a charity shop was worth thousands of pounds?

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  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    I've always been peeved that many years ago I found a gent's heavy solid gold signet ring on the street, handed it in at the local police station, wasn't given a receipt and when I went back six weeks later, they denied all knowledge of it. I was really poor at the time and could have done with some extra cash.
    I never handed anything else in.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,718
    I found some cash on the street and handed it in to the police station. I was treated as if I was a real nuisance and had created unnecessary paperwork.

    So miffed, I wrote a letter of complaint and within a few days a superintendent was on my doorstep offering fulsome apologies. This was several years ago; I can’t imagine that scenario today.
    Rutland, England
  • I found a 'ruby' ring and handed it in and I was told they'd put red stone because no-one knew if it was real. Claimed it later and it was 'fake'. Ah well.
    Southampton 
  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,355
    Share the money with the charity
    Wouldn't visit a charity shop whose cause I was opposed to (can't think of any in our town) but, like most people, there are a few charities which I actively and regularly support.  

    I would probably go 50:50 with them. If it was one of the others, I'd just make a decent donation.

    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • Most charities have their own "experts" who keep an eye out of treasures but it is still possible to strike it lucky so why not enjoy the hunt and rewards. The same goes for car boot sales where people find things at knock down prices and sell for a very satisfying profit.
    One man's rubbish is another man's treasure. 
    Over the years I have found two men's dress rings, both in car parks, my grandson has just had them resized to fit him for his 21st birthday and a ladies dress ring which I thought had tiny garnets, but which turned out to be ruby chips, seed pearls and turquoise which I had repaired and wore for many years. None of them worth huge sums but which have continued to live a second life with someone who enjoyed them.
    The only reason I picked up one of the men's rings was because I thought it was unusual to see a gold ring pull from a can, as I thought, until I looked at it closely.
  • plant pauperplant pauper Posts: 6,904
    Share the money with the charity
    My mum has recently (within the last week) lost her amethyst ring which she has worn for donkeys years. I hope you find it @Joyce Goldenlily 🤣 
  • How upsetting for your Mum. 
    I will keep my eyes open for her.

    I am sad because I noticed some items of my jewellery have gone missing from my home. Because of the great Covid shut down and not going out for over two years I have no idea when they disappeared. I had workmen in the house several times so there is no way of checking unwanted itchy fingers. A very uncomfortable feeling.
  • LiriodendronLiriodendron Posts: 8,328
    Give all of the money to the charity
    While my Mum was in an old people's home near us, the ring she had designed and my Dad had arranged to have made as a golden wedding present, disappeared.  Fortunately she very quickly forgot she'd been wearing it (she had Alzheimers), but we were naturally upset by its disappearance, and annoyed with ourselves that we hadn't foreseen the possibility... but looking back, it was very important at the time she went into the home that she was wearing the ring, to connect her with Dad.  

    I hope whoever has it, loves it.
    Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
  • plant pauperplant pauper Posts: 6,904
    Share the money with the charity
    @Liriodendron my mum too has dementia and thankfully is not the least bit concerned. She's had a couple of hospital stays in the last year and I always take her jewellery off before she goes in. She has some very nice pieces and she'd be like a sitting duck for ne'er-do-wells.
    She's shrinking so I might consider taking some of it off "to clean" before any more disappears. If the ruby goes she'll go into the bin after it I'm telling you now! 🤣
    @Joyce Goldenlily A friend's son has sticky fingers and when I thought he might pop in I always cleared the decks. It's awful. He has had everything handed to him on a plate and his family can't leave purses or wallets sitting. Brat!
  • Plant pauper.
    I know what you mean. It is interesting that my items which have disappeared are all silver, including a modern bracelet which I treated myself to only a few years ago so not very expensive but hand made and unusual in design. The more valuable gold pieces were left. I have wondered if a certain member of the family might be the culprit. Not a nice feeling.
    I have been tempted to sell everything of value and not have the worry of keeping it safe.
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