Coppers!

This weekend marked the 3rd time I have sought out the police here in Japan.

1st time: Kobe, December. A lost keitai prompted a visit to the local kohban. Tons of paperwork, but the cops were pretty friendly.

2nd time: Kobe, later December. Dead car battery prompted a search for anyone who could give us a jump. No cops in this kohban for several hours.

3rd time: Wadayama, yesterday. Walking back from the onsen, we found a wallet. Said wallet was only a few hundred feet from the central station, so Aaron and I walked in. Again, the cops were friendly, but damn if it didn't take a looong time. I explain that we just found the wallet, that no one was around, there was no money or ID that we saw, etc. Then the cops had us witness them removing everything from the wallet [about $2.50 and various membership cards], watch as they logged their findings. Then they give us a "receipt" of the whole thing. And here's the kicker-- if the guy [there was a bank card in the wallet, so they do have a name] wants to claim his wallet, the cops will give him our contact info. The guy then needs to get our receipt and take it to the station to get his stuff.

Now, I've never had to do anything like this in the states. Is this normal? What if the guy had money in the wallet and accuses us of taking it? Should the cops be giving him our information? I'll be checking with my teachers tomorrow to see if this is standard. Not too worried, it just seems a little strange.