P.R. Laws tit. 31, § 1956
A person finding any personal property, which is not treasure, must return it to its former possessor. Should the latter be unknown, he must deliver it immediately to the mayor of the town where the find took place.
The mayor shall publish it by posting written advertisements to that effect in the principal hall of the town hall, in the post office and in the office of the collector of internal revenues during two consecutive weeks.
Should it not be possible to keep the personal property found without injury or without incurring expenses greatly reducing its value, it shall be sold at public auction, after eight days have elapsed since the publication of the advertisement ended, without the owner having appeared, and the proceeds shall be deposited.
After six months from the date the publication of the advertisement ended, without the owner having appeared, the thing found or its value shall be awarded to the person who found it.
The latter, or the owner, in a proper case, shall be obliged to pay the costs.
The mayor shall notify in writing to the person who made the find, to his last known address, to appear and take possession of the thing or of the value thereof. Should his address be unknown, an advertisement shall be posted to that effect for two consecutive weeks in the principal hall of the town hall.
After fifteen days have elapsed from the notice by mail or from the date the advertisement ended, as the case may be, without the person who made the find appearing to claim it, the thing or the value thereof shall become municipal property.
History —Civil Code, 1930, § 555; May 13, 1951, No. 417, p. 1104, eff. 90 days after May 13, 1951.