WWYD - armored car spills money on freeway near San Diego, and people are collecting the money and taking it

[bcla]

So the door wasn't properly locked and it opened while in transit, which then led to bags falling out. One apparently burst open and left money (mostly $1s and $20s) all over the freeway where many stopped to pick them up. The really odd thing was that the only two arrested on the spot by CHP locked themselves out of their own vehicles.

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.co...n-carlsbad-and-drivers-stopped-to-scoop-it-up​

“If a bunch of TVs fell from a truck across the freeway, you can’t just take the TVs,” he said.​

​

Two people believed to have stopped to collect cash were arrested at the scene. Martin, the CHP sergeant, said they’d locked themselves out of their car, which they’d left in the traffic lanes. The car was towed.​

*******​

In a statement Friday night, CHP Officer Mary Bailey thanked those who had already returned the money they collected, and issued a warning: “Multiple pictures and videos were posted on social media (that) captured faces and license plates at the scene of this incident. The CHP is working with the FBI to identify those who participated in the theft of money.”​

​

The CHP released 16 photographs and video still frames showing some of those who scooped the cash off the road. Bailey said members of the public “are encouraged to turn in the money within 48 hours in order to avoid potential criminal charges.”​

​

It's really crazy because there was even someone who recorded herself taking the money and then posting what she had done to social media. Not sure if it was taken down, but generally assume that someone else will make a copy and use it for ridicule (aka "evidence"). OK - still seems to be up. Apparently the CHP used still shots from this video to provide an alert for suspects. Now that's dumb.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CWd113Zjev1/

I can't find a direct link to the CHP/FBI special bulletin, but they have 16 photos that news outlets have managed to obtain.

https://fox5sandiego.com/news/local...ists-accused-of-scooping-up-money-on-freeway/

 

[superme80]

Honestly, I would drive away. I would complain to whoever was in my car about what happened, but completely ignore the situation.

 

[JimMIA]

Too far for me to fly for a few bucks.

 

[GAN]

Good help's tough to come by....

 

[kdonnel]

This isn’t the first time it has happened.

$175,000 fell onto I-285 back in 2019.

The police asked people to return the money. Some did.

Those are not the only examples.

 

[bcla]

This isn’t the first time it has happened.

$175,000 fell onto I-285 back in 2019.

The police asked people to return the money. Some did.

Those are not the only examples.

Yeah I've heard of stuff like this before, but in this case there were tons of people taking photos/video of this, including someone who was stupid enough to post that she took the money on social media along with video. That takes a special kind of stupid to post one's own criminal conduct.

Granted it wouldn't be the first person to apparently be proud of breaking the law enough to let the world know about it.

 

[kdonnel]

Yeah I've heard of stuff like this before, but in this case there were tons of people taking photos/video of this, including someone who was stupid enough to post that she took the money on social media along with video. That takes a special kind of stupid to post one's own criminal conduct.

Granted it wouldn't be the first person to apparently be proud of breaking the law enough to let the world know about it.

All that happened in 2019 in Atlanta.

 

[Kitty 34]

Gives a new meaning to a freeway.

 

[penn19]

Nothing good would come of it. I’d keep on driving.

 

[White Cat]

Ok?

 

[disneychrista]

Money makes people do crazy things. I would NOT get out and start grabbing up the money. I would make comments either to myself or who ever happened to be in the car how stupid people are. I would also probably complain about the traffic jam this caused. And while I am sitting in the traffic take photos of the stupidity.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

My first thought would be "this is likely tracked with serial numbers"...so nope lol

But for real no I wouldn't take the money

 

[MillauFr]

I would help with litter control and then deduct a fee for my expenses.....

 

[HeatherC]

When I hear stories like this, I wonder how people live with themselves sometimes. Don’t steal. Simple as that.

 

[MillauFr]

My first thought would be "this is likely tracked with serial numbers"...so nope lol

But for real no I wouldn't take the money

I doubt if anyone is going to track down the serial numbers of one dollar bills. Besides it is debatable if the people who grabbed the cash broke the law. There are some court cases that have claimed "Finders Keepers" rulings apply and the people can keep the cash.

 

[MillauFr]

This isn’t the first time it has happened.

$175,000 fell onto I-285 back in 2019.

The police asked people to return the money. Some did.

Those are not the only examples.

It is very difficult to know if people gave back all of the money they found. Plus none of the people who didn't give the money back were charged and convicted of a crime.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I doubt if anyone is going to track down the serial numbers of one dollar bills. Besides it is debatable if the people who grabbed the cash broke the law. There are some court cases that have claimed "Finders Keepers" rulings apply and the people can keep the cash.

I was just saying that was my first thought. Dishonest people would be ones who figure "it's not worth their time to track it so I'll just take it"

 

[bcla]

I doubt if anyone is going to track down the serial numbers of one dollar bills. Besides it is debatable if the people who grabbed the cash broke the law. There are some court cases that have claimed "Finders Keepers" rulings apply and the people can keep the cash.

In California it would be pretty clear that it's theft when the owner (or the owner's agent) can be reasonably identified and it's not returned. In this case it's clearly akin to someone's backpack dropping off the roof of their car and someone picking it up, taking off, and keeping it. If there's a hole in my pocket and my wallet falls out, it's certainly not a case of finders keepers. There are other laws that specify a required procedure for turning lost property to police and requirements for the finder to pay for the cost of a newspaper ad if the finder wants to claim it.

Still - they're giving 48 hours for the money to be returned with pretty a guarantee that they won't prosecute. I'm not even sure how the two people arrested would be charged. They might be charged for creating a hazard on a freeway by exiting their cars on the roadway.

 

[JimMIA]

delete

 

[lpereira]

Anyone taking the money from the armored truck in California in fact broke black letter law. It isn't debatable. If they don't return it and didn't make social media posts about taking (aka evidence of their theft) it is unlikely to be caught and punished.
The funny thing is if you are a US citizen and don't get convicted then no harm can come to you. If you aren't a US citizen then at ANY time during your lifetime it comes to DHS attention that you committed this crime you will have your visa or lpr nvalidated and you will be deported. You can't even become a citizen after the fact and be protected. In all visa/lot/citizenship applications you have to attest you haven't committed a crime- not do you have a criminal record.
Do the right thing morally and turn it in or just don't even take it. Not that anyone on Disboards was involved in it. That's just a general do the right thing morally statement.