Woman turns in $6,000 found in eyeglasses case

Modesto Bee ^ | 12/18/02 | Modesto Bee

[hoosierskypilot]

WEST COVINA, Calif.(AP) - Linda Bellino found an eyeglass case while shopping at a Mervyn's department store and was stunned to see what was inside: $6,000 in cash.

Without a moment of hesitation, the La Verne woman turned in the case and money to the store manager.

[hoosierskypilot]

The pregnant woman didn't want her name released? I don't blame her. She gave the Samaritan a lousy $100 for finding $6000? What a cheapskate. I'll bet she's from CA.

[Publius]

"Virtue is its own reward."
...Benjamin Franklin

[MineralMan]

"She gave the Samaritan a lousy $100 for finding $6000? What a cheapskate. "

How nice. If I had been the woman who found the money, I would have refused the reward. The real reward in returning lost stuff to its rightful owner is just returning it. Expecting a monetary reward for returning what does not belong to you is really lousy ethics, in my opinion. Just do the right thing. You'll get your reward in other ways.

[TankerKC]

Yeah, I always carry a couple thousand dollars in an eyeglass case when I'm shopping. Nothing unusual about that. </sarcasm>

[crystalk]

The going rate in this area for returning a lost wallet intact, is [all of] anything up to $50 in cash, plus a quarter of the excess over $50. Saves people a lot of trouble replacing credit cards, drivers licenses, etc. So the Bellino woman should have received approx $1500.

[TexRef]

I agree... She is obviously a drug dealer. In fact, she probably wasn't pregnant at all, but smuggling drugs right there in Mervyn's.

The police should confiscate her money, since it was gained illegally. No one in this country should be allowed to carry around that kind of cash.

[relee]

No one in this country should be allowed to carry around that kind of cash

I did't see a ;)
are you series about this?

[TankerKC]

No, I'm not assuming that at all. I'm just assuming she's stupid. She's free to be stupid in America.

[cinFLA]

The pregnant woman didn't want her name released? I don't blame her. She gave the Samaritan a lousy $100 for finding $6000? What a cheapskate. I'll bet she's from CA.

Who goes shopping with 6K in cash????

[MineralMan]

"The going rate in this area for returning a lost wallet intact, is [all of] anything up to $50 in cash, plus a quarter of the excess over $50. Saves people a lot of trouble replacing credit cards, drivers licenses, etc. So the Bellino woman should have received approx $1500. "

Nonsense. Having found the money, she did the right thing by turning it in. That's reward enough, in my opinion. As I said, I would have refused any reward, and have done so. I once found a wallet in the street near a garage sale. It had fallen off a car when the person drove away. I looked inside for identification, but did not look to see how much money was in the wallet. Then, I called the person on the phone to let her know I had found the wallet. She drove to my house and picked it up. When she offered me a reward, I told her that I was glad to do it, and that I hoped someone would do the same if I lost my wallet.

We have a responsibility to return found items to their owners. That falls under the Golden Rule. Rewards are silly in a society that pretends to be Christian.

[hopespringseternal]

Who goes shopping with 6K in cash????

Who doesn't? I try to take at least a thousand to hit the vending machines.

[Mr. K]

it is stunning how few people come to realize that.

The happiest people are the most virtuous. I truly believe that.

[SES1066]

Who goes shopping with 6K in cash????

Obviously shopping for baby furniture.

[MineralMan]

I do it several times a year, when I attend shows to buy stock for my business. Hundred dollar bills speak quite clearly, and having the cash often lets me negotiate better prices. I've also carried that much cash with me when shopping for cars. Again, cash speaks volumes. Where do I carry that much cash? I carry it in a paper bag that looks like my lunch.

[muggs]

Who goes shopping with 6K in cash????

As a landlord, I often had large amounts of cash on me and sometimes I would stop at the store to shop before making a deposit. We no longer accept cash for rent but there are many legitimate reasons why people carry large amounts of money.

[MineralMan]

"there are many legitimate reasons why people carry large amounts of money. "

Yup. In fact, I've heard a number of Freepers say they only do business with cash, to prevent information gathering by merchants, etc. So, suppose you were going furniture shopping for your new house and didn't like using credit cards. You carry cash, instead.

Putting it in an eyeglass case seems like a pretty smart move to me. I wouldn't think of looking there for money. Myself, I use a paper lunch sack to carry my money when I have a lot of it on me. Those nice mayo stains say....don't look in here, unless you want a bologna sandwich.

Bottom line in all of this is that some here apparently feel that a reward is needed if someone is to do the right thing. I disagree, and feel that no reward is necessary, and that everyone should be willing to return lost property immediately. That's the Christian thing to do, isn't it?

[Dust in the Wind]

"That's the Christian thing to do, isn't it? "
I also don't understand why someone would feel they are owed 20% for returning found property.

Gal 5:26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Who goes shopping with 6K in cash????

Winona Ryder, but it's bail money.

[SoDak]

I'm with you on this. One shouldn't expect to be rewarded just for doing the correct thing.

[Investment Biker]

I can never spend that money. It's taking away from someone's family

I can never understand why people can see the logic of this but will turn around and reach into someone's pocket through taxes and feel completely justified. Can someone please explain the difference.