Ring lost in Grocery Store-How do I put out an APB with jewlers / pawn shops??

[vedderboy]

A goof friend lost ehr ring at the South Bay Stop and Shop in Boston.
Devistated!!

What can I do to intecept the ring? I know someone will most likely bring it to a pawn shop...is there something you gyus know of? A sort of ''watch for this ring'' notification?

Thanks so much, absolutely any ideas would be so very helpful

 

[pqcollectibles]

How awful!!

If you have pics of the ring available, make up some flyers and circulate them to local jewelry stores, gemstone brokers, and pawn shops. Be sure to include specs on the stone(s), metal, designer or maker logo, etc. Just a thought.

 

[aljdewey]

Oh my goodness.....I'm SO sorry. I know firsthand the panic that brings. My ring was missing for 10 minutes, and even though it's insured, I was hovering on the edge of hyperventilating (I think poor Rich saw a side of me that really frightened him..../idealbb/images/smilies/9.gif)




Is the stone inscribed? If so, provide that information to as many local jewelers/pawn shops as possible, and that should help.

 

[strmrdr]

Even if they did find it in a pawn shop they would have to buy it back.
In most states the law of finders keepers applies to lost jewlery.
Most pawn shops wont even give you the time of day on stuff like this.
Just dont want you getting peoples hopes up.

 

[aljdewey]

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On 3/18/2004 5:39:35 PM strmrdr wrote:




Just dont want you getting peoples hopes up.

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I didn't say it would ensure success, storm.......I said it could help.

As far as hope.....people need to have MORE, not less.

My ring was left behind on a restaurant table a few weeks back. The waitress dropped a mayo-slathered roll on my shirt/hand, and I took off my ring to wipe my hand off. Neglected to put the ring back on.

We LEFT the restaurant, drove 5 min. up the street through the drive through for coffee, and drove 5 min back to work. Pulling into the parking lot, realized the ring was GONE.

Drove the 2 min. back to the restaurant and the waitress had picked up the ring and put it away...she knew I'd be back for it.

I was realistic enough to know that I may not get it back. I had thought - "what's the point, half the time they sweep all the detrious from the table onto the floor and maybe she didn't even see it. Someone else may have been seated there and found it." But I was willing to hope for a better outcome, and because of it, I got my ring back.

I'm sure you wouldn't have bet on this happening, either.....but I was willing to hope that someone would be honest, and it turns out she was.

There are honest people, and hope doesn't cost anything. If she doesn't find it, there's time for dread and grief over the loss later on. But I personally wouldn't shut the hope door just yet.

Actually, this brings up a great point. Make sure you notify the lost and found at the grocery story. You never know when someone like me...someone who knows what it feels like to lose something precious....might find your ring and do the right thing and turn it in.

Good luck.

 

[mike04456]

One thing to keep in mind--putting up "lost and found" posters for something as expensive as a diamond ring almost guarantees responses from thieves and scammers, in addition to someone who might actually have found it. If your friend does this, she should be very careful with the responses.




Personally, I would tell her to call the police (their regular line, not 911) and ask them what to do.

 

[Griffin]

I was asked to manage a pawn shop some time ago. That was an amusing story in and of itself. The store had never had personnel who could identify grades, colors, sizes, values, etc. - they were giving loans on diamonds blind at a flat rate per stone, and hoping for the best, as they didn't want to admit they didn't know what they were looking at and have to turn away a customer to thier competitors. Then they started viewing E-bay auctions to try and find similar looking pictures by which to make valuations!!!
I had rubbermaid tubs full of several years worth of merchandise to weed through and appraise and there were some real interesting finds!

Anyway, I didn't stick around long, but I did have several experiences with people coming in to report lost goods in similar circumstances to Vedderboys.

If the goods were honestly lost, there was nothing we could do. The best I could manage if we had the item was to personally do an override and sell the item to the person for what we bought it for, but this certainly wasn't policy.

If the goods were stolen, we could do nothing unless there was a police report.
The police would always be supplied weekly with lists of everything we had taken in with descriptions, markings, and numbers if present.
We were of course not allowed to see open police investigations ourselves. The police would simply check this list weekly against open reports, and then would come claim the merchandise from us to return to the owner. We had no legal ability to directly handle such problems.

Hope this helps.

 

[diane5006]

I agree with LawGem...call the police and ask them...that way if it is pawned you stand some chance of getting it back...

Hope this work out for you

 

[dimonbob]

Look on the bright side. There are one or two honest people out there somewhere. Maybe it will be found and turned in to the store manager. Tell the manager what you lost and when and maybe, just maybe, it will turn up.

I won't ask why your ring was off your finger in the store.
If the ring just fell off, then why was it not sized down.

 

[aljdewey]

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On 3/18/2004 6:23:17 PM LawGem wrote:







One thing to keep in mind--putting up 'lost and found' posters for something as expensive as a diamond ring almost guarantees responses from thieves and scammers, in addition to someone who might actually have found it. If your friend does this, she should be very careful with the responses.


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I think my lost and found comment was misinterpreted. I didn't suggest putting up posters - I agree that would be a horrible idea.

My suggestion was to go to the lost and found desk of the grocery store and ask the attendant there if the ring has been turned in. If it hasn't, provide the L/F desk with your name/phone number so they can get in touch with you if the ring is turned in later.

 

[fire&ice]

Yep, call the police w/ a very vivid description. Provide a pic if possible. They may tell you the ring has to be stolen - you can assume that. I don't know if the laws vary from state to state; but, the pawn shops must hold the ring for x amount of time & check it against a report from the police. Maybe a start.

Al, - to you and others - live w/ the darn dirt in your ring. It is not worth the risk of taking your rings off. I never take mine off when I am out & about. I just clean it when I get home.

 

[LadyHawk]

Place an ad in some of the local papers under LOST & FOUND, keep checking those papers under the FOUND to see if an honest person places an ad...
It could very well end up on Ebay-

 

[verticalhorizon]

I would have to say that I could never keep a found engagement ring. All that sentiment attached to it. I don't think I would turn it in to the store manager either though. I'd probably leave my contact info in the event the person returned, then perhaps contact the police to ask what to do.

Found wallets are enticing to keep. One would think, "Awww... you can keep the cash and turn in the wallet so that someone doesn't freak about replacing all their stuff inside."

But you know, what's the real point for just a little cashishe? I think what you get back in good karma is worth being honest. I can only hope there are more people like that than not.

 

[aljdewey]

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On 3/19/2004 8:50:45 AM fire&ice wrote:




Al, - to you and others - live w/ the darn dirt in your ring. It is not worth the risk of taking your rings off. I never take mine off when I am out & about. I just clean it when I get home.
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F&I, I actually NEVER take my rings off ANYWHERE except for home.....because I know how prone I am to losing things.

This wasn't just a bit of dirt issue - it was about 3 tablespoons of warm mayonnaise running down my hand which happened because the waitress dropped the food on me. FYI - mayonnaise gets rancid after a while.

 

[fire&ice]

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On 3/19/2004 10:56:48 AM aljdewey wrote:

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On 3/19/2004 8:50:45 AM fire&ice wrote:


Al, - to you and others - live w/ the darn dirt in your ring. It is not worth the risk of taking your rings off. I never take mine off when I am out & about. I just clean it when I get home.
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F&I, I actually NEVER take my rings off ANYWHERE except for home.....because I know how prone I am to losing things.

This wasn't just a bit of dirt issue - it was about 3 tablespoons of warm mayonnaise running down my hand which happened because the waitress dropped the food on me. FYI - mayonnaise gets rancid after a while.

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I'm confused then. Why was the ring off your hand? Did it slip off?

BTW, my comment was directed towards everyone. I can remember being in our hometown department store & a girl shreiking & crying as she ran to the bathroom. It happened so quickly. I couldn't figure out what was wrong. Evidently, she took off her ring to wash her hands & didn't put it back on. It ended up being in the same place - but what if? That image is so burned into my head.

 

[baltneu]

Sorry for the story.

Hope it is insured.

 

[glitterata]

If I found a valuable item like a diamond ring, I wouldn't turn it in at the lost & found--who knows if it would stay there? I would take it to the police station and tell the lost & found folks that that's what I'd done.