Passing motorists scooped up cash in Southern California when an armored car was in a collision, its rear door popped open, and money spilled over the roadway on Friday, November 19, 2021 (story here).
Well guess what, it isn’t theirs.
The police issue public warnings to those people to return the money — or else. Two people were arrested at the scene, and others were recorded picking up money. Some have already returned it.
Remember the childhood ditty, “Finders keepers, losers weepers”? In most cases, that isn’t how it works. In some circumstances, a person can keep found money or valuables. but that depends on “whether someone else has a better claim” (see article here), such as the person who lost it. Cash spilled from an armored truck isn’t abandoned property, and doesn’t belong to passersby whoo pick it up.
In fact, California law specifically requires that turning over found money or valuables to the police. And if you don’t, you’re a thief, and keeping it is a crime.