Posted on 04/10/2008 12:37:40 PM PDT by Dallas
(CBS) It was a tempting sight for struggling landscaper Eli Estrada: a bag filled with $140,000 on a Cerritos street.
There was his credit card debt, upcoming wedding and making ends meet with his artificial grass and landscaping business.
But turning it over to Long Beach police last month was the right thing to do, he said.
The 40-year-old Estrada admits that some days "I think I was nuts," but he adds, "I know in my gut that to keep that money would be wrong."
The Bank of America money bag was lost March 11 by Brinks Armored truck drivers. The unmarked $20 bills were bundled into wads of $20,000 and bound for ATMs.
Long Beach police Sgt. Dina Zapalski said Estrada handed over the money bag to an officer who took a report at one of the landscaper's job sites.
Zapalski said she had never heard of someone turning in so much cash.
"I've had people come to me with purses and wallets with cash in it and they'll turn it in," Zapalski told the Los Angeles Times. "But not like this."
Brinks later gave him a $2,000 reward.
"They should have given him 10 percent," Estrada's mother told the Times.
I used to always think that if I found a bunch of money I’d keep it since most folks in a position to lose a bunch of money are crooks anyway. But I watched No Country For Old Men this weekend, now I think if I found a bunch of money I’d unfind it.
Mothers know best....
And he wasn't wise enough to realize it. Finders keepers.
God tried.
He could have made a real difference with this money instead of being just another grunt...open a business or something...instead he gives the money back to the big corporation who, like a poster said earlier, makes $140,000 in a few seconds on ATM fees.
I only wanted her to pond the one time.
I don't think I could have afforded a re-pond!!
And he just got a bunch of free advertising for his business being run by an extremely honest man. If he plays his cards right that’ll be worth a lot more than 140 grand.
One time I ran up to an ATM at the bank. Someone had just left moments ago and the screen was asking for the next transaction. I punched in $400 and it came out. I wasn’t going to take it, I was just curious. I grabbed it and the card and found the manager. People around me were shaking their heads in disbelief as to why I didn’t take it.
I agree, 10% has long been considered proper, in these situations.
It’s a safe bet that the bank knew exactly how much was in the bag.
How on earth do you lose a bag with all that cash in it? What did they do, leave the window open and hit a bump?
It’s nice to hear about a good person doing the right thing. Thanks for this story.
Character is based on what you do when no one is looking.
As long as the bag wasn't marked 'property of BoA', he could have done what he wanted with it. He could have given the money to charity. BoA goofed up and they give him a measly $2,000? Will BoA donate it to charity? No way in hell.
On the way home from the game I stopped by a jewelers to see if it was real to see how much effort I should go to finding the owner. I told the lady at the jewelery shop the story and she came back with raised eyebrows and said “its real”.
So, sent emails, made posters, drove back to the field to post them, etc. Part of me wanted the owner to be found, and part of me didn't. I told my daughter that too. But, in cases where you doubt what to do - do the right thing. (Comparing it to my wife's relatively puny ring I guessed the found diamond was worth $10,000 or more.
Well, the gal contacted me and described it (”I'm not sure how large - maybe a 1/4” across - well - its worth $15,000.) We got a small reward, but more importantly we got a real nice thank you note that my daughter will keep forever. (And we'll try to find something that will last a long time for her with the reward money). The gal was going through a divorce so she said doesn't wear any of her rings or bracelets or things from her husband, and that the earrings from her grandmother are about the only thing she does wear.
So - it made us feel good to know we made someone’s day. Not sure if I could live with myself without trying to find the rightful owner. (However, trying as hard as I could and it still doesn't get claimed, well...?)
I agree....except when you’re fishing. ;>)
If he really felt that strongly that he deserved ten percent, then he should’ve only returned 90%.
“And we’ll try to find something that will last a long time for her .....)
You already have. ;>)
What if the money didnt belong to a bank? What if some poor drug dealer lost it and you found it? :-)
You mean like in No Country for Old Men? It didn't work out too well for that dude!
I agree. True self esteem comes from getting satisfaction from doing the right thing. And I once had the opportunity to return 10K to its rightful owner. Your reward will come later...
Wait a minute, this guy has a spanish surname, shouldn’t we brand him as an illegal alien???................./sarc
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