$150,000 in cash found in garden.

[ckrakowski]

just read this very interresting article on yahoo about a guy who was tending to his garden and found $150,000 in cash. all in $20 dollar bills and the article says no banks were robbed. of course he gave the police the money. he is hoping that if it was criminals who put the money there they do not come back because he dose not want trouble. and the police have put a card where the money was found that says please call just in case the people who put the money there come back for it. sorry not sure how to post links.

[Produce Guy]

First of all,I would never give it to the Police,I might look in the newspaper or Craigslist ,under lost&found,other than that.."finders keepers".

[Old Bookaroo]

Many years ago, when I lived in Miami, there was a similar event. A man found a bag full of cash in his front yard - and he turned it over to the police.

When people asked him why, he replied that whomever lost it was probably going to come back looking for it. And he wanted to show them the front page of the newspaper with the article saying he didn't have it any more.

A very smart gentleman!

Here's the link: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/...225554517.html

Anyone who wants to read a very good book (fiction) about a similar case, read A Simple Plan. It's a good movie - but a very good book.

Good luck to all,

~The Old Bookaroo

[ckrakowski]

thank you Old Bookaroo for posting the link.

[goverton]

1St Class Dufuss!

[woodstock]

How old was the cash? I wouldn't say a word and stash it for my retirement, sell the house and never look back.
If there no identification with it I'd go by the finder's keepers rule myself...Mumms the word and I'd tell knowone.
HH, Woodstock

[ckrakowski]

hey woodstock it did not say how old the cash was but if it was the old style small headed bills i would have had $150,000 in cash just sitting there. i collect old style bills.

[savant365]

I'll admit that that man has more moral fiber then I do. No name, non-sequential serial numbers, small bills and no die packs...I would have my toes in the sand and a drink in my hand. I hope he gets it back.

[maipenrai]

Im sure there is a perfectly good explaination why the money was there I hope we get to hear more from this story.
But too all you people that think if you found it, you could just be cool and no one would ever know about it, sorry, it doesnt work that way. What reason would there be to keep the money, if you didnt use it? And really, would you sell your house and leave all your friends and relatives? That money would be burned up pretty quickly on a beach somewhere.

He did what was right, of course he could have put a few bundles of 20's in his pocket first. If he is lucky, he will get a reward, and if he is very lucky, he might even get to keep it all! I doubt that who ever left it there will come back and see the note, and call the police.

[spyguy]

Really a questionable judgement by the guy who turned in the cash --- he obviously wasn't a treasure hunter! From some of the responses to this post I guess I need to repeat the old saw: "Loose lips sink ships." These are hard economic times and getting even harder. Think about how long the average person would need to work at their job (if they have one) to EARN that kind of ca$h...? I'd look at that situation as a blessing and head straight down to RIO for a while. So don't bury that type of money anywhere near me b/c all bets would be off, any dissenters like 'Old Bookaroo' can try to retire on your high moral standards....
HH
-spyguy

[goverton]

Really a questionable judgement by the guy who turned in the cash --- he obviously wasn't a treasure hunter! From some of the responses to this post I guess I need to repeat the old saw: "Loose lips sink ships." These are hard economic times and getting even harder. Think about how long the average person would need to work at their job (if they have one) to EARN that kind of ca$h...? I'd look at that situation as a blessing and head straight down to RIO for a while. So don't bury that type of money anywhere near me b/c all bets would be off, any dissenters like 'Old Bookaroo' can try to retire on your high moral standards....
HH
-spyguy

I might turn in $20.00 for Obama and his wife to go to 7-11 after they are out of office! LOL

[tarpon192]

Really a questionable judgement by the guy who turned in the cash --- he obviously wasn't a treasure hunter! From some of the responses to this post I guess I need to repeat the old saw: "Loose lips sink ships." These are hard economic times and getting even harder. Think about how long the average person would need to work at their job (if they have one) to EARN that kind of ca$h...? I'd look at that situation as a blessing and head straight down to RIO for a while. So don't bury that type of money anywhere near me b/c all bets would be off, any dissenters like 'Old Bookaroo' can try to retire on your high moral standards....
HH
-spyguy

I might turn in $20.00 for Obama and his wife to go to 7-11 after they are out of office! LOL

Give obama and his wife 20 bucks

[Old Bookaroo]

spyguy:

You managed to completely miss the point of my post.

Of course it's the right thing to do to turn in the cash. My point is it's the smart thing to do, as well.

The folks who lost that money may come looking for it. When they do, they probably aren't going to ask nicely.

If someone is a renter, without a wife or kids, no family in town, no steady job, no ties of any kind - even then, can you live the rest of your life on one hundred and fifty iron men?

Don't forget the IRS, either.

The gentleman who turned it in did the smart thing and the right thing. Very often in this life, those are the same thing.

Good luck to all,

~The Old Bookaroo

[Tuberale]

I would have proceeded a little differently, I suppose. In Oregon we have a history of cases of found money not being returned to the finders.

If turning the money in, in a state which has treasure trove laws (such as Oregon), DEMAND a receipt that is dated and signed by someone in authority. In Oregon, if the money is not claimed within 6 months after notice being published, it becomes the sole property of the finder.

But the finder must also be able to state conclusively what the money was composed of, where it was found, and give details of why it was "abandoned." Thus, someone dropping off drug money to escape prosecution would still have to pay taxes on any money they "recovered" from the police. That's one reason why so few people claim "found money" here in Oregon.

In several other states, however, the concept of treasure trove does not exist legally. In a few states, if you find something, like $150,000 say, the state legally gets to KEEP it, and the finder gets nothing. A smart TH'er in that state will demand a 20-30% finder's fee AT MINIMUM before turning over any portion of the money. Until such a fee is forthcoming, the state is entitled to ZIP, and the burden of proof remains with the state to prove the funds even exist.

If there is no finder's fee, the money should be preserved/protected in a locked safety deposit box until a disposition can be made, and proof of ownership has been established.

[savant365]

I would have proceeded a little differently, I suppose. In Oregon we have a history of cases of found money not being returned to the finders.

If turning the money in, in a state which has treasure trove laws (such as Oregon), DEMAND a receipt that is dated and signed by someone in authority. In Oregon, if the money is not claimed within 6 months after notice being published, it becomes the sole property of the finder.

But the finder must also be able to state conclusively what the money was composed of, where it was found, and give details of why it was "abandoned." Thus, someone dropping off drug money to escape prosecution would still have to pay taxes on any money they "recovered" from the police. That's one reason why so few people claim "found money" here in Oregon.

In several other states, however, the concept of treasure trove does not exist legally. In a few states, if you find something, like $150,000 say, the state legally gets to KEEP it, and the finder gets nothing. A smart TH'er in that state will demand a 20-30% finder's fee AT MINIMUM before turning over any portion of the money. Until such a fee is forthcoming, the state is entitled to ZIP, and the burden of proof remains with the state to prove the funds even exist.

If there is no finder's fee, the money should be preserved/protected in a locked safety deposit box until a disposition can be made, and proof of ownership has been established.

I can't think of a better reason then this for just keeping your mouth shut and not drawing any attention to yourself.

[nsdq]

they was a bank robbery the day before near where he lived

[nsdq]

How do you know where he lives? Are you the bank robber?

haha no not a robber, it was in the news day before he found the the money

[savant365]

How do you know where he lives? Are you the bank robber?

haha no not a robber, it was in the news day before he found the the money

Then if it was from the robbery he is entitled to a reward, if it wasn't from the robbery he should get to keep it.

[Tuberale]

If indeed it is from a robbery, he is entitled to a 15-20% "finder's fee" in the eyes of most states. I hope his lawyer, who is supposed to be representing his best interests, sees this and researches it for the state of Illinois.

[savant365]

If indeed it is from a robbery, he is entitled to a 15-20% "finder's fee" in the eyes of most states. I hope his lawyer, who is supposed to be representing his best interests, sees this and researches it for the state of Illinois.

This is a really bad response but...Lawyers suck!!! If I find a butt load of cash the last thing I would do is involve a blood sucking leech of a lawyer. Sorry, I know it's a noble profession but I have my own personal reasons to never like or trust one of them again.