$22,000 found...

[bergie]

The guy didn't even need a metal detector. I heard this on the radio also today.
http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/84-09302004-374832.html

 

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[True_Metal]

I can't believe he turned it in to the cops He'll NEVER see that dough again!

 

[lab rat]

Well, he did the right thing, IMHO... who knows? Maybe the rightful owner will cough up a reward? That would be the right thing to do, too.

 

[True_Metal]

That money is most likely dirtier than the dumpster it was stuffed under. The rightful owner is probably too scared to claim it for fear of being arrested. Bet the cops checked it for coke residue the minute they got it.? He should have gave it to child cancer foundations or the aspca or just bettered his life with it.

 

[Lowbatts]

The story as written reports police found a name attached to the money, so it may have been ditched after a robbery or burglary in which case the guy did exactly the right thing. I've found valuables before that were not incidentally lost, and made sure they went to the police when I could not locate the individuals who they belonged to.

That said, I'd have tried to find the owner first then turned it over second. In the case where any of us finds any amount of money with no indications of where it came from, say, 26 Billion dollars stacked on pallets and lost in the park. Well you have to refer to your own sense of decency. That and how much you can carry.

 

[rgecy]

Hey Guys, if you read, it says the cops determined it belonged to a local resident. He did the right thing. Maybe he'll get a nice reward.

The best reward I ever got was when I was 15 and found a wallet at the beach. It didn't have any money, only credit cards and ID. I drove into town and turned it into the police. Bad part was I almost got a ticket for "Parking on the Wrong Side of the Street" (in front of the police station) and "Driving After Dark" (restricted license at the time). Cop was nice enough once I explained I was turning in a wallet.

The owner wrote me a nice letter and sent me a $50 reward. Lots of cash for a 15 year-old. I think I also had the satisfaction of knowing I made the right and honest decision.

Robert in SC

 

[Moonshadow]

Nicely said Robert in SC!

Where are you located in SC? I'm in Aiken.

Have a great day........Cindy

 

[Talos]

I've turned in wallets, class rings, military ID's, etc. -- and have never heard from any of the original owners. What can you say? You sure the police just didn't classify the $22,000 as "drug money" and then purchased some new tommy guns or threw it in the kitty for one of their parties? Yeah, I'm cynical.

 

[True_Metal]

You sure the police just didn't classify the $22,000 as "drug money" and then purchased some new tommy guns or threw it in the kitty for one of their parties? Yeah, I'm cynical.

Heh, I'll second that!

 

[EDDE]

back to finders keepers (todays moral detecting question)you found it you keep it! the cops returned it? to know one, i can tell some stories about the cops wre im from man they could be slick!!!ne one care to tell of tales of officer freindly.now the moral giants will have me flamed up on this to!yes i am cynical also!!the glass is half empty or does it need a refill!DEKALB33

 

[Smitty in Atlanta GA]

When I was 15 years old back in the hills of Tennessee a hunting buddy and I were walking along the RR Tracks on our way to the woods to hunt and we came up on a wallet lying on the tracks. My friend picked it up and there was $110 in cash in it plus a pay check and drivers license. I asked my friend Henry who it belonged to and he said I'm not telling you because you'll want to give it back. I said come on Henry who does it belong to? He kept saying lets just take the money out and throw the wallet in the quarry hole and forget about it. Anyway I finally talked him into showing me who it belonged to and I said "Henry that belongs to Mr. Walker who lives over near the old company store and it's one week until Christmas and he's got 4 kids so we can't keep this money!" He started jumping up and down and said "I knew it! I knew it! I should have just throw the dang thing away but...nooooo I had to listen to you." I finally talked him into letting us take it back and I think he was glad we did as it turned out but he wouldn't ever admit it.

My Dad took us up there in his car and Mr. Walker and his wife and kids all came out when we pulled up at their house and when I gave them the wallet you'd have thought they had won a million bucks. This was back in 1963 so that was quite a bit of money for most people at that time. Anyway the whole family had tears of joy in their eyes. Even Mr. Walker had tears in his eyes he was so happy and relieved.

When we started to leave Mr. Walker tried to give us a reward and suddenly Henry spoke up and said "thanks anyway Mr. Walker, but that's your money and we didn't really do anything but give back what was yours so please just use the money for the kid's Christmas.

I remember as we walked back to the car I must have been smiling because Henry said "what are you smiling about?" As if to act like he was still mad about giving the money back. I said ah nothing Henry, I was just thinking about the kids is all and how happy everybody was. He sorta grinned and I'll never forget him almost beaming with joy as he said "they really were weren't they?" And I said Yep they were Henry.

I lost touch with Henry over the years but my Mom told me back several years ago that she had heard from Henry's Uncle that he was a missionary and had been for many years. She said he travels to Africa on a regular basis with Church groups and helps build Churches in remote areas over there.

I've thought back about that Christmas in 1963 many times over the years and wonder if that moment in time had any influence on my friend becoming a missionary from watching that families happy reaction over the Christmas that almost wasn't for them.

Smitty

 

[EDDE]

good story !!!but it was not 22,000 dollars that buys alot of christmas presents for anyone you care to bless with a donation ah!id be genorise to a shelter food bank etc robin hood almost! DEKALB33

 

[Darren in NC]

Cool story, Smitty. One of the best I've heard yet 8) Thanks for sharing.

 

[Talos]

Well, $110 is a far cry from $22,000. Besides, Smitty's wallet had identification in it, so he and Henry could return it to the proper owner. It's what I would have done. But Dekalb33 makes a good point about the police and found money. It doesn't always get to the proper owner. I know for a fact that police have a tendency to classify any large sum of money found anywhere as "drug or illicit money," which means it can go into a general fund or, in some cases, to a "private fund." Get caught with a lot of money in your posession -- illicitly gained or not -- and the authorities can confiscate it. You then have to hire an attorney to prove that the money was not illegally obtained. USA Today used to publish a weekly list of money confiscations by police agencies. Many of the sums dwarfed $22,000. Of course, much of it was drug-related money, but where did the dough go after confiscation? I've never seen an annual accounting of confiscated money from law enforcement agencies, much less how it was eventually spent.

Sorry to ruin Smitty's "It's A Wonderful Life" story" on Christmas!

 

[Talos]

Yes, we should always return lost money -- unless, of course, it belongs to a bank or casino!