Posted on 05/18/2018 4:35:38 AM PDT by sodpoodle
For years Matthew and Maria Colonna-Emanuel thought a piece of rusty metal behind some trees in their backyard was just part of a cable or electrical box.
But it wasn't. It was a safe containing $52,000 in cash, gold and diamonds. And the story of how they discovered it -- and what the couple did next -- is remarkable.
The couple saw the metal box between some trees when they moved in to their Staten Island home in New York, but never paid much attention to it.
"I thought it was an electrical box," Matthew Colonna-Emanuel told CNN affiliate WCBS.
They dug it up
When trees in their yard were damaged by wildlife they got a better view. "It [the box] was really prominent when the deer ate away all the foliage," Matthew said.
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
Did you misplace your safe?
Their reward will be much greater than the contents of that safe. Well done.
I dug up one in my yard that turned out to be somebody’s Uncle Ned’s urn and ashes in a metal box. Big disappointment for all.
The question begs, especially for lib tax-n-spendits. Just how can the govt tax this wealth that has been lost for so long? There must be a way, surely. It would probably be fair to let the original owners keep 50% of it. Maybe there’s a way to tax the finders too, whether or not they got a reward.
(sorry, for every Feel Good Friday there will be a lib somewhere trying to pee on that parade, I’m just filling in)
“Big disappointment for all”
Not really. Uncle Ned is probably still laughing.
Calling Whorealdo for another opportunity to broadcast the reveal of an empty safe...
It was a rental house and I was just a tenant.
His poor grandniece had to cart the urn to his family in Texas and I remember her really complaining about wasting her Spring Break on her great uncle who she never even met. No one thanked me. I thought it was going to be a box of coins.
Living in NYC provides a sufficient tax load for the makers who live there.
The owner of the safe is now going to have to pay back all that insurance $$$.
I am thankful that there are a few people out there that still believe in universal standards of morality... and what they did is held up as admirable in the media. “It was never a question - it wasn’t ours.”
Well said.
well, it was just 7 years ago for one thing. If the couple that were robbed took a theft tax loss on the stolen asset, then it makes sense to me that they would need to reverse that tax loss. If they did not take that loss, then I would not see why any tax would be imposed on this. Did the article mention tax due?
If the neighbors had home owner’s insurance reimburse them for this stolen property, will they have to pay it back?
Look at what the Gestapo did when Mel Fisher and his crew discovered the wreck of the Atocha. They basically confiscated everything, even though Fisher had spent years and millions searching for it.
But they graciously “loaned” him a few pieces so he could show them off.
So much for “finders keepers.”
HE was told it was in a dungeon under Chicago
Now this couple is a target for every moocher and thief (including the IRS) out there. Not smart.
I did find it odd/queer that the article made no mention of an investigation opening against the former homeowner in the theft.
Biggest mistake was telling anyone.
The good deed done by returning valuables burglarized years ago, may have been undone by the publicity.
Not only will the taxmen be looking at it as possible undeclared income, but insurance companies will be looking for paid off home insurance claims for burglaries.
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