Am I allowed to keep something I find in Denmark?
No — you cannot simply keep something you find. Under the Found Property Act you must hand finds to the police as soon as possible, unless you know the owner and return it directly. The police keep the item for 3 months (only 4 weeks for bikes and mopeds); if unclaimed, it is sold at auction, and you get a third of the money as the finder. If the owner is found, you can get a finder's reward of usually 10% of the value, if the item is worth at least 500 kr and was handed in. Cash and valuables found in a shop must always go straight to the police. Keeping a find can be punished as unlawful handling of found property.
📋 The rules
- You must hand finds to the police promptly
- The police keep it for 3 months (4 weeks for bikes)
- Unclaimed: you get a third of the auction money
- Finder's reward usually 10% of the value
- Reward only if the value is at least 500 kr
🔓 Exceptions
- If you know the owner, you can return the item directly
- Cash and valuables found in a shop must always go straight to the police
- No finder's reward for finds in homes, stairwells, shops or public transport
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Keeping a find without handing it in is unlawful handling of found property under Penal Code §277 and can bring a fine or up to 1 year and 6 months prison.
📎 Official sources
❓ Frequently asked
Can I keep what I find?
Not automatically. You must hand finds to the police promptly, and if unclaimed after 3 months, you can get a share.
How long do the police keep a find?
3 months for most items, but only 4 weeks for bikes and mopeds, after which it is sold at auction.
Do I get a finder's reward?
Usually 10% of the value, if the item is worth at least 500 kr, was handed in, and the owner is found.
What if I find cash in a shop?
Cash and valuables found in a shop must always be handed straight to the police, not to the shop.
What happens if I keep the find?
It is unlawful handling of found property under Penal Code §277 and can bring a fine or up to 1 year and 6 months prison.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “can I keep what I find denmark”
- “found property hand to police”
- “finder reward 10 percent”
- “found property 3 months auction”
- “find bike 4 weeks”
- “unlawful handling found property”