AN ATM user tested his luck when he took $400 left behind by the previous customer using the drive-thru kiosk.
Little did he know that he violated Georgia law by finding the money and deciding to keep it.
2
2
Paulino Garcia Sanchez pulled up to an ATM in the city of Griffin to find the person in front of him hadn't retrieved their money.
With no one else to claim it, he took it upon himself to take the $400, reported local Fox affiliate WAGA.
But a law called theft of lost or mislaid property complicates the "finders keepers, losers weepers" saying so many live by.
According to Georgia law, taking something one knows or learns has been lost or mislaid is a crime.
Read more on found money
This means that a person who comes into possession of another's property and confiscates it without first trying to restore it is likely to be prosecuted.
In the case of Garcia Sanchez, two options would have worked under Georgia law, reported WAGA.
He could have handed the found money over to authorities, or he could have given it to the bank because he had no right to keep it under state law.
Despite coming forward and admitting he took the money, he still wound up in hot water.
Most read in The US Sun
HIGH FLIER Taylor Swift flew 178,000 miles in a year, her defiant plane 'stalker' reveals
BARRAGE OF BULLETS NFL player rushed to hospital after gunman wounded 10 in mass shooting
THONGS OF PRAISE Kayla Simmons shows off bum and underboob in stringy bikini in daring pics
FIREBALL CRASH Pilot's final words before plane hit apartment block leaving 200 dead
Police told WAGA that the victim realized their money was not with them and even turned around to go back for it, but it was already gone.
The crime, which happened in 2021, took months to retrieve surveillance from, according to WAGA.
I lost $500 on my own driveway after ‘Good Samaritan’ approached me – I needed to watch my actions after ATM trip
Police obtained the video from Wells Fargo and posted it to their Facebook page.
Law enforcement identified Garcia by his hat, reported WAGA, and brought him in for questioning.
Garcia came forward and was arrested the same week the video was posted to the Griffin Police Department Facebook page, according to WAGA.
Things could have been different for him had he taken another route though.
Police say Griffin was given three months to return the money and didn’t, reported WAGA.
Rules on finding money
The saying "finders, keepers
While state and local laws may differ slightly, the majority will require you to attempt to find the owner of the money.
If you fail to make reasonable efforts to track down the owner, many states can charge you with theft or larceny of lost property.
The penalty will most 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 classed as a felony rather than a misdemeanor.
The term reasonable efforts includes asking people nearby if they dropped any cash, checking the envelope or wallet (if there is one) for an ID, handing it into a nearby store, or contacting the police on a non-emergency line.
Some laws will authorize the police to return the money to the finder if no one has claimed it after a period of time.
Always check your local and state laws which will most likely outline what to do if you find property or cash.
It is also advised that you contact the police or a criminal defense lawyer who can assist in what the laws state and how you should proceed.
Source:Criminal Defense Lawyer
Law enforcement told WAGA that returning found money is common with a return happening at the very same ATM that Garcia swiped the money from.
OPPOSING OUTCOMES AT THE ATM
The U.S. Sun frequently covers stories of found money, with one resulting in happy endings.
An Albuquerqueman was just 19 years old when he found $135,000 next to a Wells Fargo ATM.
As a criminal justice student, Jose Nuñez Romaniz knew about laws regarding finding money.
Read More on The US Sun
Taking no chances, he called thepolice instead of the number on the ATM to ensure he wasn't wrongfully accused of theft.
Police praised him for his honesty and called it "refreshing" for what was potentially the biggest amount of money found and returned in Albuquerque.
