by Nancy * ♥ Self-Proclaimed Site Tigger ♥
Member since:
October 1, 2007

What would you do?

August 23, 2009 10:09 AM EDT
views: 138 | comments: 45

This morning at breakfast, my husband and I were watching 48 Hours- Hard Evidence on I.D. Discovery.  This particular episode focused on honesty.  There were several stories in regards to cheating which I will not get into at this time.  What grabbed my attention was the story of a woman who happened to be driving behind an armored car when, because of a faulty latch on on of the doors, a large money filled bag fell out.  In side was over $100,000.  Now here's the question... would you keep it?  or return it?

I could not in good conscience keep it.  The woman who found the money couldn't keep it either.  She returned ever last dollar.  And was rewarded handsomely for it (that was nice to know).  The 48-Hour team decided to experiment.  And tossed eleven locked money bags (filled with fake money) out at various locations around a city (I cannot remember which one).   Each bag was marked "If found call 1-800-***-***.  Of the Eleven bags, nine people called and one person actually chased down the armored car that dropped it.  One of the guys who found it and called right away was a man who had spent many years in jail for armed robbery.  The team asked him why he didn't even think about keeping it.  His response:  "I have every thing I need right here inside me."  He credits Jesus for helping turn his life around and that one brought tears to my eyes.

 

What would you do if you found money?  Would you turn it in? or keep it?

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Comments: 45

Tim T. Aug 23, 2009, 10:11am EDT
How refreshing!

I would expected the numbers to be very different.


Thanks for sharing.
Gul Dixon Aug 23, 2009, 10:14am EDT
I'm sure I would've returned it.
Peter Joseph Swanson Aug 23, 2009, 10:25am EDT
Hhhhhmmmmmm

"And lead us not into temptation ... "

(I don't know)
Peter Joseph Swanson Aug 23, 2009, 10:28am EDT
BUT ... I think I'd return it because usually with finding money - you have NO IDEA who it could belong to. You might feel bad for the person who lost it but unless you're totally psychic (yeah right) you'll never know who that person was.

(that said, I've heard that motel cleaners will steal anything of yours that ain't nailed down)
and so will valets
Lisa C. Aug 23, 2009, 10:27am EDT
I would have returned it. But the devil on my shoulder would be screaming, lol.
JoAnn C. Aug 23, 2009, 10:28am EDT
I would think about keeping it but knowing I would end up feeling guilty, I would turn it in.
Beth G. Aug 23, 2009, 10:34am EDT
That is impressive that 9 out of 11 gladly returned the money. I would return that money as well.
Danielle P. Aug 23, 2009, 10:37am EDT
That is awesome that the guy turned his life around. It seems that honesty is more prevalent in our society than one would think. Awesome news!!
I'd return it too.
Tiffany v. Aug 23, 2009, 10:38am EDT
I could not keep it. My guilt would eat me alive. I chase people down when they drop $1 dollar much less $100,000 dollars
S. M. K. Aug 23, 2009, 10:54am EDT
I wouldn't even think of keeping it because it wasn't my money. I recently got a credit from the gov't in my bank account for over $700. I thought it was a mistake so I called them right away. In the end it wasn't a mistake, but repayment for something from two years before.
OH I bet that came in handy!!
S. M. K. Aug 23, 2009, 11:01am EDT
It did! I used it to stimulate the economy...you know just doing my part to give back :P
Marianne R. Aug 23, 2009, 10:56am EDT
When I see money dropped, I tell the person. If I simply find money with no obvious owner, I keep it. Something like this I'd probably report since I am sure the money could be traced anyway.
Lori F. Aug 23, 2009, 11:20am EDT
I would return it.

No amount of money is worth the ramifications that would happen to the person that misplaced it. They could lose their job or worse.
OH I agree 100%
Deb J. Aug 23, 2009, 11:32am EDT
I would return it even if I really didn't want to 'cause I needed it!!
Annmarie B. Aug 23, 2009, 12:12pm EDT
I would return it. I have to answer to a mighty God and money isn't worth losing his respect. Plus I couldn't live with the guilt
Marlene S. Aug 23, 2009, 12:25pm EDT
As Tempted as it was I would return it..Free money just doesnt fall out of nowhere it has an owner Great question
Rebecca [Future Teacher] Aug 23, 2009, 12:43pm EDT
I'd probably be one of the people chasing down the armored car to say "you dropped this!" Why would I want the money, sure I could use it, but its not something that I earned.
Barbara H. Aug 23, 2009, 1:44pm EDT
.....when you think about it your character is really what you do out of eyesight and earshot of others. What you do when nobody is looking. Seems like there are more people with good character out there than is given credit. Nice to know. Good, thought provoking post Nancy!
Steph-in-NE ..... Aug 23, 2009, 1:46pm EDT
I am not sure,, here in NE if you find money,, you have to right to claimn it if no one does,, It alldepends on the amount 20 buck no I keep it,, 20,000 I would think about it,,
I found $100 once, and turned it in. I was able to claim it after 30 days. However, if the person who lost it had come in looking for it, even if it were 5 or 10 I would give it back.. it's only right.
☃ Aunt Shanny Aug 23, 2009, 2:03pm EDT
Keep it and hurry up and get it hidden, spending only a little at a time.
Dianna Doles-Petry Aug 23, 2009, 2:05pm EDT
Return it, there is no doubt about that. If I haven't earned something myself, it's not meant for me to have it. I would be living the rest of my life with guilty as heavy as a boulder sitting on my chest. I wouldn't be able to breathe if I took something that wasn't mine.
I would want to keep it - really I would, but I don't think I would be able to take the guilt, especially if their was a number to call if found.
brittany c. Aug 23, 2009, 2:35pm EDT
I'd so love to keep it, but I just wouldn't be able to do it. I love the response that the man who was in prison for armed robbery gave. That's incredible that he was able to get his life turned around for the better.
David W. Aug 23, 2009, 3:21pm EDT
I would not keep it for fear of legal ramifications and an honest streak that runs down my back alongside of the yellow one.
Joyce ("Site Cheshire Kitteh") L. Aug 23, 2009, 5:16pm EDT
Hahaha! Mine too!!!
pamela r. Aug 23, 2009, 4:17pm EDT
$$ dropped from an armored I'd return....but if i see loose $$ on the street and didn't see who dropped it I'd most likely keep it. If it was in a wallet I return it.
finding one bill ($1, $5, 10... whatever) is one thing, even a coulple of them. But think about how much 100,000 even in $100s ... I don't think you would find that "loose" and yes I would return a wallet as well.
Janie E. Aug 23, 2009, 4:52pm EDT
I couldn't live with myself knowing that I kept it! No, I'd return it, ASAP!!!
Joanne Vicente Aug 23, 2009, 5:26pm EDT
I'd return it immediately. I couldn't stand myself if I didn't.
Howard b. Aug 23, 2009, 5:54pm EDT
I would have returned it. A guy I knew in Texas worked at a small dinner. A couple came in . Had lunch But left a paper bag when they left. The guy looked in the bag and found 7 thousand dollars there. He put the bag behind the counter. They soon returned and ask about the bag. He gave it to them .These people were going to buy a car and this was the down payment. You say how can you forget something like that? I almost left 4 thousand in a motel room once. I remembered it when the cleaning lady was on her way in. I thought the wife had got it and she thought I had. We were very lucky. That was our moving money when we moved to Texas. You ask what I would do. I found a wallet in the bathroom at walmart when I worked there. I was short on money.I didn't think I had enough gas to get home on. This wallet had more twentys than I had seen in a long time. I gave it to customer service to return.But I slept so good that night.Lol.
Lewis (keeping those fires burning) K. Aug 23, 2009, 6:02pm EDT
AT this point, this article has 87 views, and 34 comments... all saying they's return it. What about the other 53? Interesting numbers....
Lady of Lake Merritt =P Aug 24, 2009, 6:19am EDT
lewis, what's your answer? keep or return?
Lady of Lake Merritt =P Aug 24, 2009, 6:20am EDT
yikes! i shouldv'e read what ever one wrote, then i wouldn't have truthfully answered!
Wyoming Catt (The Militant Midget) Aug 23, 2009, 6:17pm EDT
I don't know if I believe the absolute altruism here. Odd, but I'm honest enough to admit I'd be damned dishonest. (How does that work?!)

Mine. (Guilt'd probably kill me, but MINE.)

If it were a found wallet, I'd find the owner in a heartbeat and return it intact. Not sure why one and not the other...
Marsha S. Aug 23, 2009, 11:36pm EDT
return it of course
Lady of Lake Merritt =P Aug 24, 2009, 6:17am EDT
i'm terrible, i'd keep it in a heartbeat
Lady of Lake Merritt =P Aug 24, 2009, 6:18am EDT
this is kinda funny because i was going to write a post about finding wallets soon and whether or not one keeps it.
Barbara M. Aug 24, 2009, 6:26pm EDT
I could not have kept it.
Diana B. Aug 24, 2009, 7:07pm EDT
I, too, am curious as to how many people are really being truthful in that they would return the money. There was a time I would've considered keeping the money, but as someone who has ethics I would do the right thing whenever possible.
Wyoming Catt (The Militant Midget) Aug 24, 2009, 7:43pm EDT
Hey! I got ethics! (I just hafta dig 'em outta the garage.. or somewheres...)
Sandra H. Aug 25, 2009, 8:47am EDT
I would not have kept the money, I would have returned it!

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