Found on the roadside

[MBAtarga]

I've noticed about a dozen sticks of electrical conduit (PVC) on the side of the road on my drive to work. It's on a major road - no buildings, homes or construction going on along the road. The conduit appears to possibly have fallen off a truck. Strange thing is - the pipe is on the far side of the guard rail along the road - not on the grass immediately adjacent to the road. Seems someone must have placed it over the guardrail - possibly whomever has been mowing along the road?

The pipe has been there for at least 2 weeks. I actually pulled over the other day to look closer at it - some is 1", some 2" - and possibly some other sizes. Whomever dropped/lost it - hasn't come back for it yet. Out of curiosity, I looked at the HD web site - that 2" pipe is almost $30 a stick! Almost $50 for Sch 80 - I don't know if it is Sch 40 or 80 as I didn't look that close.

Would you consider it stealing to find a "new home" for the PVC? I figured I could sell it on Craigs site at half price and make a few hundred.

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by MBAtarga

I've noticed about a dozen sticks of electrical conduit (PVC) on the side of the road on my drive to work. It's on a major road - no buildings, homes or construction going on along the road. The conduit appears to possibly have fallen off a truck. Strange thing is - the pipe is on the far side of the guard rail along the road - not on the grass immediately adjacent to the road. Seems someone must have placed it over the guardrail - possibly whomever has been mowing along the road?

The pipe has been there for at least 2 weeks. I actually pulled over the other day to look closer at it - some is 1", some 2" - and possibly some other sizes. Whomever dropped/lost it - hasn't come back for it yet. Out of curiosity, I looked at the HD web site - that 2" pipe is almost $30 a stick! Almost $50 for Sch 80 - I don't know if it is Sch 40 or 80 as I didn't look that close.

Would you consider it stealing to find a "new home" for the PVC? I figured I could sell it on Craigs site at half price and make a few hundred.

I'd take it. Finders keepers and all that.

[stevej37]

Probably a contractor loss and may not have noticed it yet.

It sounds like a large loss to someone...I would leave it.

[Ayles]

Keep it.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7B5rS77KQ9ZAJJwBUDl6fX?si=ZScTq50zR3CV5C4EC_yytg

[URY914]

Take it. THe time limit has expired for the owner to come back for it.

[masraum]

If it's on the side of the road, no one is going to come back for it. Take it, because if you don't, either someone else will or it'll sit there until it's run over, mowed over, etc... It's essentially garbage right now that's cluttering up the roadside.

Besides, whoever dropped it may have driven 20, 100, or 200 miles before they noticed that it was gone. They aren't going to have any idea where to look or they'd have already picked it up.

[MBAtarga]

I was leaning towards claiming the pipe already. As some have mentioned - the original owner is likely not looking for it given that it's been over 2 weeks already.

I think I'll throw a 2x4 into the pickup bed next week - I've already got some ratchet straps - so I'll just bind the pipes with the 2x4 and bring them home.

If I don't pick them up soon, Baz may see them and take them home!

[70SATMan]

I wouldn’t loose ANY sleep by helping the County with roadside clean up. Especially after two weeks.

[A930Rocket]

Two weeks is enough. Besides, you’ll be doing a community service picking up the “trash”.

When I build my first house, I needed a wheelbarrow or two of gravel for a drain behind the retaining wall. Every day for a week, I would pass by a pile on the side of the road. I finally pulled over one day and loaded up what I needed.

The gravel stayed there for a month, so obviously nobody was looking for it

[red 928]

I've always figured that if it doesn't belong to me,
then it doesn't belong to me.

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by URY914

Take it. THe time limit has expired for the owner to come back for it.

+1

It’s up for grabs at this point. You should be commended for picking up trash.

[peppy]

I often find tools in the road.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by MBAtarga

-snip-
If I don't pick them up soon, Baz may see them and take them home!

Hell ----- they'd already be home and photos posted here if it were me....

[Bill Douglas]

In the interests of a clean and green environment take it home.

[Cairo94507]

My first concern is you stopping and walking on the freeway. Assuming you are doing that safely so as not to endanger yourself or someone else, I would pick it all up or the freeway clean-up crews will grab it and toss it.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by Cairo94507

My first concern is you stopping and walking on the freeway. Assuming you are doing that safely so as not to endanger yourself or someone else, I would pick it all up or the freeway clean-up crews will grab it and toss it.

Unfortunately that is the truth. He could even get a ticket. I'd make it quick. Maybe set out the spare like it needs to be changed just in case the man comes by.

I will pick up things off the city streets, curbs and alleys. I'm like Baz.

[masraum]

And in case you need suggestions on how to get it home in your truck...

I understand that this is the preferred method!
This method works just as well in trucks and SUVs as it does cars.

[RobFrost]

In UK if you take something legitimately believing its prior owner has abandoned it, no theft has occurred.

Sent from my SM-G988B using Tapatalk

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by red 928

I've always figured that if it doesn't belong to me,
then it doesn't belong to me.

I think about that,too. Yesterday I was reffing at AYSO. I left my bag next to the sideline, but way off in a corner of the field. Someone from AYSO left 3 new soccer balls (still in their packaging) and a first aid kit next to my bag (like, on top of it) while I was working my match. First weekend of games in the season, so perhaps they thought my stuff was some coach’s. So, much to my kid’s chagrin, I returned them at the end of the day.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Earlier this summer, I was thinking of starting a "things I've found on the roadside" thread. Maybe I already have.

I live on a mountain pass with a bunch of turns and inclines to knock anything loose out of a pickup. I've found more bolts this summer than needed
to build an ark. I've found entire tool kits. Pocket knives, pliers, etc. The bike I rode today was left roadside. Ladders. Socket sets. Farrier stands?

You wouldn't believe it. For the bike, I did post a pic at the road entrance for several weeks, and the farrier stand. No response on either. In the next week, I'll post pics of that "bike" in the ultimate bike thread. I rode it to wineries today. A sexy hoity toity thing that has no business being left in a ditch!

Frankly- I lost a bag out my friend's pickup in college, and a bike tire. The bag had a jacket and some nice stuff.
Driving back to college the next semester, I noticed the tire on the side of the interstate.... No bag evident. It wasn't a good place to stop, so I kept going.
Driving back to college the NEXT semester, I noticed the tire still there, stopped the car, got my tire, and put it on my bike, and got many miles out of it.

My bike tire stood on the interstate for a YEAR!

There is an element of "easy come/ easy go"