Researchers found almost half of wallets misplaced at cultural centres were retrieved by their owners.
The social experiment, carried out across five British cities, found that a third of wallets dropped in shopping centres were also returned.
But not a single wallet dropped in cafés or public transport was handed in.
Researchers dropped 100 wallets at various locations in London, Birmingham, Glasgow, Cardiff and Leeds, with each one containing £10 cash, a photograph, receipts, stamps and contact details for their owners.
They found one in every five wallets was handed back. People in the British capital the most honest while those from Birmingham the most dishonest.
Only one in four “lost” wallets were returned to the West Midlands city but with the money removed. All wallets returned in the capital still contained money.

I've done the same with a phone - I rang the contact labelled "mum" and she got in touch with her son who rang me back to come round and pick it up.

They generally are pretty excited when they find out that they are getting their phone back.

I've done the same with a phone - I rang the contact labelled "mum" and she got in touch with her son who rang me back to come round and pick it up.

Probably better off selling it to one of those sites that buy mobile phones.

Went up to Peterborough today. Some kid wanted to sell me some old phone that I suspect he'd stolen. £30. Probably better off selling it to one of those sites that buy mobile phones.

Last person whose wallet I found wasnt impressed that I had it, despite the fact all I did was go through to try and find a contact number (on a business card) didnt move/take anything. They spoke to me like I nicked the thing, rude sods!

It's the same reason I'd never directly help a child in distress: many people assume all men are rapists and thieves.

A little girl got lost in my shop once (her parents left her behind), and I was working alone. I phoned the Police for two reasons: 1) to help find her parents (though the girl did know her mum's number, but I kept getting voicemail), and 2) I was only too aware of the possible implications of comforting and looking after a little girl without independent observers being present.

Of course if I was female there probably wouldn't be an issue of taking care of/comforting a scared, crying little girl. The best I could do was give her chocolate and a cup of tea, I tried to keep my distance otherwise.

The only thing that you can do. Hopefully the parents appreciate it. Probably not, knowing most people.

If your phone has an audio recording function then you can also record your entire interaction with the child whilst waiting for the parent/guardian or someone in authority to arrive.