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Subscribe to RSSA woman in New York returns $11,000 in coins and bills that flew her way off the armored truck on a bumpy highway. Mark Mulholland of NBC station WNYT of Albany reports.
You've probably had the dream: You're behind an armored truck on the highway, and it starts spewing out money.
That happened Tuesday to Patricia Wesner, executive director of the Pember Library and Museum in Granville, N.Y.
But unlike you in your fantasy, Wesner did the right thing, NBC station WNYT of Albany, N.Y., reported.
Wesner said that as the Brinks armored truck passed her on a bumpy stretch of Route 22 near Salem, she thought to herself, "Wouldn't it be great if money started pouring out?"
Then it did.
And rather than grab up the cash — $11,000 in all — Wesner got out of her Toyota Sequoia, called police and guarded the money until they arrived.
"I never even thought that I would put anything in my pocket," she said.
Police caught up with the truck and let the crew know they were driving a mobile ATM. Investigators said the truck's door probably malfunctioned.
In all, police counted 70 bags of $1 bills, six boxes of quarters, two boxes of dimes, two boxes of nickels and 12 boxes of pennies. Wesner, meanwhile, drove off to get lunch, she told WNYT — and didn't have enough cash on her to pay for it.
That's not the only reason Wesner could have used the money. For almost 22 years, she's been head of the nonprofit Pember Museum, which she told WNYT has always had to scrimp.
But "it's stealing if you take something that's not yours," she said. "It didn't belong to me."
There's no word yet on whether Wesner will get a reward. But the philanthropically minded can donate to her museum here.
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It's great that she did the right thing. I don't know if many others would have.
Good karma. It will come back around for her!
Agreed Hopeful........10 fold :)
Can't you just image the faces on the crew if they would have gotten to their destination and opened the door, almost worth waiting to inform them. I wonder if these are the same guys from Groundhog Day ;)
Talk about Karma, I hope you and anyone else who can decides to donate to the museum she runs.
If you look, you find its a natural history museum and library from the turn of the last Century.
These kind of museums are hard to find in rural areas (this is up-state NY, near the Vermont border) so it is important that they be supported.
God Bless her.
?? Anybody else notice these stories are reported and everyone celebrates. This used to be the rule - every day life - as opposed to the exception it has become - worthy of story. Honest character - manners - simple graces - tossed to the wayside as unimportant. Flipped as easily as the bazillion channels we now have on TV and as a people, we are the worse for it. Just saying. Politely stated.
Rocket Dog I thought the same thing but it is still a nice story. Call me an optimist but I think most people are good. We hear all the bad things and it makes us jaded and cynical. I think the majority of people would do the right thing and when someone has the opportunity to do the right thing it is nice to read about it. Remember a couple of weeks ago when a guy, I think at the airport, returned money and the guy he returned it to said I hope it is all there instead of a thank you?
if she kept it and later got caught,could she claim "temporary insanity"? no really im curious about that.with todays economy she might be able to get away with that.
Sure hope the company buys her a nice lunch
R Battle;
She would be charged with felony stealing, grand larceny, and conspiring to conceal a crime. It's okay for the government and it's lackeys to steal from us, see you pay stub assuming you have a job. But, when the shoes on the other foot, they will bury you.
If she had held up the truck or took it off of it that was stealing. Going down the road and it falls out that's called finders keepers. Here's a news flash. People on here always saying there is no God. Guess what.
There's no such damn thing as karma. Now that's a real fairy tale. She's just out $11,000.00 and didn't have the money to eat lunch. They may give her a few hundred reward but i doubt it. As for the other,karma's ass.
Well, Nico, clearly you're a guy who knows the score. Because that's the way it is and most folks just don't get it.
Well, OWYP, your moral compass is sitting on a bed of lodestone. If you take something (and I believe that's exactly what you'd do) that's not yours, it's stealing, theft, larceny. It's not "finders keepers", it's being a lowlife crook. The worst part is you believe you're right and all the rest of us are schmucks. That's an attitude shared by almost every guy in prison. Have a nice life, douchebag.
What the hells with these armored trucks losing money?? arent they supposed to be SECURE? LOL Just sayin!
Patricia Wesner for PRESIDENT in 2016.
its not"stealing" if you find it , its called stupidy for loosing it by not closing the doors correctly
That is really wonderful to see that there are still honest people in the world who know that their reputation is worth more than a few bucks.
Stealing is as wrong today as it was 20000 years ago.
Mark
It would be considered stealing because it was found in bank money bags and boxes. The law requires it be turned into law authorities.
Good news is a fine thing to read, once in a great while.
hell ya... nice to prove morality is still a thing you live by... not just a talk.
Its not stealing if you didn't see how it happen ( she did was behind the truck).
If I was driving up same road and she wasn't there or the truck and saw that money..I found it..didn't steal it.
Finders keepers..losers weepers..saying never dies!
People like you are what's wrong with this country; I hope you never lose anything of value; Karma is a bitch!
K.R. I live right off the ocean..everyday (I'm retired) I go on the beach with my metal detector and find rings and coi8ns galore..What am I suppose to do hand in everything that's lost by others?? A fruitcake millionaire can throw his money out the window for all I know..what am I suppose to do hand it in because he's nuts?
you have to be an obozo voter. the money wasnt yours. you turn it in to the police if no claims it then its yours. thats the law. no wonder our country so screwed up
Its screwed up because of republicans like you..party of NO..nothing gets done..GOP is history!
Interesting take on the law, you might want to read up on it a bit. Oh and it isn't a political thing either just the law. You can find it in the uniformed Commercial Code and common sense. Another way to think about it is to put yourself in both parties shoes but not actually you because you sound like a viper.
Finding long lost rings and coins is one thing. Finding bags and boxes of money is another. Especially if those bags are marked or identified. Of course if I found that spread along the highway and it wasn't obvious who it belonged to... Well... And I'm not a Democrat either.
Dems. or Reps. it is wrong to keep large amounts of money you find along the road MIke27. You contact the police, leave your contact information, and if no one claims it you most likely can can keep it.
Salvage laws vary by state. On the beach in Florida I'm pretty sure its finders keepers pretty much like finding an abandoned ship at sea. Locked bags of money are probably not covered, but who knows, did it have their name on it?
Making a living from salvage is no easy life, making a living from the interest on your savings is a cake walk. Judging is the pastime of fools.
75th: I'm an "obozo" voter and I'm one of the most honest people you'll ever meet. Try educating yourself, stop watching FIXed News, and perhaps you won't make so many ignorant assumptions.
If you want to know what's wrong with our country, try looking the mirror.
your the reason why our society is failing you are a total degenerate to take somthing that was not yours i have had several times when i have returned several hundred dollars to people that have droped it and i will never loose sleepover it how ever each time i have been looking for my next meal because my workis seasonal its called RESPECT its a sorry thing our younger generation has none they demand it but wont earn it
have a good day
It is stealing unless you make an "attemp"t to find out whose it is. If it were your money and no one tried to find out whose it was, you certainly would say it was stealing. It is a matter of perspective.
I really think most would do the same. I dont know many people who woud keep it. Being a good person is something most people are day in and day out.
only our government is allowed to steal.
They would have taxed her 50% and the rest wouldn't make up for the inflation.
Good going Patricia!
The good people of Albany New York should give Patricia Wesner a parade and somebody please treat her to lunch.
The parade would cost more then the money she found. As for the lunch, I didn't see her size.
Stands guard? All you would see of me is nothing but the tail lights!!!
Come to find out it was actually $50,000 that fell out of the truck;)
your a F**&#%$# looser i see that you have no respect what so ever you are the reason our country is going @!$%# house mouse and as long as we have your type we as a country will soon die you are a total pice of cr^&((*&p have a great day taking from your best friends childrens food
Always nice to have a fan club. True enough I'm looser. I attribute that to my new Yoga program. Thanks for noticing! Now back to you. I'm the reason this country hasn't failed. I own several businesses and pay a higher tax rate thanks to slackers and welfare cases like Mr. Panco not pulling their share. Furthermore, I never eat childrens food. It is usually not very nutritious.
@ Brian...Not sure who's side you're on here, but either way ...classy comment, and the word is loser dumbass.
loosen up brian looser!
You can always tell a person of principle when something like this happens. The words "It's not mine" is proof positive of her moral compass. Finders keepers doesn't cut it.
What about the 5 second rule?
If it isn't "yours" then it is stealing; whether you find it or not, it belongs to someone else. I wish we lived in a world where people weren't surprised when a person does the "right thing". I can keep dreaming....
Suckerrr!!!!!
God made her wish come true and she rejected it? OR Satan answered her with temptation and she upheld her rightousness? OR it had nothing to do with God and she squandered an opportunity? OR She did unto others as she would have others do unto her? How you see it kind of says a lot about who you are as a person.
Since neither exist, I would assume that neither scenario applies. Good people don't need a fantasy book to learn how to be moral.
cookie, that is the most intellegent comment i have read in a long time. half these people posting hatful comment are cowards hidding behind there computers or really screwed up kids . we have become such a polarize nation politically. i feel we are on the edge of a civil war in this country scary and saddening at the same time. I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO GO TO YOU TUBE AND WATCH PAUL HARVEY ( IF I WERE THE DEVIL) it was recorded in the early to mid 60's. and no its not a religious thing so dont freak out non religious people. please watch that video. i think what that woman did was the right thing to do period. it dosent make you a hero for returning something that is not yours, it makes you a good person.
your totaly right if it dont belong to you give it back its called respect
the magical mythical sky fairy had nothing to do with it - but honesty is its own reward (and Brinks is pretty stupid IF they don't give her 10%)
Hey now the donut fund just got replenished!
This is dumb and bull @!$%#ing @!$%# story! Didn't hear the coin click clack on the road or the back door click clack on the bumpy road. It is a set up to make a bull@!$%# story! Pathetic!
Right!!!! And meanwhile Mesner drove off to get lunch but didn't have enough cash on her to pay for it? WHAT? Why did she drive off to buy lunch if she didn't have enough cash on her to pay for it. Strange.
Turned in the free money and was later arrested for theft of service at the restaurant. OOooohhhh the irony. lol
I'm going to the grocery store in about 30 minutes and I don't have the cash to pay for my purchases. Ever heard of debit/credit cards?
Geez.
Someone in an armored car service uniform lost a job(s) today.
s)(*&t happends we all make mistakes it human i dont care what place in society you are we screw up it takes a great person so help corect our mistakes and not capitalize on them
She did the right thing. Kudos to Patricia. Ethical people doing the right thing will be rewarded. Maybe not by any great wealth, but a plaque with honors from Brinks would go a long way as a teaching tool to those that follow.
Well goes to show there's an idiot abroard at every turn Does she think or for all you goodie two shoes think the bank that owns that money would of did the same for us if they could've gotten away with it Come on be serious And don't hand me the bull that just because they do I should'nt cause that's lame They have insurance for that crap so YES I would of kept it and moved on And the color of my skin has nothing to do with it or my morals The banking industries dodn't have any morals Look at the housing market
What's the matter Gary? Couldn't find the period key?; or maybe you're just stupid, period !
So.... an eye for an eye, Gary? There's a saying about that: "An eye for an eye makes the whole world pirates."
Just because someone would hurt you if they could doesn't mean you should, in this world we are presented with a lot of choices, and if everyone made those choices based on what they thought their enemies would do, given the circumstances, I don't think this would be a world you want to live in. This world of priviledge was built on the backs of those who sacrificed themselves for others.. Think for a few minutes before posting a comment, and maybe instead of ragging on this virtuous woman, congratulate her for her moral fiber and willingness to do what's right when no one's watching.
no SHE just gave back YOUR money
I don't know whether you failed more in learning morality or the English language. I do know that people like you make things miserable for all of us. I hope you get turned down again by the parole board.
Take the money and run.
That's our system, why fight it?
with your ideals we as acountry will never survive i can tell you have no respect for others property and you are the type that will steal someone blind when they take a vacation the first time in 20 years stop and think if that was your money your life savings all that you had that was on that truck what would you want give it back or tail lights
no shlt! the government stole the social security money! That wasnt supposed to be touched. oops!
She sounds like a nice lady doing great things.
My faith in Humanity just got better.
Great story. Hope she gets a reward.
Matthew 16:26
Yea. They told her she can have the bag. Empty.
Honesty is its own reward.
I'm sure this is the next strategy for inside-job armored car heists: drive on rural country road, sabotage door, let "good Samaritan" collaborator collect money.
So.... an eye for an eye? There's a saying about that: "An eye for an eye makes the whole world pirates."
Just because someone would hurt you if they could doesn't mean you should, in this world we are presented with a lot of choices, and if everyone made those choices based on what they thought their enemies would do, given the circumstances, I don't think this would be a world you want to live in. This world of priviledge was built on the backs of those who sacrificed themselves for others.. Think for a few minutes before posting a comment, and maybe instead of ragging on this virtuous woman, congratulate her for her moral fiber and willingness to do what's right when no one's watching.
thank you ! Ramases for saying what i wanted to say i see there is still good in this world not just darelecks that what to capitalize on others backs
15 years ago an armored car crashed in Overtown near Miami and the ghetto rats scooped up hundreds of thousand before the police arrived.
I'm pretty sure this falls into the "manna from heaven" category.
She did right. The money was not hers. I hope that the Brinks donated some money to her Museum.
I read a story like this a long time ago. The guards left a bag with over $100,000 on the back bumper of the truck. It fell off in an intersection. Witnesses saw a non-descript large car pull up to the bag, pick it up and all the witnesses said they heard manical laughter from the car as it sped off. The money was never found.