Hashavas Aveida Returning Lost Objects

The mitzvah of hashavas aveida is to return a lost object to its owner. A person cannot pretend that he does not see the object, but one must watch over the lost item until the owner returns for it. One must ask the owner for signs in order to establish that the object is really his.

"If you see your brother's ox or sheep going astray, you must not ignore them. You must return them to your brother. If you brother is not near to you, or if you do not know who [the owner is], you must bring [the animal] home and keep it until your brother identifies it, whereupon you must return it to him. You must do the same to a donkey, an article of clothing, or anything else that your brother loses and you find. You must not ignore it." (Devarim 22:1-3)