A few months ago I found over $100 in cash in an envelope at the side of the road. I called the police and they said I could turn it in. If no one found it then it would go into the police fund. They had no mechanism for keeping a record of the find so I put several ads on Craigs List. No response. I'm still looking for a nice charity to give it to.
I’ve found lots of things. Once found a $20 in front of a cashier register at our local convenience store. Silly me wanted to make a point to my kids and handed it over to the cashier and stated to please make sure that if someone comes in that lost this, they get it back.
After I thought (shoot) that cashier is just going to pocket it. Oh well, it still was a lesson for my kids not to keep what does not belong to you. I’ll let the cashier worry about their soul!
I’ve found lots of items in parking lot carriages too! I trudge back into the store with them and ask that they do the same thing. I probably will never change! But, if I found a huge amount of money or jewelry, I might just call the local police and as you did - place some adds. I don’t think I’d turn it in to the police and I’d definitely not spend it.