A found phone is someone’s whole life on a lock screen. Hand it in.

A phone is not an object the way a coin is. In your hand you are holding somebody’s photos, messages, bank app, the way they contact their mum, and the rising panic they are feeling right now while they retrace their steps. The value to them is enormous and has almost nothing to do with the resale price.

If you find one, hand it to the front desk, the driver, the teacher, whoever runs the place. If it rings, answer it. Two minutes of your afternoon ends somebody’s worst hour of the week.