Not Every Stranger is a Thief
05-11-11, 10:22 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2006
Location: San Diego
Posts: 1,435
Bikes: IF steel deluxe 29er tourer
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Not Every Stranger is a Thief
I returned home from a short tour around Southern California only to discover that within the last day my wallet had fallen out of my handlebar bag.
Having had my last misplaced wallet immediately pilfered of cash and hidden under trash in a rest room in Grant NM on my last tour, I went right into stolen-wallet mode, canceling my credit cards, library card, etc. etc.
That evening the doorbell rang. There was a stranger standing there with my wallet in hand. To say I was surprised would not be true. I was shocked. A person who cares enough for a fellow human being to empathize with the considerable disruption such a loss entails. After thanking him profusely and commending him for his effort and honesty, I opened the wallet and without looking at the cash gave it all to him. He went on about it being too much etc and I really didn't want to recollect just how much there was, but I felt that anything less would have been wrong. This way, he would have no regrets about doing the "right thing" or having friends think him stupid.
I wish the guy who removed the cash from my wallet in Grant had done the right thing to at least make an effort to find me. If more people took care of each other like my Good Samaritan took care of me, the world would be a far better place.
Having had my last misplaced wallet immediately pilfered of cash and hidden under trash in a rest room in Grant NM on my last tour, I went right into stolen-wallet mode, canceling my credit cards, library card, etc. etc.
That evening the doorbell rang. There was a stranger standing there with my wallet in hand. To say I was surprised would not be true. I was shocked. A person who cares enough for a fellow human being to empathize with the considerable disruption such a loss entails. After thanking him profusely and commending him for his effort and honesty, I opened the wallet and without looking at the cash gave it all to him. He went on about it being too much etc and I really didn't want to recollect just how much there was, but I felt that anything less would have been wrong. This way, he would have no regrets about doing the "right thing" or having friends think him stupid.
I wish the guy who removed the cash from my wallet in Grant had done the right thing to at least make an effort to find me. If more people took care of each other like my Good Samaritan took care of me, the world would be a far better place.
05-11-11, 10:42 AM
#2
Newbie
Nice story. We need more people like that in this world. I've never lost a wallet, I've had items stolen, just never lost. I still have the wallet I purchased the Day I graduated Bootcamp in the 80's.
Last edited by ToppDogg; 05-11-11 at 05:34 PM. Reason: typo
05-11-11, 11:00 AM
#3
Banned.
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,325
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
+ 1. Every once in awhile, people will pleasantly surprise me.
There was a story on the news last night that was similar. A local 15 year old girl was walking past a bank and found an envelope on the ground containing $2,000 in cash. She picked it up, walked into the bank and asked if anyone had said anything about loosing the money. No one had, so she took it to the local police station and reported it. They told her that if the money went unclaimed after 90 days, she would get the money.
What makes this even more inspiring is the financial shape of her family, who are going through tough times. They are down to the seven family members living in a one bedroom apartment...
After ninety days she contacted the police station and was told that no one had claimed the money; however, someone had decided that rather than giving the honest young lady the money as was promised, they have put the cash into the cities general fund... Even so, the girl seemed to maintain a good attitude, though she (and her family) were rightfully disappointed.
There was a story on the news last night that was similar. A local 15 year old girl was walking past a bank and found an envelope on the ground containing $2,000 in cash. She picked it up, walked into the bank and asked if anyone had said anything about loosing the money. No one had, so she took it to the local police station and reported it. They told her that if the money went unclaimed after 90 days, she would get the money.
What makes this even more inspiring is the financial shape of her family, who are going through tough times. They are down to the seven family members living in a one bedroom apartment...
After ninety days she contacted the police station and was told that no one had claimed the money; however, someone had decided that rather than giving the honest young lady the money as was promised, they have put the cash into the cities general fund... Even so, the girl seemed to maintain a good attitude, though she (and her family) were rightfully disappointed.
05-11-11, 11:09 AM
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2006
Location: San Diego
Posts: 1,435
Bikes: IF steel deluxe 29er tourer
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
The laws around finders and unclaimed property are ancient and pretty clear. Sounds to me, without more, that the city stole money that after the waiting period legally belonged to the girl. I hope that some lawyer seeing this story on the news would take it pro bono to see justice done.
05-11-11, 11:42 AM
#5
friction baby, friction
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: South Florida
Posts: 92
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
+ 1. Every once in awhile, people will pleasantly surprise me.
There was a story on the news last night that was similar. A local 15 year old girl was walking past a bank and found an envelope on the ground containing $2,000 in cash. She picked it up, walked into the bank and asked if anyone had said anything about loosing the money. No one had, so she took it to the local police station and reported it. They told her that if the money went unclaimed after 90 days, she would get the money.
What makes this even more inspiring is the financial shape of her family, who are going through tough times. They are down to the seven family members living in a one bedroom apartment...
After ninety days she contacted the police station and was told that no one had claimed the money; however, someone had decided that rather than giving the honest young lady the money as was promised, they have put the cash into the cities general fund... Even so, the girl seemed to maintain a good attitude, though she (and her family) were rightfully disappointed.
There was a story on the news last night that was similar. A local 15 year old girl was walking past a bank and found an envelope on the ground containing $2,000 in cash. She picked it up, walked into the bank and asked if anyone had said anything about loosing the money. No one had, so she took it to the local police station and reported it. They told her that if the money went unclaimed after 90 days, she would get the money.
What makes this even more inspiring is the financial shape of her family, who are going through tough times. They are down to the seven family members living in a one bedroom apartment...
After ninety days she contacted the police station and was told that no one had claimed the money; however, someone had decided that rather than giving the honest young lady the money as was promised, they have put the cash into the cities general fund... Even so, the girl seemed to maintain a good attitude, though she (and her family) were rightfully disappointed.
05-11-11, 05:10 PM
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2006
Location: San Diego
Posts: 1,435
Bikes: IF steel deluxe 29er tourer
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Yes, it would be very difficult for most people to do the right thing and turn the money in. Your response is precisely the reason that the common law awards found property to the finder after a reasonable waiting period for the true owner to present him/herself. In fact, taking property that doesn't belong to you is theft. What's the difference between finding a $2000 bicycle lying on the ground and finding an envelope lying on the ground with $2000 in it? What if the bicycle was propped against a wall? What if the envelope was propped against the wall? If circumstances appear to you that the property is abandoned, that doesn't mean that its necessarily so. In fact, a reasonable person wouldn't consider either item in either place abandoned and actions taken to abscond with them are crimes. Take that D.B. Cooper!
05-11-11, 05:26 PM
#7
friction baby, friction
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: South Florida
Posts: 92
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Yes, it would be very difficult for most people to do the right thing and turn the money in. Your response is precisely the reason that the common law awards found property to the finder after a reasonable waiting period for the true owner to present him/herself. In fact, taking property that doesn't belong to you is theft. What's the difference between finding a $2000 bicycle lying on the ground and finding an envelope lying on the ground with $2000 in it? What if the bicycle was propped against a wall? What if the envelope was propped against the wall? If circumstances appear to you that the property is abandoned, that doesn't mean that its necessarily so. In fact, a reasonable person wouldn't consider either item in either place abandoned and actions taken to abscond with them are crimes. Take that D.B. Cooper!
I don't think you got my point. I didn't say that I wouldn't try to find the rightful owner, what I said (or at least implied), was that I would not be turning it in to the police or govt. They are the only thieves in this story.
05-11-11, 05:26 PM
#8
Banned.
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,325
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Am I the only one who finds it ironic that someone with the nome de plume of DB Cooper made the statement that the police/government absconding with the money the girl found would be reason for him to not turn the money in...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DB_Cooper
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DB_Cooper
05-11-11, 05:41 PM
#9
friction baby, friction
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: South Florida
Posts: 92
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Am I the only one who finds it ironic that someone with the nome de plume of DB Cooper made the statement that the police/government absconding with the money the girl found would be reason for him to not turn the money in...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DB_Cooper
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DB_Cooper
Now that's funny. On the other hand, do you need more reason than that? You have no problem with the police stealing money that they didn't even find? Do you think they're going to assign a detective to find the owner of the money? I would at least use craigslist and put an ad in the local paper, but that's about it. It's called finders keepers. And I hate to say it, but somebody stupid enough to lose an envelope with
thousands of dollars in it almost deserves to lose it. And excuse me for not trusting the police or govt.
Last edited by D.B. Cooper; 05-11-11 at 08:29 PM.
05-11-11, 06:28 PM
#10
Every day a winding road
After ninety days she contacted the police station and was told that no one had claimed the money; however, someone had decided that rather than giving the honest young lady the money as was promised, they have put the cash into the cities general fund... Even so, the girl seemed to maintain a good attitude, though she (and her family) were rightfully disappointed.
05-12-11, 12:55 AM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Boulder, Co
Posts: 59
Bikes: 2009 Rockhopper Pro, 2008 Giant Anthem X3, Mercier Corvus AL
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Good to hear, I have a tendency to misplace my wallet and keys all the time so am always happy to return the favor. I have found several wallets over the years and every time the owners have always given me money.
05-12-11, 11:18 AM
#13
Senior Member
Similar story in the paper this morning. Woman loses her wedding ring in an airport restroom. Doesn't realize it's gone until later. Retraces steps, can't find it anywhere. Returns to the airport and looks around. A custodian who was cleaning the restroom found it and returned it to her. The woman's husband had died of cancer 8 years ago.
Story made my day.
