It’s Sunday morning brunch, and you’re sitting at your table on New Side, nursing a hangover with a plate full of hash brown triangles.  In between complaints about all the work you have to do this afternoon, you look over at the other table to see Jane Doe wearing your bracelet, a family heirloom that has been passed down for generations that you sort of accidentally misplaced last night whilst stumbling around your friend’s NCA in a drunken stupor. What do you do?

First of all, don’t be rude. Don’t rip the garment or possession from their person in a dramatic fashion. Don’t call campus safety on them and turn them in for stealing your precious possession. Maybe they just picked it up off the floor and took a liking to it, or were trying to keep it on them (literally) in case they ran into the original owner. On that note, don’t accost them, especially not violently. Life is better sans unnecessary confrontation, and you don’t want them to feel bad if they had honest intentions. Antagonizing your allies is unwise.

Do make sure that you approach politely and ask to see the item in question. It could be that said person has an extremely similar one and you are in the wrong. Plus if it isn’t yours, now you have someone who knows very well what it looks like on the hunt for it too.

If the person runs when you try to ask them about the item, they probably stole it. There’s not much you can do when it comes down to that, unless you memorize their face but even then memory probably won’t serve you well enough. Sorry! Buy a new bracelet and start a new family heirloom if tradition means that much to you.

Apply these same steps to lost hats, ties, shoes, and black NorthFace jackets