I am not sure how the cabs here work, but I was always taught get a receipt when you pay, since it has the medallion number on it.

I believe there is a centralized location where cabs are suppose to return all lost items. I remember last time I lost something I went near Lincoln Financial field. I'm not sure the exact location but I bet any cab driver can help.

Thanks for all the responses everyone. I think the centralized location is the Philadelphia Parking Authority Taxi and Limousine Division. I went to the 3101 Market office, but apparently doesn't have that particular division. I left my info with them, but its not looking good.

Why did you make mention that she doesn't like Philadelphia? Are you saying that now she'll really hate us (us, meaning Phila collectively) because we didn't give her the camera back?

It seems like the mistake was leaving the camera behind and that even if she was in ___________ (name whatever city she thinks is world class) she'd be exteremly lucky to have it returned.

A server I work w/ actually had her whole wallet returned to her. She said she called the Parking Authority and they sent out a memo to all the cab companies, and she actually got it back with nothing taken out of it. Pretty amazing.

Asking for a receipt whether think you need it or not can save you in these situations. My cell phone fell out of my pocket while exiting a cab recently. Luckily I was able to get it back with little trouble by borrowing a phone, calling up the dispatcher and telling him the cab#. He called up the driver and I had my cell phone delivered back to me 10 minutes later.

Burholme - What I meant by "subconscious associations" is that since this is her first time in Philly, something like this could ruin her experience here and make her dislike it without knowing exactly why. I don't mean she already dislikes everyone here because of something like this. Either way, I'd like to find the camera, and I'm still at it even though its near hopeless. Worst of all, she commented that its the pictures that are in it that are more important, meaning I can't just buy her a new camera...

The funny thing about the receipt is, I am generally used to getting receipts from taxis since I get reimbursement from work for travel. I thought about it getting it and then reminded myself that I didn't need it since it was for personal travel. Now, I've learned...

Sorry...but I only trust myself in those situataions. In the last year, I have found 3 cell phones and a wallet in various cabs. I tracked down the all the owners and got them their things back.