‘It wasn’t mine to take’: Florida man tracks down owner of lost cash

Riviera Beach, Florida: Luis Salazar walked into a Wawa convenience store bathroom and found a fanny pack hanging on the stall handrail. Inside were several large wads of cash totaling $30,000. Salazar asked customers and staff if anyone had left it behind. No one claimed it.

He opened the bag to look for ID and said his mind went “numb” when he saw the money. He never considered keeping it. Instead, Salazar spent days trying to locate the owner. Meanwhile, the owner reported the missing pack to Riviera Beach police, who reviewed security footage and identified Salazar.

Officers told Salazar the owner was waiting at the police station. He went straight there. “So, I give him his bag. ‘This is yours.’ And he was crying. And he hugged me,” Salazar said. Police did not release the owner’s name, but confirmed the money was returned in full. Salazar told local reporters his choice was simple: “It wasn’t mine to take.”