Yahoo Finance Family finds $1.5 million, mistakes it for trash
An American family out for a drive found nearly AU$1.5 million on the road while out on a Saturday afternoon drive, but nearly threw it out.
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The Schantz family were out for a drive in Caroline County in Virginia when they saw a car ahead swerve due to an object on the road.
They stopped to pick up the bag after hitting it with their car, assuming it was trash. They later picked up a second bag on the side of the road.
However, when they returned home and went to throw out the ‘trash’ they discovered something unusual about the bags.
“Inside of the bag, there were plastic baggies and they were addressed with something that said ‘cash vault’,” Emily Schantz told WTVR.
The two bags held smaller bags inside, with each bag containing notes on where the money should have been deposited.
The family went on to hand the money over to the police, with deputies going on to investigate.
"For someone so honest and willing to give that almost a million dollars back, it's exceptional on their part,” said Major Scott Moser.
“Their two sons were there, so I put the lights on for them, but we are proud and they represented this county well by being so honest."
Schantz said handing the bags of cash over to the authorities was a “no brainer”.
“Do the right thing and return it,” she said. “Because it didn't belong to us."
The United States Postal Service is now looking into the matter.
Can you keep money you find?
It can be tempting to keep that $50 you see fluttering along the street, but you’re actually breaking the law if you do so.
“A person can be charged with theft if they find something belonging to another person and they keep it, or they deal with it as if they are the owner of it,” Victoria Police advised in March 2019.
“Items should always be taken to a police station and if they are not claimed within a three-month period, you can take ownership of the item.”
Have you ever found money in an unusual spot? Tell us your crazy stories here.
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