So... I found a wallet lying in the street on my way home today and I was wondering if it would be ok if I just send it via post to the person on the address given on the grundkarte (it has a driving license, bank cards, credit cards, and loads of other stuff) or do I have to hand it over to the police?

What's the norm here?

It's Mine!!!

Ok Edit: you could go on search.ch look if you can find the telephone for the person on the drivers license. if not just take it to the police / fundbuero and they will take care of it.

The owner is lucky that you found it and I hope will be very grateful to you.

I found a number with the person's name & address but apparently its not listed anymore.

Ah well, I'll just hand it over to the police then.

Edit: Does anyone know about a police station closer to Oerlikon please?

Take it the police station. By law you are entitled to a finder's fee.

Oerlikon station. Just up from Sternen oerlikon heading towards the city on your right.

Thank you, I just came back from there and handed it over to them. Apparently the Fundburo closes at 6:30!

Thanks again for all the help.

Out of interest, was there money in the wallet? Was it lost or was it thrown away?

Yes, there was some money in it.. around 40chuffs, but it had valid swiss resident permit, driving license, credit card, valid tram pass etc... so I think it was lost - not thrown away.

I hope I never lose my wallet.

But, if I do, I hope it's found by you.

Take it the police or work out how contact the owner. A few years ago I found a handbag on a tram went to the police station which was closed so I went fiddling through the handbag looking for something that would help.

Looked up the person on directories.ch and bingo then found a mobile in the handbag so I went through the mobile directory looking for a number. Rang the number happened to be the husband of the person.

Organised the return at our house as the person was so thrilled she came over immediately and gave 100CHF as a thanks.

Do a good deed and you never know if you lose something it may also come back. I see plenty of posts on this forum critising the swiss however the gratitude expressed to me on this deed showed that they are indeed a lovely culture. At the time too my german was pretty limited but we did manage to communicate enough to get this whole experience to occur.

I found someones Blackberry phone a couple of months ago in the supermarket carpark. After getting home I looked up the number and found "home" listed. I rang and a lady answered and I explained that I had found what I believed to be her phone and was calling to let her know.
She went absolutely crazy and ranted on that her husband had taken her phone with him to the supermarket as he had lost his the day before!!!
I gave my address and he came later in the day to collect it - but he then ranted that he had got it in the neck from his wife because I had called
No thanks or anything from them - just moaning - talk about ungrateful

I found a wallet and handed it in at Police Station. I never got the finders fee!

Well, I never wanted any finders fee or prize tbh, The purse had loads of stuff in it and I know how it feels when you loose something so personal. I've been pick pocketed and/or lost my wallet 3 times and its just painful getting everything sorted.

Whether or not they thank me is up to them, but at least I did my part.

I didnt want the finders fee but I felt good about it. The same week I found a lost child in Conforama. The reward was seeing Mother and Daugher reunited.

Also in the same week I found my friends bar door open. I could not get in touch with them but I went to his parents shop and I told them. I have no idea why I opened the door because the lights were off. I just walked in and there was nobody there. So do things always happen in 3's? Anyway it was a feel good week for me.