A Grateful Note to an Anonymous Kind Stranger

Dear Anonymous Kind Stranger Who Didn’t Include a Return Address,

Thank you immensely for taking the time and effort to mail my wallet back to me in South Korea after I lost it in London a few months ago. I believe it may have slipped from my pocket during one of our visits to a bustling pub while spending time with my in-laws, along with my wife and our energetic toddlers. The moment I laid eyes on the envelope, complete with your handwritten note, waiting for me at The New York Times office in Seoul, I was filled with astonishment and gratitude.

“Just amazing,” my wife texted back almost immediately when I shared the delightful news. “Literally no return address?”

Perhaps I underestimated your remarkable capacity for kindness, dear stranger. It’s heartwarming to know that people around the globe frequently find and return lost belongings to their rightful owners, often remaining anonymous or using intermediaries, without seeking any recognition for their generous acts.

In your brief note, you simply mentioned, “Pocket book found in South London.” Yet, without a return address, I am left wondering about your story. What are the odds of retrieving lost wallets, and what motivates individuals to return them?

In my quest for answers, I discovered a few intriguing insights.

You’re Better Off Losing Wallets in Some Places Than Others

While comprehensive data on lost wallets is hard to come by, official statistics from several major cities provide some fascinating clues and noticeable contrasts.

• In London, the city’s transport authority recovered an average of over 2,000 lost wallets and purses each month during the fiscal year of 2021.
• In contrast, New York City’s transit system received an average of more than 400 lost wallets per month in 2023.

These figures highlight not only the kindness of strangers but also the different cultural attitudes towards lost items in various cities.