A Texas barber who found $128,514 in cash sitting on top of an ATM gave back every dollar, and Lewisville police say they have never seen a case like it.
The 37 year old barber, who asked not to be identified, pulled up to a Bank of America ATM on West Main Street in Lewisville around 10 a.m. on August 3 to take out some cash. Instead, he spotted two bags sitting on top of the machine. One held $128,514. The other held 19 checks.
Something on one of the bags pointed to a nearby Chick-fil-A, so he drove the money over to the restaurant himself. The manager told him it was not theirs. Right there, with Chick-fil-A staff standing with him, he called 911 so officers could come secure the money.
Police traced it back to Bank of America. A technician from Brink’s, the company that services the bank’s ATMs, had serviced the machine and was supposed to take the bag with him, but accidentally left it and the checks on top of the ATM. A bank receipt inside the cash bag showed exactly how much was supposed to be there, and not one dollar was missing. Bank of America has its money back, and police found no connection to any crime.
“I’ve never had a case like this before, ever,” Lewisville Police Detective Gina Miller told CBS News Texas. She said she has seen good Samaritans turn in wallets and IDs, but never anyone handing over more than $128,000 in cash. Police Chief Brook Rollins said the case shows there are a lot of good people out there who really do want to do good. Police also noted that keeping the money could have meant a felony theft charge.
The Texas barber did not ask for a reward and has avoided the spotlight. Police say they want to honor him, and he told CBS News Texas he would be fine with that, as long as it is a private ceremony.