$100,000 picked up off street. Armored-car crew left it in N. Fresno, wants it back.

Doglips · 01-07-2003, 05:59 AM

I know this should be in the humor form....but since its calafornia what the heck.

$100,000 picked up off street
Armored-car crew left it in N. Fresno, wants it back.
By Michael Baker
The Fresno Bee
(Published Monday, January 6, 2003, 5:48 AM)

Find a penny, pick it up and all day long you'll have good luck.
Find a bag of cash, pick it up and somebody else might make a buck.

Or 10,000 bucks if they give information about who may have taken the canvas bag holding $100,000 left in a Fresno parking lot by an armored truck crew on Dec. 23.

The money sat unattended in the parking lot across Blackstone Avenue from the River Park shopping center for about five minutes before it was whisked away, said Melvin King, a private investigator hired by an unidentified company that wants the loot back.

A $10,000 reward is being offered for information leading to recovery of the cash.

The money-transport crew set down the brown bag containing 5,000 federally wrapped $20 bills as they rearranged other money bags in the back of a truck.

"Through a series of events, they ended up leaving it there and driving off," King said. While continuing on their route, the armored-truck crew members discovered they were missing the bag.

A nearby business' security camera, focused on the parking lot about 11 a.m., shows a middle-aged woman walking by and eyeing the loot, King said.

The woman passes by the bag a few more times, then picks up the money, throws it into her car and drives away, King said.

The woman's actions could constitute more than a demonstration of finders-keepers philosophy.

"It's grand theft," Fresno police Lt. Jeff Motoyasu said. "It's obvious the property does not belong to whoever took it."

King said he is working to identify the woman who grabbed the cash, but in the meantime hopes someone who knows something will come forward.

He has filed a report with police on behalf of his client, whom he wouldn't identify, and is trying to improve the security video's quality.

King also has placed ads in The Bee with hopes that someone will come forward with information about the money.

The ads -- one ran Wednesday and the other Sunday -- have not brought any calls, King said.

Tipsters can remain anonymous when they call (559) 222-8500 or Crime Stoppers at 498-STOP.

The reporter can be reached at mbaker@fresnobee.com or 441-6465.

dhermesc · 01-07-2003, 07:36 AM

She could have left it there. Amazing how running over something will scatter it to he11 and back. Then instead of looking for one person they could be looking for thousands. Now they are threatening her with a crime and offering a award for the person that turns her in. If they went with $10,000 to her if she would turn in the $100,000 they might get somewhere. Now she has nothing to lose by keeping it.

Big Dog · 01-07-2003, 07:52 AM

Look for a lady with a new killer wardrobe, a shiny new car and an around-the-world vacation.

Doglips · 01-07-2003, 09:23 AM

I bet that was a fun call to make...uhhhh boss we kinda lost something...

I'm not so sure the lady would get in that much trouble...course she could claim the bag was empty and put it back on the guards

01-07-2003, 05:59 AM	#1
Doglips Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Cocoa Florida Posts: 9,089	$100,000 picked up off street. Armored-car crew left it in N. Fresno, wants it back. I know this should be in the humor form....but since its calafornia what the heck. $100,000 picked up off street Armored-car crew left it in N. Fresno, wants it back. By Michael Baker The Fresno Bee (Published Monday, January 6, 2003, 5:48 AM) Find a penny, pick it up and all day long you'll have good luck. Find a bag of cash, pick it up and somebody else might make a buck. Or 10,000 bucks if they give information about who may have taken the canvas bag holding $100,000 left in a Fresno parking lot by an armored truck crew on Dec. 23. The money sat unattended in the parking lot across Blackstone Avenue from the River Park shopping center for about five minutes before it was whisked away, said Melvin King, a private investigator hired by an unidentified company that wants the loot back. A $10,000 reward is being offered for information leading to recovery of the cash. The money-transport crew set down the brown bag containing 5,000 federally wrapped $20 bills as they rearranged other money bags in the back of a truck. "Through a series of events, they ended up leaving it there and driving off," King said. While continuing on their route, the armored-truck crew members discovered they were missing the bag. A nearby business' security camera, focused on the parking lot about 11 a.m., shows a middle-aged woman walking by and eyeing the loot, King said. The woman passes by the bag a few more times, then picks up the money, throws it into her car and drives away, King said. The woman's actions could constitute more than a demonstration of finders-keepers philosophy. "It's grand theft," Fresno police Lt. Jeff Motoyasu said. "It's obvious the property does not belong to whoever took it." King said he is working to identify the woman who grabbed the cash, but in the meantime hopes someone who knows something will come forward. He has filed a report with police on behalf of his client, whom he wouldn't identify, and is trying to improve the security video's quality. King also has placed ads in The Bee with hopes that someone will come forward with information about the money. The ads -- one ran Wednesday and the other Sunday -- have not brought any calls, King said. Tipsters can remain anonymous when they call (559) 222-8500 or Crime Stoppers at 498-STOP. The reporter can be reached at mbaker@fresnobee.com or 441-6465.

01-07-2003, 07:36 AM	#2
dhermesc Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: East Central Kansas Posts: 1,762	She could have left it there. Amazing how running over something will scatter it to he11 and back. Then instead of looking for one person they could be looking for thousands. Now they are threatening her with a crime and offering a award for the person that turns her in. If they went with $10,000 to her if she would turn in the $100,000 they might get somewhere. Now she has nothing to lose by keeping it. __________________ Liberty is for those that claim it.

01-07-2003, 07:52 AM	#3
Big Dog Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 10,221	Look for a lady with a new killer wardrobe, a shiny new car and an around-the-world vacation. __________________ Moderator of: AR15/M16, M14/M1A, New/Beginning Shooters and Militaria/Collectables.

01-07-2003, 09:23 AM	#4
Doglips Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Cocoa Florida Posts: 9,089	I bet that was a fun call to make...uhhhh boss we kinda lost something... I'm not so sure the lady would get in that much trouble...course she could claim the bag was empty and put it back on the guards