Q: I found a pearl necklace in a predominantly Jewish neighborhood. Can I hand it in to the police instead of publicizing it on my own?

A: In many countries the law requires notifying and/or handing in lost items to the police. This is also an effective method of publicizing, since the owner is likely to turn to them. In certain cases, we even apply the rule of dina d’malchusa dina (the law of the land) (C.M. 259:7).

Despite this, a number of authorities have objected to transferring lost items to the police, since they often do not handle the lost item as required. For example, they will display it to the claimant and return it with insufficient simanim, and award ownership to the finder or State if not claimed within a few months. However, it is permissible to hand in items for which the police will likely require proper identification (Pischei Choshen, Aveidah 2:[53]).

Nonetheless, you can hand in an item found on a bus to the company’s lost and found, even if they do not demand proper simanim, since anyone who rides the bus does so with this understanding (Hashavas Aveidah K’halachah 3:4-5).However, if you found it in a beis medrash or kollel, and the item is not new and would be recognizable to its owner, you should publicize it (C.M. 262:21).