Video: Man finds $140,000 — and returns it
posted at 2:41 pm on April 11, 2008 by Allahpundit
I would have too. Let the alpha males have their cars and mansions and credit scores that aren’t in the toilet; we betas have integrity, my friends. Let the light from Diogenes’s lantern keep you warm, Estrada!
Blowback
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Keep an eye on him. I bet he found more than $140,000.00
awake on April 11, 2008 at 2:43 PM
Heh. Saw this the other day. The comments section was evenly divided between calling the guy a moron and singing his praises for being so honest.
I’d give it back, too. But it sure would be tempting.
BacaDog on April 11, 2008 at 2:44 PM
Dude, it would’ve been tough for me.
“Yes, hello. Brinks? Yeah, I’m calling to inform you that I’ve found your money that must’ve fallen off of an armored truck. Yeah, all $20,000 of it”
amerpundit on April 11, 2008 at 2:44 PM
$140,000 in cash – the Clinton campaign must’ve screwed up the drop-point.
OhEssYouCowboys on April 11, 2008 at 2:45 PM
You forgot the part where the beta would have felt the need to asked all his friends what he should do.
Weight of Glory on April 11, 2008 at 2:45 PM
Heh!
Weight of Glory on April 11, 2008 at 2:45 PM
I prolly would’ve inserted a bunch of IOU’s – like in Dumb and Dumber.
OhEssYouCowboys on April 11, 2008 at 2:47 PM
Hey! I returned a dollar left in the change return by the customer in front of me at Home Depot yesterday.. Where my ticker Tape parade?!?
Good for him.. I’ll bet he’s not arguing with his wife over which gang their kid will join.
GoodBoy on April 11, 2008 at 2:47 PM
Heh. That’s advertising you can’t buy.
Or maybe you can, for $140,000.
All jokes aside, that guy has real stones to do that. The fact that he wants to earn what he makes is a mark of a real man.
MadisonConservative on April 11, 2008 at 2:47 PM
Good for him. But I think I would have given it back, too. That much cash just doesn’t vanish–it would be tracked down anyway.
Still, I’d like to think I would have the integrity. But I know if I didn’t…. my wife would. :D
Off topic: Is it normal for a guys mind to be rather scattered the day before their wedding? I get married tomorrow, and I just can’t seem to focus on much. Heck, I’d probably give back the money, but just miss a bundle out of sheer nerves, not because I’d want to keep it.
Vanceone on April 11, 2008 at 2:47 PM
What goes around comes around.
Good Job
americaslaststand on April 11, 2008 at 2:47 PM
Ummmm what about the security dude that left it on the bumper. I mean I’ve left gas caps on the car but a bag o’ bucks?
P.S. He’ll prolly make more now for his land scaping over time for this.
MirCat on April 11, 2008 at 2:50 PM
Let me be the first to say… uh, YEAH!
/and congrats
playblu on April 11, 2008 at 2:51 PM
Congratulations!
MadisonConservative on April 11, 2008 at 2:51 PM
Whew, that would be tempting, though I wouldn’t feel good about myself for keeping Reverend Wright’s monthly stipend.
Bishop on April 11, 2008 at 2:51 PM
Wait a second…was it cold? It might have come from Jefferson’s freezer.
Bishop on April 11, 2008 at 2:52 PM
You are a Beta Male? /sacr
Good on Him, glad he figured out a long time ago, bad will just come back to haunt you!
upinak on April 11, 2008 at 2:53 PM
Are people really struggling with the thought of whether they’d give back the money? Good lord.
Allahpundit on April 11, 2008 at 2:53 PM
A beta would have used it to buy a girlfriend.
Only kidding, I think.
Attila (Pillage Idiot) on April 11, 2008 at 2:53 PM
Looks like he didn’t want to do any coin flipping with Anton Chigurh.
its vintage duh on April 11, 2008 at 2:54 PM
amerpundit on April 11, 2008 at 2:54 PM
Congratulations! It’d be weird if your mind weren’t scattered. In fact, whattrya doin on HotAir? Seriously, best wishes to you and your bride.
Totally. He won’t be wanting for work after this, am sure of it. The vid says his phone’s been ringing off the hook.
OTOH I don’t get how someone could look in the mirror if they stole the money no matter how much or little it was. Have fallen prey to lots of temptations but stealing isn’t one of them. Integrity. Not much feels better in this life.
inviolet on April 11, 2008 at 2:55 PM
Perhaps the money fell from a Louisiana congressman’s freezer when he was moving it???
Claypigeon on April 11, 2008 at 2:55 PM
I don’t think “finder’s keepers, loser’s weepers” works in this situation.
robblefarian on April 11, 2008 at 2:55 PM
Remember – that ring weighs only one ounce, but it’ll feel like a bottom-dragging anchor.
I kid. Seriously, congratulations, and best wishes on your new life. Be kind, loving and above all, righteous.
Flyover Country on April 11, 2008 at 2:56 PM
A good man. I’m sure he’ll go far.
AbaddonsReign on April 11, 2008 at 2:56 PM
Those guards now qualify for the TSA.
corona on April 11, 2008 at 2:57 PM
I’d leave it right where it lay.
140k just lying there? In what? A duffel bag?
No way I’m taking any risk of some dodgy drug/crime vengeance.
Not my money. Somebody elses problem.
LimeyGeek on April 11, 2008 at 2:57 PM
He could do a TV show called “My Name Is Eli.” Hope good karma continues to flow his way.
Congrats, Vanceone! Enjoy the honeymoon and a lifetime of good times with your soon-to-be wife!!!
aero on April 11, 2008 at 2:57 PM
He probably saved the Brink guard’s job, and now his phone is ringing off the hook…..
I think he did the right thing…… good to hear good news every once in a while………
Seven Percent Solution on April 11, 2008 at 2:57 PM
Good for him – it will pay off in the long run. He will make ten times the amount from local folks who want to do business with an honest man.
Think_b4_speaking on April 11, 2008 at 2:58 PM
Vanceone on April 11, 2008 at 2:47 PM
LOL… are you hyperventilating and having cold sweats? Do you want to drink excessive amounts of beer and liquor and go pay some women a dollar to say “Hi” to you? Have you had the sudden urge to mow a lawn? Do you feel the need to stand aimlessly on a corner with your friends and BS?
You, my friend, have what they call.. Groom-cite-mare. You are constantly excitable and think you are in a nightmare world. Well unfortunatly there is no cure, because you are in a “Dream”! Congrats!
upinak on April 11, 2008 at 2:58 PM
Estrada honored his name as well. Bravo! That’s the sort of guy worth knowing, someone you can trust.
maverick muse on April 11, 2008 at 2:59 PM
Heh, money quote of the day!
bernzright777 on April 11, 2008 at 2:59 PM
Thanks everyone. I’m at Hotair because I am at work, and totally can’t concentrate. For some odd reason, which I somehow can’t put my finger on. :D
Seriously, it will be good to join the ranks of the married types: I waited until I got the right girl. I’m definitely marrying up.
To make this even vaguely related to the topic: I sure could use some of that money now. Women are expensive. Not that any of you guys needed to hear that, of course.
Vanceone on April 11, 2008 at 2:59 PM
Just a thought on that. Have talked to a number of people about this and the ones that struggle w/ it (not saying the same is true of people here, just saying) are the ones most likely to cut “little” corners here and there, esp. regarding money. The ones who don’t, tend not to think twice about it. It’s not even a question.
Jesus did say that whoever is faithful in little things is faithful in much, and vice versa. How true.
So. No cheating on those taxes. It’s wrong, it’s risky, and it’s bad practice for when you find a bag on the street with $140K in it!
inviolet on April 11, 2008 at 3:00 PM
The end of that story seems to prove he made the right choice. 140,000 won’t last you your whole life, but a good reputation can more than make up for it.
I know I would have been tempted to keep the money, or at least to take a few 20s “no one would notice,” but I don’t think I could be comfortable and spend money I had basically stolen.
Of course and congrats. The wedding day itself isn’t necessarily a lot of fun. You’re one of the hosts. The fun doesn’t really start until after the guests finally leave.
Esthier on April 11, 2008 at 3:00 PM
Just remember the “Three Rings of Marriage”
1. The Engagement Ring
2. The Wedding Ring
3. The Suffering
/congrats
Vic on April 11, 2008 at 3:03 PM
HA! Yes!
Weight of Glory on April 11, 2008 at 3:05 PM
Vic on April 11, 2008 at 3:03 PM
Guys love that. LOL
upinak on April 11, 2008 at 3:11 PM
LOL, does anyone here have a happy marriage? I like the three rings, Vic.
I don’t drink, (I’m LDS, after all) but I do have the urge to just mindlessly BS with people instead of my job. All pretty typical, no doubt.
Thanks for all the well wishes, everyone!
Vanceone on April 11, 2008 at 3:14 PM
Brinks got off easy by paying the guy $2,000. A lawsuit filed against them by a bank for losing their cash would’ve cost them a hell of a lot more.
The finders fee percentage should have been a little higher, considering the amount.
RMCS_USN on April 11, 2008 at 3:14 PM
Betas have integrity? Betas capitulate to others. This guy is an alpha – stands in his beliefs. Hats off.
Spirit of 1776 on April 11, 2008 at 3:15 PM
Vanceone, all men are…kidding! Just remember, one falls in love by moonlight, marries by candlellight, lives by daylight. Congratulations!
On topic, it’s so much easier to do the wrong thing, but harder to live with it, and vice versa. Good on him.
Entelechy on April 11, 2008 at 3:15 PM
Inegrity- A rare thing.
A couple pieces of advice to those finding themselves in temptation in a similar circumstance of contemplation.
First, keep this to yourself. Don’t tell anyone else. Not even your own family. It compounds your guilt. This allows your own conscious to weigh in without nagging family input and friend input. It also makes it easier if you decide to keep it.
Second, if something like this falls of the back of a truck such as Brinks, they won’t be looking for it, the reasoning is that they loose face with the client when the publicity comes out, it’s insured, lastly they aren’t going to announce this in the lost and found directory. It happens more than you realize. Someone get’s fired as they rightfully should. You can’t have employees leaving cash on the bumper.
Everybody wants to be noble and give it back, yet would be the last to condemn the benefits of such a windfall even if they found out later. Would you want to get your tax payments back from the IRS or perhaps get your banks to return your credit card payments back to you?
Egfrow on April 11, 2008 at 3:16 PM
Indeed it is. ;)
MadisonConservative on April 11, 2008 at 3:18 PM
A wad of cash like that could turn even the most honest of us into gawd knows what. I don’t think anyone could really answer the question of “would you keep it, or return it” unless it actually happened.
JetBoy on April 11, 2008 at 3:19 PM
Egfrow: That’s just justifying stealing. A legitimate windfall is one thing (Uncle Louie croaking), but you are pretty much saying, “Them’s the breaks for the company; the insurer can take the hit–and it’s free money!”
Sorry, but I would hope for more integrity in the world. :)
Vanceone on April 11, 2008 at 3:19 PM
i found $8,000 once and the owner bought me a case of bud and a carton of marlboro’s (back when i was drinking and…) when i returned it
good on estrada
devadevadasa on April 11, 2008 at 3:21 PM
Yes, very! Almost 15 years and counting. It’s the forever kind. Hope yours is too!
aero on April 11, 2008 at 3:21 PM
Well…wouldn’t that be an additional reason to give it back? You could possibly save someone’s job (you don’t know for sure they’d be fired) and save them from possible accusations of theft as well.
I’m sorry, not clear on what your meaning is here. Do you mean get the payments back in some honest way, like a reward from them? Cool, will keep it! Or do you mean getting them back by accident and not reporting it? The latter is stealing from the government/bank respectively. (yes, taxes are your money but the law is that you owe X amount to the govt)
inviolet on April 11, 2008 at 3:23 PM
CONGRATS MAN! I’m in the happy marriage boat man, but it takes *work*, lots of it – 8 years and counting.
SkinnerVic on April 11, 2008 at 3:27 PM
Congrats, Vanceone! If ya live through tomorrow, the rest is easy!
thebookkeeper on April 11, 2008 at 3:27 PM
It still counts if you fill up a bathtub with the cash and roll around in it first, right?
Tanya on April 11, 2008 at 3:28 PM
Perhaps he saw No Country for Old Men
tmitsss on April 11, 2008 at 3:28 PM
Very much so, but it can definitely be a roller coaster, some of the greatest joys and the worst heartbreaks.
Esthier on April 11, 2008 at 3:29 PM
Yeah, I am. Sure I have that ‘let’s go buy toys’ devil whispering in my ear, but………
What am I saying? Give me toys.
Limerick on April 11, 2008 at 3:30 PM
Good, twisted movie.
Esthier on April 11, 2008 at 3:31 PM
A few years ago found an abandoned purse in an otherwise empty McDonald’s. Had several hundred $ in it (a large amt for me) and credit cards. I never even considered keeping it but tracked down the owner on the spot and returned it. (BTW the restaurant was slow and no one even at the counter; I could easily have walked out the side door and not been seen.) The amount wouldn’t change the decision. In fact, I’d argue that knowing the injustice to others of stealing makes you more likely to return the larger amount, though as I mentioned above, keeping good habits by, for example, returning an overage of change from a clerk (I did this just yesterday, in fact, at a gas station) makes it easy to “make” the decision, that is, there is no decision to make,as stealing any amount is not an option for you.
Theologians define “virtue” [root word strength] this way in fact: all your good tiny decisions strengthen you, or vice versa, when the “biggie” temptations come along.
inviolet on April 11, 2008 at 3:31 PM
Does seven years with the same girl exclusively with marriage waiting on my ability to afford a ring count?
MadisonConservative on April 11, 2008 at 3:31 PM
Congratulations! And I was scared witless before our wedding, so scared, I left my written vows at home! This was after we had been legally married for 3 months too (long story). So don’t feel bad for being out-of-sorts.
On topic, I’d have no problem handing over the money. Twenty bucks found on the ground is one thing; nearly enough money to pay off the mortgage is something else alltogther. I’d be hoping for a reward, though… I’m pretty darn human, after all.
the goddess anna on April 11, 2008 at 3:32 PM
Seriously, it will be good to join the ranks of the married types
No, it won’t. Now and I mean RIGHT NOW you need to book yourself a one-way to Makin Atoll, find the nearest tramp steamer, give them a fake name and join the crew.
Run while you still can.
Before she unsheathes those hooks.
GO!
Bishop on April 11, 2008 at 3:34 PM
Nothing good would come from keeping that money.
Not to mention that stealing is wrong. There’s a commandment against it and everything.
tlynch001 on April 11, 2008 at 3:34 PM
I keep hearing that movie’s good, must check it out.
Anyone seen another fantastic (but dark and upsetting) movie on this very theme: found money and how it corrupts two upright people and destroys a not-so-upright one:
A Simple Plan
inviolet on April 11, 2008 at 3:34 PM
Boy will you be surprised.
Limerick on April 11, 2008 at 3:36 PM
Glad to hear that most have happy marriages. :) It’s a grand time, and I know it will take a lot of work. What is the old joke? The new bride says to her mom, “Oh, I’m so happy we are at the end of all our troubles!” To which her mom says, “Yes, dear, but which end?”
Love, patience, and listening will see us through for our forever family. :)
Vanceone on April 11, 2008 at 3:36 PM
Really? It’s not a good movie? Don’t know much about it, I should wiki it.
inviolet on April 11, 2008 at 3:37 PM
Looks like he bought a nice pair of shades and a bluetooth before he turned the cash in…nothin’ wrong with that tho…
RMCS_USN on April 11, 2008 at 3:38 PM
I would have given it back too. I don’t need the stress of worrying about being caught. Plus Karma. If I were King, he would get a finders fee.
Geronimo on April 11, 2008 at 3:40 PM
give that man the ring of gyges plato here’s your virtuous man
Tacitus on April 11, 2008 at 3:45 PM
Thanks for posting that Allah.
29Victor on April 11, 2008 at 3:46 PM
Love ya AP but I gotta call you on this one.
If there is no God, and if it ends at the grave and if he was able to get away with it, you’re sayin’ he should have given it back?
I don’t get it.
Where’s the logic in that? Integrity for integrity’s sake? Damn. That’s part of the reason I’m not an atheist.
ulyses on April 11, 2008 at 3:47 PM
I don’t mean to take the shine of this but he found the money in the middle of the road, in front of a bank with one of his employees. There are going to be witnesses, right? And Brinks will know exactly how much was missing. All credit for honesty but frankly a dishonest person wasn’t getting away with this one.
schiehallion on April 11, 2008 at 3:50 PM
Dude – He did, two grand not to mention the business generated by him being known as “trustworthy”. That business will repay itself over and over again in good Karma. Reputation like that is not something you can buy… although some wish they could.
SkinnerVic on April 11, 2008 at 3:50 PM
Seriously folks, I keep hearing these kinds of stories once in a while about how Brinks managemed a few bundles of cash only to be returned by good deeders. Now, having said that, I wonder how much over the years that Brinks lost money that way and somehow tally up the total amount of cash that were incidentally lost? And/or how often this happened? Anybody want to spend some time investigating this and report back on Hotair? It might turn out to be an disconcerting finding and end up asking the question whether we should trust Brinks with our/banks’ money?
Kokonut on April 11, 2008 at 3:51 PM
correction: “management lost a few bundles of cash…”
Kokonut on April 11, 2008 at 3:52 PM
No, it’s great. The ending might surprise you though.
Esthier on April 11, 2008 at 3:53 PM
Haha. So you’d be a criminal if you weren’t afraid of being damned. Excellent.
Tanya on April 11, 2008 at 3:56 PM
Where’s the logic in that? Integrity for integrity’s sake? Damn. That’s part of the reason I’m not an atheist.
ulyses on April 11, 2008 at 3:47 PM
The only difference between you and Allah is that you threw out logic much earlier than he would have if he had to make the decision to return the money. Religion would dictate the choice for you, not create a logical scenario.
LevStrauss on April 11, 2008 at 3:57 PM
Congratulations!
Buy Danish on April 11, 2008 at 3:57 PM
C’mon LevStrauss. I didn’t say anything about religion.
Just looking for the logic in that scenario.
ulyses on April 11, 2008 at 3:59 PM
Sure do. A few months short of 25 years.
Congratulations on yours.
Attila (Pillage Idiot) on April 11, 2008 at 3:59 PM
Good job being honest! Two weeks ago I pointed out to a lady who dropped $5 on the ground. Yesterday I dropped my credit card and was walking away when a teenage kid flags me down to give it back. What comes around, goes around.
Congrats!
Re: topic
I would think about keeping the money & hitting the tables in LV but something my dad told once when I was younger always comes to mind in a situation like this, “Always do what’s right, even when no one would know.”
VikingGoneWild on April 11, 2008 at 4:06 PM
Dude, put a ring on that girl’s finger! You can get a simple gold band for 40 bucks at Target. I know because I bought one when I lost a bunch of weight and wasn’t ready to resize the real ring yet (in case I lost more weight). I couldn’t stand the “naked” feeling on my finger when I wasn’t wearing a ring, and the engagement ring would fall off without it.
Congrats on the happy, long-term relationship, though. :-)
aero on April 11, 2008 at 4:08 PM
How can you say this and at the same time consider the item news/postworthy?
Of course most people would struggle with this.
Estrada struggled with it.
Stephen M on April 11, 2008 at 4:19 PM
No good deed goes unpunished. I applaud his integrity but I can’t shake the feeling that something bad is gonna happen to him.
Oldnuke on April 11, 2008 at 4:29 PM
Thanks, and I know what you mean about the “naked” feeling. Been wearing my father’s ring for a few years now and if I don’t have it on, I tend to panic looking for it.
Thing is, it’s the unpleasant trade-off of being post-college poor, in that I make decent money but have my debts to pay off…but I still want to get her a reasonable diamond ring, for the sake of tradition. She says she’d be happy with whatever, but I’m an old fashioned stubborn bastard.
MadisonConservative on April 11, 2008 at 4:35 PM
Are atheists permitted to invoke the Deity? I don’t think so ;)
Here’s a thought, people: the fact is, that money really belongs to the People’s Bank of China, what with our horrendous trade deficit. Much like the so-called economic stimulus rebate checks.
fourstringfuror on April 11, 2008 at 4:37 PM
No it doesn’t count…not even close.
In fact, stringing some gal along for a decade is hardly admirable. And the excuse about saving for a ring is either tragic or pathetic depending on how one sees it. If you really can’t save $50 a month or even a year, that’s tragic. If your lady friend believes you, that’s pathetic.
Having people over for Thanksgiving dinner does not make one’s home a restaurant. Shacking up out of convenience does not make your girlfriend your wife.
The Race Card on April 11, 2008 at 4:43 PM
There is money in California if you are willing to work. This goes to show you that a free market system and judeo-christian culture makes life nice. Lets not throw out either one. But it does seem unwise to make the reward so small: the next person having read this story might not be impressed by that small reward. Perhaps that was the insurance deductible. Either way the insurance company should have made the reward higher.
jimw on April 11, 2008 at 4:43 PM
So since many of our Founding Fathers were smugglers and virtually all were tax cheats does that make them poor Christians?
Tim Burton on April 11, 2008 at 4:48 PM
I’m not stringing anyone along, thank you, nor is my financial situation is an “excuse”. I might also point out that I’ve seen marriages begin and end during our years together. My question was tongue-in-cheek, not a request for a sanctimonious sermon.
MadisonConservative on April 11, 2008 at 5:02 PM
Congrats, Vanceone!
.
Not a chance, dude. But maybe deep down you figure anyone who is willing to be strung along that long isn’t worth marrying anyway. And you could be right.
I’ve been married 29 wonderful years to a guy who didn’t have much way back when, but he was willing to share what he had and, oh, has it been worth it.
Lily on April 11, 2008 at 5:08 PM
When even AP said he’d give it back, I thought for sure the story would be about a man who found a cache of Mafia money. ;-)
clark smith on April 11, 2008 at 5:14 PM
Watching other’s marriages fail…
Another excuse not to grab your own sack and man up. Sanctimony is a word used by people afraid of frank talk about values…like liberals.
Your words are wasted on me Snappy. I’m not the one you need to convince of anything.
The Race Card on April 11, 2008 at 5:33 PM
Nice.
Tzetzes on April 11, 2008 at 5:33 PM
Completely agreed, especially since I don’t think you’d hear them all the way up there on that cardboard pedestal.
MadisonConservative on April 11, 2008 at 5:40 PM
TRC, Madison is, of course, joking. He gave it away with this line:
No one could take that seriously. It’s the opposite of old-fashioned.
Spirit of 1776 on April 11, 2008 at 5:44 PM
No question I’d return it. I could certainly use the cash but that’s not even an option – my brain just doesn’t work that way.
Now, onto bigger and better subjects…
Vanceone – Congrats! That is so awesome that you’re getting hitched! My wonderful hubs & I have been married 22 years this summer (together 24 years this summer) and it seriously seems like we just started – and compared to my folks who are about to celebrate 46 years, we ARE just getting started. I wouldn’t say it’s hard work since it’s so much fun, I’ll just pass along what has worked for us: we put each other ahead of ourselves. May your union be blessed, I’ll keep you both in my prayers tonight and tomorrow.
Pachyderm on April 11, 2008 at 5:51 PM
What I was taught when growing up was that you make the decision to be honest BEFORE you are tempted.
You are either honest or you aren’t, period.
GoodBoy on April 11, 2008 at 5:56 PM
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