A THRIFT store shopper has told how he unearthed more than $40,000 in cash from a sofa he bought.
Howard Kirby of Michigan found wads of cash stashed inside an armchair.
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The sofa was just one of the pieces of furniture he bought while looking for bargains inside a Habitat for Humanity ReStore store.
He thought there was something unusual when he noticed the foot pad wasn’t as soft as it should be, for example. M live.
The money was kept in a box and Kirby admitted he thought about keeping the money.
He spoke to a lawyer who said he was under no legal obligation to return it.
But Kirby knew in good conscience that he couldn’t keep the money.
“As a born-again Christian, I want to do what Christ would have me do, and I think that’s what He would have me do.”
Kirby called the store and workers were able to contact whoever donated the furniture.
It turned out that the couch belonged to Kim Fauth-Newberry’s father.
And no money was missing.
Kirby admitted he was pleased with what he did.
“I always thought, ‘What would I do if this happened,’ and now I know, and it makes me feel good,” he told the CBS affiliate. WNEM.
He admitted that finding such a large amount didn’t seem real.
“I still have to pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming or something,” he told WNEM.
Store bosses praised Kirby for his actions.
“People find treasures at Habitat ReStores every day, but this is the next level,” said Bryan Thomas, spokesman, NBC.
Rules for finding money
The saying “discoverers, keepers
Although state and local laws may differ slightly, most will require you to try to find the owner of the money.
If you do not make reasonable efforts to locate the owner, many states may charge you with theft or theft of lost property.
The penalty will likely be based on the value of the lost property, as larger finds that are kept without making reasonable efforts to find the owner may be classified as a felony rather than a misdemeanor.
The term reasonable efforts includes asking people nearby if they dropped any money, checking the envelope or wallet for an ID (if there is one), dropping it off at a nearby store, or contacting the police for a non-emergency line.
Some laws will authorize the police to return the money to the finder if no one claims it after a period of time.
Always check local and state laws, which will likely dictate what to do if you find property or money.
It is also advisable that you contact the police or a criminal defense lawyer who can help you understand what the law states and how you should proceed.
Source: Criminal Defense Lawyer
Kirby isn’t the only person who found money unexpectedly.
The US Sun reported how Goodwill employee Andrea Lessing found more than $40,000 hidden in sweaters.
She was shocked to find the money in envelopes in 2021.
Lessing did not receive the full amount, but received a $1,000 reward for his good deed in handing over the money.
Another thrift store employee, Kindell Keyes, discovered a treasure while working at a Goodwill store in Long Island City, New York.
She found $39,000 in a bag, but, like Lessing, didn’t keep the full amount.
But she was rewarded and the company gave her a $3,900 bonus.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
