Man Finds 100,000 Euros, Returns It to Rightful Owner

Rummaging around in a pile of trash bags, Yvon Wonterghem was looking for clues – someone illegally dumped the bags behind his son's store, and he planned to report them to the police.

Imagine his surprise when he came across a large metal box – opened it – and was faced with a pile of money.  100,000 euros to be exact, carefully stacked and sorted out.  Britain’s Telegraph newspaper reports his first reaction was, “Wow, there’s the motor-home I always dreamed of owning.”

But instead of a shopping spree, or even pocketing the cash, Wonterghem tracked down the owner.  There was an address written on some paper inside the box, so he went to the home and knocked on the door.  A woman answered and said the home belonged to her elderly parents – they had recently moved to a retirement home. 

She said everything inside was being cleaned out, and neighbors had been over to see if there was anything they wanted.  The couple’s daughter figured someone must have taken the box and then tossed it out – without opening it up to see the inside.  She was astonished to learn her parents kept so much money in cash.

According to the Telegraph, Wonterghem said, “Ninety percent of people will think I’m mad.  But I thought if someone stole my care-home savings, I too would be glad if they returned them.”

The couple’s daughter said, “I didn’t know men like him still existed.”