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"Finders-keepers, losers-weepers"? What would YOU do?

By Dennis Burgess

Property Manager with AmeriTeam Property Management SL#3200658

September 05, 2014 04:45 AM

"Finders-keepers, losers-weepers"?- What would you do?

Here in my hand rests a flash drive- there are many like it, but this one is mine. It's a new one- and though 16GB isn't the ginormous amount of data it once was, this thing will hold a good bit of stuff. I use Dropbox and fill that bad boy up, too- so I try my best to either use the flash drives as back-ups or to hold things for a short while until I've had a chance to upload the stuff elsewhere.

Yesterday, I was on the road and decided to drop in a library to look up some things real quick and keep moving along with my day. I didn't have this new 16GB flash drive on me, however- but rather it's bigger, older brother that's a 32GB one.

I finished what I was doing and hit the road, but an hour or so later it hit me: I'd left my flash drive at the library. A wealth of emotions rushed through my head- ranging from panic to irritation with myself to plain ol' utter confusion and concern over whether I'd see the thing again... and over exactly what I'd be missing if I never saw the thing again.

I called the library and got in touch with a lady there just before closing time. That in and of itself was a victory- as our libraries here have one central number and you have to wait to get transferred out to an individual branch. The lady I spoke with had a line of folks in front of her, but put me on hold and said she'd go check the both the "lost and found box" and the computer I'd been working on.
She returned to the phone about 10 agonizing minutes later and told me she'd seen no sign of my flash drive.

Sweet. Nice. Son of a gun. "Who the heck got my flash drive?", "Are flash drives so expensive that somebody would find mine and keep it like a dang $100 on the ground in a parking lot or something?" and "Surely whomever plucked my flash drive out of that computer knew it wasn't their's....right?" were but a few of the questions going through my head. Among others, that is.

So what would you do? Would you turn in a flash drive if you found one? As of now, it seems that either the library lady couldn't find mine...or that someone else did and bounced home with it. I won't know for certain until tomorrow- as for some unknown and frustrating reason, our libraries are closed on Fridays.

It's not very likely that whomever may have found my flash drive thought to themselves "Hmmm... I don't recall ever buying one of these things, but I guess it could be mine..." or anything- I'm thinking it's a bit more likely that their thoughts returned to elementary school and the unspoken playground rule known the world over as "Finders-keepers, losers-weepers".

We'll see what happens tomorrow. I'm hoping to get my flash drive back first and foremost- but discovering that someone found it and turned it in might get a little bit of faith in my fellow man back as well.

"Finders-keepers, losers-weepers"?- What would you do?

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Donny Carter

Carter & Roque Real Estate - Frostburg, MD

Mountain Maryland Real Estate Expert

Hi Dennis,

I think I would panic just as much if I had lost all the data on my flash drive.

I would like to say that if an adult had found it, you would be reunited within a couple of days.... Most grown ups have been in this sort of predicament and can empathize just how much it stings to loose something of value to you. I'm not saying that a kid took it, but if one did, they probably wouldn't understand it's worth. To them, it's just another gizmo that goes back in the toy box.

Hope you see it soon!

Sep 05, 2014 05:03 AM

Whitney Watson

First Heritage Mortgage - Henrico, VA

Dennis-I haven't ever been in this situation, but I probably wouldn't have even noticed it was there since I hardly ever use flash drives. If I had found one just lying around or on the floor where I knew it shouldn't be I would have turned it in. I know they hold personal and confidential information and would hope other would do the same. I hope it turns up for you!

Sep 05, 2014 05:51 AM

Carla Muss-Jacobs, RETIRED

RETIRED / State License is Inactive - Portland, OR

What's a library?? It vaguely rings some faint memory.

Wonder if they can be password protected?

Sep 05, 2014 06:53 AM

Than Maynard

Coldwell Banker Heart of Oklahoma - Purcell, OK

Broker - Licensed to List & Sell - 405-990-8862

I would have taken it to the desk and dropped it off.

Carla Muss-Jacobs, Principal Broker/Owner Yes, you can password protect the whole thing, but I don't think that stops someone from reformatting it and having a clean flash drive!

Sep 05, 2014 07:07 AM

Dennis Burgess

AmeriTeam Property Management - Mid Florida, FL

Orlando Property Manager and Realtor

Hi, Donny: Thank you for dropping by, and for your comment. I'd like to believe an adult found it and turned it in as you've said- and I'm keeping a bit of faith in that teenagers, etc may very well be oblivious to the thing unless they happened to be using one themselves.

Sep 05, 2014 07:15 AM

Dennis Burgess

AmeriTeam Property Management - Mid Florida, FL

Orlando Property Manager and Realtor

Hi, Whitney: Thank you for stopping by, and for your comment and good wishes. That's another aspect I can have faith in, too- that someone whose just really dang nice happened to find it!

Sep 05, 2014 07:21 AM

Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate

Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL

Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

I found a set of car keys in Publix a few weeks ago. I could have gone out into the parking lot and pushed the horn button until I found which car they belonged to. Then I would have had a brand new ride! Plus, the registration would have been in the glovebox, I could drive by that house, the house key was on the same bunch of keys I was holding.

I turned the keys into customer service.

I hope you get your drive back.

Sep 05, 2014 07:39 AM

Sybil Campbell

Fernandina Beach, FL

Referral Agent Amelia Island Florida

Hi Dennis, I hope you get it back too, I'm sure that is a sinking feeling, not having it.

Sep 05, 2014 08:01 AM

Dennis Burgess

AmeriTeam Property Management - Mid Florida, FL

Orlando Property Manager and Realtor

Hi, Carla: Thank you for dropping by, and for your comment. Our Seminole County libraries are pretty good for the most part, actually. One in a neighboring town called Casselberry may be the largest in the county.

They host a number of classes and regular meetings of groups like Toastmasters and some others. Conference rooms are available for anyone's use when not reserved for any other events, too- which make for decent place for a quick meeting folks might have to throw together at the last minute.

Sep 05, 2014 01:02 PM

Dennis Burgess

AmeriTeam Property Management - Mid Florida, FL

Orlando Property Manager and Realtor

Hi, Ambassador Fred: Thank you for stopping by, and for your comment- though it's one that reminds me of another of my brighter moments from not too long ago...

I stopped in a Wal-Mart not far from my house to get a few things. It was raining when I parked a good bit away from the door- so I got out and ran to the entrance at a fairly good clip. I went in and spent about 45 minutes spending $25, then headed back to my van. I went to my pocket for my key... and it wasn't there.

Now, unlike the flash drive deal, I was there with my van, had no key- yet was absolutely sure when I last used it/had it (when I parked). I went through all of the "re-tracing your steps" motions- parking lot, every inch I'd visited inside- and checked with Customer Service and the supervisor/overseer of the self'-checkout area. No key.

Back outside I went- ironically thinking I needed to be wary of someone walking the aisles and trying to find whose lights would flash and on which vehicle.

"Frustrated" doesn't do my mood at that point any justice, I can guarantee you- 'cause the rain and left by then and the 80% humidity remained with the sun beating down.

Then it hit me: as I went into Wal-Mart, I'd thrown a drink bottle away...and I must have had my key in the same hand and thrown it away as well. Back to the entrance I went- and I spent a few pleasurable moments going through the trash can before finding that dang key.

Don't know that I'm necessarily cat-like in any regard- but I'd like to believe that as sure as they have nine lives, I've still got a few "lost item" lives left to burn!

Sep 05, 2014 01:34 PM

Dennis Burgess

AmeriTeam Property Management - Mid Florida, FL

Orlando Property Manager and Realtor

Hi, Sybil: Thank you for dropping by, and for your comment and sentiment. Yeah, it's a frustrating thing in that I "don't know what I don't know"- meaning that if I don't have it, I won't know exactly what's missing. I've got a good idea, of course (in that I know I have photos of roughly 400 homes on it)- but apart from that it's a mixed bag.

10 hours until the library opens!

Sep 05, 2014 01:45 PM

Dennis Burgess

AmeriTeam Property Management - Mid Florida, FL

Orlando Property Manager and Realtor

Hi, Than: Thank you for stopping by, and for your comment. Sounds like you're just the honest kind of guy that I need to be hoping for inyedms of who may have their grubby hands on my flash drive!

Hoping I'll have some positive news a bit later today...

Sep 05, 2014 01:54 PM

Rob Arnold

Sand Dollar Realty Group, Inc. - Altamonte Springs, FL

Metro Orlando Full Service - Investor Friendly & F

Hopefully you recover that flash drive. With all that data, I am sure you will be missing it. About 20 years ago, when I was working a Kmart I found $200 cash laying on the ground in one of the aisles during the Christmas season. I turned it into lost and found but nobody ever claimed it, so the money ended up coming back to me. I ended up donating it all because it was found money and someone else deserved it more than me.

Sep 06, 2014 12:49 AM

Dennis Burgess

AmeriTeam Property Management - Mid Florida, FL

Orlando Property Manager and Realtor

Hi, Rob: Thank you for dropping by,and for your comment. Not surprising that a fine fellow like yourself would be at the forefront of the "pay it forward" movement!

With regard to the flash drive...ugh!

It's sad and frustrating to say that I got it back (it had slid under the library computer's keyboard)... but I've since lost it again. Now looking to set a time for the ol' Alzheimer's evaluation or something... ridiculous.

Sep 09, 2014 08:13 AM

Grant Schneider

Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY

Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

Dennis - I would be more concerned about the data on the flash drive. Number one, is it backed up and number two is any sensitive data on it?

Sep 13, 2014 11:36 AM