Serious legal problems will certainly arise if you appear clutching the rare item in a press story that the owner recognizes came from their yard. This is the time for contracts and legalese. Lastly, treat the homeowners and their property with respect. After all they have guarded your potential finds for you. You are a guest and should behave as such.
Treasure hunting on someone's property without permission is trespassing.
Removing an item without permission is theft. There is no such thing as abandoned or unowned property, check with the local tax assessor if in doubt. There are an awful lot of great finds yet to be made in private yards, how you search them impacts all of us. Once you find the owner get permission and enjoy some of the best hunting you'll ever do, you'll make many friends in the process. Back to Donna's Home Page .