Except as otherwise provided in this Act, whoever sells, trades, destroys, or in any way disposes of any estray or other property taken up or any property found, or takes or sends the same out of this state, for any purpose whatever, before the time limited by this Act for the vesting of ownership in the finder or taker-up, shall pay double the value of such property, to be recovered in the circuit court in the name of the owner.
765 ILCS 1020/35