Originally Posted by
Unreasonable
This is just what I was saying (The thing about others coming across it, at least). If you've done what you say, and you also report it to the cops, there's no reason somebody looking for it won't be able to find it. They go to where they left it, they find your note. They forget where the left it, they maybe call the police and hey, the police have info. It's actually a better situation.
I really don't get the whole "You're stealing no matter what" thing. Especially if you go through all this work, if nothing comes of it I believe you have no reason to act as if you have stolen property.
This whole "You're stealing no matter what" thing is because if the bike isn't
YOURS, than
YOU ARE STEALING. No matter how many notes you leave no matter if you call the police and let them know that you've "found" a bike and are taking it home.
Unless you are a cop or a city/county/state/federal employee who's job it is to go around and collect abandoned property
YOU ARE IN FACT STEALING. Or you have been empowered by your employer to remove abandoned property. Just because you see what you perceive to be an "abandoned" bike/property doesn't mean that it is an "abandoned" bike/property.
About the only time that I can see there being any sort of exception would if you see a bicycle that is actually in a dumpster. If it's just leaning against a dumpster, it might be a homeless person's who is engaged in dumpster diving. Just leave the bike alone if it is not your bike. Call the police and report it stolen and make it clear to them that if it is not recovered by it's rightful owner that you will be making a claim for it.