An Interesting Tale
 

My wife and I were riding in a golf car to go to Southern Oaks. We passed the crosswalk on the southern most entrance to Osceola Hills. Lying in the road was a golf club. We looked around and saw no one. It was a brand new driver with a headcover.

When we got to Southern Oaks we asked several employees what to do about it. No one knew. We put a lost and found ad in the Talk and got 1 response. The response, thank you, said that if it was worth 50$ or less to take it to one of 4 rec centers mentioned. If it was worth over 50$ take it to the police station. Now, I know the driver was worth around 250$ but if the owner could not hit it, it may have been worth less than 50$. lol.

I then asked employees at Belgrade and no one knew what to do with a golf club that wasn't lost at a golf course. So I decided to take it to the police station in Sumpter county off 466.

I walked in an explained my situation and they all gave me the I don't know look. Then they said they would write up a police report. 30 minutes later, and after filling out a report I began to wonder.........The club would be locked up in the evidence locker in Bushnell.

Just before leaving, a man in a motorized wheelchair came in to file a complaint. He said that he signed up for free solar and once they were done they gave him a bill for $50,000 and his bank told him he had to pay it.

After hearing that I left hoping I didn't waste their time with my found driver and it seemed more serious matters were afoot.

I did not want to keep the club and was just amazed at how few people knew what to do. I thank the police for their time and if you lost your driver, it is now located along with all the crime scene evidence at Bushnell. Fore!

Just two comments:

It sounds like someone just lost the driver. No crime or evidence involved.

Why would the bank have anything to do with whether or not someone owes money for a solar system?

It’s a good story made me tired. Next time bring it to nearest Rec Center

Myself and others have posted this info numerous times on TOTV.

Lost and Found

Depending on where items are found, inexpensive items will be held for one month at La Hacienda, Laurel Manor, Eisenhower or Everglades Regional Recreation Centers. Valuables will be turned over to the Lady Lake Police Department, Sumter County Sheriff’s Office or Marion County Sheriff’s Office within 72 hours. At the end of each month, unclaimed items will be donated to local charities. The Recreation Department is not responsible for lost items.

Full details at this link. From District Government, Recreation Department.

https://www.districtgov.org/PdfUploa...Guidelines.pdf

Not exactly. The link you provided only applies to items found at the rec centers. This item was found on a road, not at a rec center. Under Florida law, the finder is required to take the item to law enforcement, but the finder can make a claim for the property in the event that the lawful owner is not found within a specific time period. Then, the item becomes the property of the finder, not donated to charity.

OP, I would suggest that you return to the police station and make a claim for the golf club. You could become the legal owner.

Florida Statute Chapter 705, Lost or Abandoned Property

I think the international "finders keepers" statute applies in this case. :1rotfl:

Seriously though, I've seen surprisingly many items found and posted on local Villages FB groups where the rightful owner was found.

Unless the guy signed a contract saying he owed that do not understand why he would owe it.

Why would you take it in the first place? Numerous times me, or my husband, have left/lost something and I just went back to that spot and found it. The owner may done that.

If there is something that isn’t yours let it lay.

Agree 100%, unless its cash. If its cash and you don't take it, the next person who sees it will.

I see items propped up and placed on fence posts or the pilons at gates ect. all the time. I think most people drive on by. More valuable items, well that would be a fine social/moral kind of study to do. How many people in a huge golf course community would let a $250 club just lay there or if nothing else prop it up.

I think the OP went above and beyond and did the right thing as it seemed to be a valuable item in their eyes. The owner of the club probably thinks it is long gone by now. Hope they are on totv.

Solar panels for free with no fine print... seems like that would be a stretch.

I have the perfect solution - KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF EVERYONE ELSE'S STUFF! Now because you took it the owner will most likely never get it back. My bet is the person came looking for it and guess what because you decided to touch it and take it he is at a loss as to where to go to retrieve it. My biggest pet peeve - is do NOT TOUCH other people's belongings. Let them return to find it. You did not do the owner a favor you sabotaged his efforts to find it in the street. That goes for everyone - not just you!

Why are there so many people that just have to find fault with anything and everything someone posts.
I want to applaud the OP for going out of his way to find the rightful owner of the club. I appreciate you!

Leave it? The owner might not know it fell out for days or longer, do you really think it will still be there after X number of days? The next person driving by might have taken it and put it in his bag.

I lost a key fob once. If you've ever had to replace one you know it costs more than a couple of those clubs. I called the place where I lost it hoping that someone had turned it in. Nope. My best guess is no one touched it, they just left it where it was, and eventually it was swept up into the trash. It would have saved me a lot of money if someone had put their hands on my stuff.

Kudos to the OP for making an attempt.

You take it to the nearest rec center. Very simple.