Stash of cash handed to police by honest man

Constable Gail Shepherd with some of the money that has been handed in to the Whangarei police station. PHOTO/ John Stone

Imagine finding a wallet lying on the ground, bulging with thousands of dollars in cash, and no owner in sight. What would you do?

One honest Whangarei man handed in the cash to police in the hope the rightful owner could be found.

But despite attempts by property officers at the Whangarei police station they have been unable to reunite the owner with the lost stash of cash.

The wallet was handed to the police on June 14 with the 80-year-old finder revealing he had discovered the wallet in the central city.

Property officer Kerry Bruce said there was very little information in the wallet that would give them a clue to the owner's identity.

She would not reveal the exact amount of money - as that would be up to the real owner to disclose - she confirmed it was in the thousands.

She had tried through a few local organisations but was unable to find the owner. She had also tried through the Northland Police Facebook page and through free lost and found advertisements in the Northern Advocate but had no luck.

She believed the potential owner could be elderly, so she urged any family members to check for missing cash.

"It's such a lot of money we really want to get it back to the person it belongs to."

Ms Bruce did not underestimate the honesty of the public, the majority of whom do not adopt a "finders keepers'' policy.

"While there are a number of dishonest people out there this just proves there are also honest people," she said.

"What amazes us is the lengths some people go to get the property they have found to us at the police station."

It is not the first time a large sum of money has been handed over to Whangarei police.

In 2010, $3500 cash in a bank envelope was left at Woolworths checkout in Whangarei.

An honest checkout operator took the money to the police station and a thankful yachtie collected it.

The lost property room at the station has a plethora of items waiting to be claimed but the most common thing handed in are keys, phones and glasses.

Ms Bruce said it was worth people checking with police if they had lost something.

If you can help find the owner of the cash please call the Whangarei police property office on 09 430 4703.