Put a phone # in your purse
 

Today, My son and I went to DC. We took the DC metro. As we were getting off I noticed a purse. The purse had money, lots of credit cards, and a new batch of unwritten checks. No phone nor anything with a phone number on it. All I could do was leave it with the station manager. I know if it were me, I would be sick and it would probably ruin my whole trip.
So whatever you do, please- please PUT A Phone Number on the inside of your purse.

How nice of you to turn it in. Identification with contact information is really important! Might not want to put an address in case someone not as nice as you would find the purse.

I wouldn't put a phone number in my purse. Anyone could use the phone number to find your home address, (using Google).

If you carry house keys in your purse, you have just opened your home to anyone who might find your purse.

I know you mean well, but unfortunately, everyone cannot be trusted.

You did the right thing. Hope they go back and look. My husband left his expensive camera on the train from NYC one time. Someone turned it in and we were able to take the train back into NYC the next day and go get it. We were so thankful someone was honest.

Friend of mine lost her driver's license. It showed up in the mail from someone who had found it and mailed it back to her. I don't know what the line is between being able to retrieve your things and not open yourself up to crime. The secret is to never lose anything, but ... Perfect World is not where I live!

I lost my bill fold years ago and went straight to the police to report it. They told me that when people find your things, they could drop your ID anywhere and you could be charged with a crime. I did get it back with everything in tact.

Her purse had a new package of checks with only 3 checks written/used. Her checks had her name and address but no phone number. She had 15 credit cards in one wallet and another hand full in a rubber band in the side pocket. It had her drivers license, money, and cash cards. The only thing the purse didn't have was keys, a cell phone nor a phone in it. I felt sick for her. I knew when she realized she didn't have it, panic was going to hit.

I was torn between just sending back by mail or leaving it with the train/metro station manager. In the end my thoughts were she was on vacation since the address said California. She would need her purse to get back home. I really wasn't sure what was best. I was torn.

There's also the thing in this day and time, if you are in a public place and you see some package/purse/book bag left- do call police or pick it up. It was an experience.

I sure hope she thinks to check with metro.

If you carry checks or a license, they have your address.

"I was torn between just sending back by mail or leaving it with the train/metro station manager. In the end my thoughts were she was on vacation since the address said California. She would need her purse to get back home. I really wasn't sure what was best. I was torn. "

If you left the station with it, you could have been charged with theft. Even if your intentions were honorable. You did the right thing, hope the train station people are as honest as you.

OTOH, WTH was she doing carrying that many credit cards!! That is CRAZY! I have a lot of credit cards but only one or two are in my wallet at any time, the rest are at home. Just because your wallet has all those slots, doesn't mean you have to fill them up with credit cards!!

You are a good Samaritan, indeed. But DO NOT pick up packages, book bags, backpacks or any other unidentified objects in a public place. This is how the Boston bombers delivered their mayhem, and it has become all too common practice. If you see an item left behind by someone, get away from it, and please notify authorities, but don't put yourself and others in danger by picking them up. Also, if you see a plastic bottle left anywhere, even your lawn, be aware that small bombs are being made by kids or whoever, and left around. All it takes is a few ingredients and a small ball of aluminum foil. They are motion activated and can go off if you pick them up. http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/bottlebomb.asp Better to move it first with a long stick, or notify authorities. I know it sounds paranoid, but what happened last week can happen again.

You did what any Honest person would do. I would have done the very same thing. I am also very sure that the woman that lost it is equally thankful to you and your sons actions. I think that if you think the worst of everyone and everything, all you will gain is worry and more gray hair.
I know that a lot of people swear by snopes but to be honest it is biased. They are not like the Consumer Reports for urban legends. Has anyone heard on the news about any of those "water bottle" bombs going off? Hmmmm, I only hear about the Boston bombers and such.. You would think that there would be coverage of them happening all over the US.
Just my humble opinion..
Have a Great week!!! :thumbup:

We have a PO box. The only thing that comes to our house is junk mail. If anything else comes it's because I know it's coming. I only allow pkgs. to be shipped to my house that will have a tracking number, I can go online and see where it is. Once DH found a purse (tote size). He walked around the purse and since we live in south Texas, he didn't pick it up. Good thing too, a small rattle snake crawled out of it. it was laying on the side of a sidewalk in a small rural town. he let the snake crawl away but called the police to pick it up. He was also asked why he didn't shoot the snake. He told the officer it didn't go into strike mode, it just crawled away and it needed to go to work to rid the nearby houses of rodents. Turns out the purse was empty of any cash but the ID was still in it. But it was a large tote and that is really the reason DH called the police.

If you don't want to put your home phone number in your purse. Maybe put a business number if you know who owns it or someone working there. I don't see how you could expect to get it back, if they don't know how to contact you.

great advise. I found a wallet in walmart parking lot with driver's license. used gps to return it to owner. leery jof handing things in at customer service where a multitude of employees wander through

You could have written the address down and sent her a note telling her that you turned it in to "name" at the station.
At least she would have known that it was at the manager's office if she thought she lost it somewhere else.
Just a thought....you might have been able to find her phone number on the net if you typed in her name and address....then you could have left a message as to where her purse was. I did this with a stack of credit cards I found on a hiking trail....the lady was so thankful for my sending her cards back to her. unfortunately, she said she was at the race track and had about $800 in her purse. I felt bad she lost so much money. But at least she knew no one was using her cards.

Even if a "nice person" turns in your wallet or CC's, it is best to replace them (get new CC numbers). People have been known to copy the card numbers, then give the wallet back and wait a few weeks. If they are not cancelled, then they can commit fraud with them.

BTW, if someone has your address, they can find your phone #, and vice versa. There is no privacy anymore with the internet.

Another thought about ID on luggage...I always put either my husband's or my business card in 1) the luggage tag 2) taped to the inside lid of the suitcase and 3) in the suitcase. That way, they have a name, but the address and phone # is the office (you should be able to forward your office phone to your mobile #). If you're going to a hotel, you can also modify this to be your the hotel's name / address / phone # and your name . For your return, revert to the business card. Overall, the business card is a very good option. If you don't have one, then perhaps a friend would be willing to give you some of theirs. If you lose your suitcase, purse, camera or whatever and that friend's card is attached, they will get the call, take down the caller's info. and forward it to you.

Here is an idea: how about putting your email address ....??? Plus keep a written account of what you have in your purse/wallet in regards to names and numbers of Credit cards, addresses and phone numbers AT HOME IN A SAFE PLACE... or you could use your business phone or another Contact in Case of Emergency Phone number. That way you are not using your Home phone number.... Besides my purse would be so heavy that they would drop it anyways... :)
Why would that lady carry so many charge cards anyways...???

I'm surprised the phone number wasn't on the checks. Ours is. Or is that a rare thing now...