Lost coat help please help

[Davegompett]

Hi long shot really I went to a pub had a few drinks and left but I forgot to take my coat which was left on a chair. Inside the coat pockets was my phone and a bracelet I had bought for my wife as a present. I remembered I had forgotten it the next day. I went back to pub then and it hadn't been handed in. The publican advised I contacted police which I did and got crime number. The police visited pub spoke to manager and got cctv, which I saw. It doesn't show me sitting in chair but shows my coat which sat there for sometime after I had left, till a man walked by and took it with him as he exited pub. The manager and staff saw cctv but said they did not recognise the thief, I don't dispute this. Do I have a claim against the publican for my coat and possessions.? Can I take him to small claims court? The police have no idea who took my coat, because the cctv wasn't clear thanks

[des8]

Re: Lost coat help please help

Hi and welcome

Sorry to hear of your loss, but no, you do not have a claimagainst the publican.
He cannot be classed as a baillee, even involuntary if you just leave your coat lying around as possession never passed from you to him