Lyft and missing items, stolen property

[Jalapeñomel]

DH left his Beats headphones in a Lyft, and the driver informed the company that he had them.  Lyft then contacted my DH, and said that they cannot give out the driver's information, but they will let him know that arrangements should be made for my DH to get the headphones back. So the driver never called Lyft back again, and DH is out his headphones.  Lyft said that the driver is an independent contractor, so they cannot be held liable. 

Can DH file a police report for stolen property against the driver?

[tacokick]

Why would the driver contact Lyft if he was trying to steal them? How long has it been? Can you get Lyft to contact the driver again?

[downtownbk]

If you go to trip history, you can find the ride and text message the driver directly, without using Lyft as the middle man.

[Leeham Rimes]

I don’t know that I’d jump straight to a police report. Sounds
Weird that he’d call and say he had than to then go and steal them. It definitely sounds like a communication failure.

When I google, it seems like you should be able to directly contact the driver to try and resolve this

help.lyft.com/hc/en-us/articles/115012922987-Lost-found

[Jalapeñomel]

May 6, 2018 19:17:44 GMT -5 tacokick said:

Why would the driver contact Lyft if he was trying to steal them? How long has it been? Can you get Lyft to contact the driver again?

Almost two weeks. DH has been in daily contact with Lyft since he left them.

[Jalapeñomel]

May 6, 2018 19:46:08 GMT -5 Leeham Rimes said:

I don’t know that I’d jump straight to a police report. Sounds
Weird that he’d call and say he had than to then go and steal them. It definitely sounds like a communication failure.

When I google, it seems like you should be able to directly contact the driver to try and resolve this

help.lyft.com/hc/en-us/articles/115012922987-Lost-found

Edited: I was wrong, DH said he emailed (through the app), the Lyft driver with his info several times, he did not phone the driver.

[imojoebunny]

If you leave something somewhere public, like a lyft, cab, restaurant, or a vacated hotel room, and someone finds it and keeps it, it isn't stealing. Unethical, but it is not a crime. Lesson learned. Let it go.

[tacokick]

I would just let it go and hope the driver does contact you and returns it. It isn’t theft so there really isn’t much more that you can do.

[itsmyparty]

May 6, 2018 19:26:33 GMT -5 downtownbk said:

If you go to trip history, you can find the ride and text message the driver directly, without using Lyft as the middle man.

I was told by a Lyft driver that the number that we get a text from - for instance, when our driver has arrived - is actually not the driver's number...calls/texts between you and the driver are actually routed through another number by Lyft for privacy reasons (for the driver AND you). I haven't really tested it, so don't know how challenging it really is to text/call a driver you've had in the past.

[fumbalina]

I know you believe you left it in the Lyft, but there is a possibility that you lost them elsewhere. I drive for Lyft and the last thing I want is to keep someone else's junk that they leave behind. It is unlikely that another person values the same things that you do.

[Leeham Rimes]

May 6, 2018 20:36:38 GMT -5 imojoebunny said:

If you leave something somewhere public, like a lyft, cab, restaurant, or a vacated hotel room, and someone finds it and keeps it, it isn't stealing. Unethical, but it is not a crime. Lesson learned. Let it go.

Not necessarily true, theft by finding. Obviously this is for Florida, but many states have this

5.102 Reporting lost or abandoned property.—
(1) Whenever any person finds any lost or abandoned property, such person shall report the description and location of the property to a law enforcement officer.
(2) The law enforcement officer taking the report shall ascertain whether the person reporting the property wishes to make a claim to it if the rightful owner cannot be identified or located. If the person does wish to make such claim, he or she shall deposit with the law enforcement agency a reasonable sum sufficient to cover the agency’s cost for transportation, storage, and publication of notice. This sum shall be reimbursed to the finder by the rightful owner should he or she identify and reclaim the property.
(3) It is unlawful for any person who finds any lost or abandoned property to appropriate the same to his or her own use or to refuse to deliver the same when required.
(4) Any person who unlawfully appropriates such lost or abandoned property to his or her own use or refuses to deliver such property when required commits theft as defined in s. 812.014, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

[Leeham Rimes]

May 6, 2018 21:01:46 GMT -5 fumbalina said:

I know you believe you left it in the Lyft, but there is a possibility that you lost them elsewhere. I drive for Lyft and the last thing I want is to keep someone else's junk that they leave behind. It is unlikely that another person values the same things that you do.

In the OP she said that the driver called in to the company that they found it.

[goldengirlz]

Whatever the law states, something tells me the NYPD probably won’t go out of its way to track down the driver, who may not even live in the city.

I’m sorry the driver went AWOL though; that’s not an inexpensive item.

[janegold]

May 6, 2018 21:01:46 GMT -5 fumbalina said:

I know you believe you left it in the Lyft, but there is a possibility that you lost them elsewhere. I drive for Lyft and the last thing I want is to keep someone else's junk that they leave behind. It is unlikely that another person values the same things that you do.

Well the driver in this case is the one who reported that the headphones had been left behind.

I’m curious, what do you with things riders leave behind?

[fumbalina]

May 6, 2018 21:24:01 GMT -5 janegold said:

May 6, 2018 21:01:46 GMT -5 fumbalina said:

I know you believe you left it in the Lyft, but there is a possibility that you lost them elsewhere. I drive for Lyft and the last thing I want is to keep someone else's junk that they leave behind. It is unlikely that another person values the same things that you do.

Well the driver in this case is the one who reported that the headphones had been left behind.

I’m curious, what do you with things riders leave behind?

Riders leave behind tons of things from stuffed animals (and yes I contact them in case its important to their kids), to headphones, to leftover food, to articles of clothing to house keys. Some things are of course more urgent to return, but it is not uncommon for people to leave stuff behind, but most of the time it really is junk. More would be left behind but I always check the car as they are getting out, so these are the things that usually get stuffed into seat pockets, under the seats, etc. 

[starlily]

May 6, 2018 20:36:38 GMT -5 imojoebunny said:

If you leave something somewhere public, like a lyft, cab, restaurant, or a vacated hotel room, and someone finds it and keeps it, it isn't stealing. Unethical, but it is not a crime. Lesson learned. Let it go.

Theft of lost property can be a crime, depending on the state. My colleague got a guilty verdict on this charge, and the defendant got sentenced to 30 days.

[Deleted]

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[TrickyBob]

May 6, 2018 23:45:08 GMT -5 @laz said:

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[itsmyparty]

May 6, 2018 23:45:08 GMT -5 @laz said:

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[Jalapeñomel]

May 6, 2018 21:13:22 GMT -5 goldengirlz said:

Whatever the law states, something tells me the NYPD probably won’t go out of its way to track down the driver, who may not even live in the city.

I’m sorry the driver went AWOL though; that’s not an inexpensive item.

Not in NYC, but regardless, I’m fairly certain a report would go nowhere.

The weird part is why report the headphones if you were planning on taking them?

[4speedy]

May 6, 2018 23:45:08 GMT -5 @laz said:

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[downtownbk]

May 6, 2018 21:01:07 GMT -5 itsmyparty said:

May 6, 2018 19:26:33 GMT -5 downtownbk said:

If you go to trip history, you can find the ride and text message the driver directly, without using Lyft as the middle man.

I was told by a Lyft driver that the number that we get a text from - for instance, when our driver has arrived - is actually not the driver's number...calls/texts between you and the driver are actually routed through another number by Lyft for privacy reasons (for the driver AND you). I haven't really tested it, so don't know how challenging it really is to text/call a driver you've had in the past.

That is the case, it isn’t anyone’s actual number, but if you go through trip history, you can text the driver directly and make a plan for pick up. In my experience, emailing Lyft (and Uber) are useless. You need to go through the app / trip history. Good luck! It’s a bummer when you leave something behind!

[tacokick]

May 7, 2018 5:57:16 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

May 6, 2018 21:13:22 GMT -5 goldengirlz said:

Whatever the law states, something tells me the NYPD probably won’t go out of its way to track down the driver, who may not even live in the city.

I’m sorry the driver went AWOL though; that’s not an inexpensive item.

Not in NYC, but regardless, I’m fairly certain a report would go nowhere.

The weird part is why report the headphones if you were planning on taking them?

That’s what makes me think he might get them back eventually. It’s been 2 weeks which is a while but it could just be that he forgot and is busy. It seems silly to report them and then decide to keep them. Maybe Lyft isn’t even contacting him.

[andwhat]

May 6, 2018 20:36:38 GMT -5 imojoebunny said:

If you leave something somewhere public, like a lyft, cab, restaurant, or a vacated hotel room, and someone finds it and keeps it, it isn't stealing. Unethical, but it is not a crime. Lesson learned. Let it go.

are you a police officer because this is not true. but you sure do try to make it sound like you know what you are talking about. that is why I can never understand why people come here for actual advice.

[imojoebunny]

May 6, 2018 22:25:11 GMT -5 starlily said:

May 6, 2018 20:36:38 GMT -5 imojoebunny said:

If you leave something somewhere public, like a lyft, cab, restaurant, or a vacated hotel room, and someone finds it and keeps it, it isn't stealing. Unethical, but it is not a crime. Lesson learned. Let it go.

Theft of lost property can be a crime, depending on the state. My colleague got a guilty verdict on this charge, and the defendant got sentenced to 30 days.

I could see someone going after this, in the armored car case for example, but a pair of headphones?  I sincerely hope we are not wasting resources on prosecuting people for not returning phone accessories left behind. 

Armored Car Post:
pandce.proboards.com/thread/597065/return-money

[Leeham Rimes]

May 7, 2018 6:54:23 GMT -5 imojoebunny said:

May 6, 2018 22:25:11 GMT -5 starlily said:

Theft of lost property can be a crime, depending on the state. My colleague got a guilty verdict on this charge, and the defendant got sentenced to 30 days.

I could see someone going after this, in the armored car case for example, but a pair of headphones?  I sincerely hope we are not wasting resources on prosecuting people for not returning phone accessories left behind. 

Armored Car Post:
pandce.proboards.com/thread/597065/return-money

Well. So long as it’s not important to you, it’s not important to anyone. Ok.

[Jalapeñomel]

My DH is not going to do anything, because he's a jackass, but I'm still curious as to whether he could actually file a police report or if it's a case of finders keepers, losers weepers.

And I'm pissed we are out $250 headphones, so I'm rubbing salt in the wound.

[Jalapeñomel]

May 7, 2018 6:54:23 GMT -5 imojoebunny said:

May 6, 2018 22:25:11 GMT -5 starlily said:

Theft of lost property can be a crime, depending on the state. My colleague got a guilty verdict on this charge, and the defendant got sentenced to 30 days.

I could see someone going after this, in the armored car case for example, but a pair of headphones?  I sincerely hope we are not wasting resources on prosecuting people for not returning phone accessories left behind. 

Armored Car Post:
pandce.proboards.com/thread/597065/return-money

If you drop your phone on the street, and can track it to someone's house, are you totes cool with them just keeping it, because it's a waste of resources to go after them?

[kadams767]

Some of these responses are bizarre. imojoebunny , fumbalina , do you both know what Beats headphones are? I'm cracking up referring to them as junk and you both implying that it's a waste of time to try and do what they can to get them back. These aren't exactly the little white earbuds that come free with every iPod since 2001.

[msmerymac]

Sure you can file a police report. And your husband should have the driver's first name and license plate number, plus a description of their car, so it's not really that hard for the cops to contact him.

I have also driven for Lyft and once had someone leave their phone in my car. That was pretty easy, since she just had her friend call her phone and I was able to go back to the restaurant where I dropped them off, but I was also glad I hadn't gone home for the night, because the restaurant was 45 minutes from my house. If the driver isn't local, a generous interpretation is that he's waiting to be back in that area.