Anyone else pick up 'street money?'
- Thread starter The Big D
- Start date
grizz700
Member
Having worked as a road mechanic for 25 years I have spent alot of time traveling on two lane and four lane highways. I have picked up wallets(which I have sent back to their owners) suitcases full of clothes, tools, brand new in the wrapper pillows (expensive ones I later found out), an assortment of other stuff. I once saw a bank safe in the median of the freeway. Stopped and looked at it, was still closed but to dang heavy to lift so I left it. Went by a couple days later and it was gone.
cmore
Member
My dad picked up coins off the ground all the time.
Everyone at his work knew he did this and sometimes glued a quarter
down to the floor. He was onto them though and would always
touch it with his shoe to see if it was loose. I worked there too,
and I think there is still a quarter glued to the floor to this day,
probably 20 yrs. later.
He would also check change returns on all phones, pop machines, etc.
He did it for years and put them in a cloth bank bag. I still have it
and now that I'm retired I hope to have time to go through them all to see if any are special.
The bag weighs at least 10 lbs, so may take awhile.
Everyone at his work knew he did this and sometimes glued a quarter
down to the floor. He was onto them though and would always
touch it with his shoe to see if it was loose. I worked there too,
and I think there is still a quarter glued to the floor to this day,
probably 20 yrs. later.
He would also check change returns on all phones, pop machines, etc.
He did it for years and put them in a cloth bank bag. I still have it
and now that I'm retired I hope to have time to go through them all to see if any are special.
The bag weighs at least 10 lbs, so may take awhile.
DeathGrip
US Veteran
I found a guitar amp on the side of the road. It must have slid out of a truck bead the night before. It was kinda trapezoid shaped and I had to straighten it out a bit but it still works and is in my shop.
Oh, Radio shack 50 solidstate and it sounds pretty good.
Oh, Radio shack 50 solidstate and it sounds pretty good.
One reliably regular haul is the upper change dispenser on the tollways.
I use a radio-linked pass, so the gate opens automatically, but sometimes stop to grab a handful of change left by inattentive cash payers.
One time a tollbooth operator started yelling at me, telling me to stop what I was doing. She looked like she was going to lunge through the wee door at me, so I left about a third of the coins.
I bet she counted on that money. Shame.
I use a radio-linked pass, so the gate opens automatically, but sometimes stop to grab a handful of change left by inattentive cash payers.
One time a tollbooth operator started yelling at me, telling me to stop what I was doing. She looked like she was going to lunge through the wee door at me, so I left about a third of the coins.
I bet she counted on that money. Shame.
No street money per se but for a while after my retirement I world part time doing lite maintenance for a largeself storage facility. Changing out light bulbs, repairing doors, cleaning vacated units, etc. The manager sent me to clean out one recently vacated unit to get it ready for a new tenant and I found a huge glass jar that had been full of money. Mostly coins but some paper. How it happened I don't know but when I opened up the unit the jar was broken in the middle of the floor. The unit was otherwise cleaned out and vacant. I called the manager on the radio and told him and he got on his golf cart and came over to the unit. He took one look and said clean it up. I asked him what about the money. I nearly fell over when he said I could keep it. He was in a hurry as a customer was waiting to move in. I swept up all the glass and money in to a 5 gallon bucket and took it home. It took a while but I finally got all the broken glass away from the money. It came out to almost 700 bux.
But people go off and leave all sorts of stuff. Good stuff sometimes. Furniture, Lamps, Jewelry, art work, Musical instruments, Tools, etc. The manager was usually pretty good about letting me keep what ever I found.
I never got a grand total but in the 3 1/2 years I did that I did alright I'm a thinkin'. Several lamps of various description. A childs recliner for my granddaughter. Lots of jewelry including a ring made of Mexican silver and a beautiful opal that had at lest 12 fires. A fairly nice assortment of hand tools. One of the best sources of goodies was old chest of drawers or desks that in and of themselves weren't much count but contained cash or other valuables that had been forgotten about. It was a most interesting experience.
But people go off and leave all sorts of stuff. Good stuff sometimes. Furniture, Lamps, Jewelry, art work, Musical instruments, Tools, etc. The manager was usually pretty good about letting me keep what ever I found.
I never got a grand total but in the 3 1/2 years I did that I did alright I'm a thinkin'. Several lamps of various description. A childs recliner for my granddaughter. Lots of jewelry including a ring made of Mexican silver and a beautiful opal that had at lest 12 fires. A fairly nice assortment of hand tools. One of the best sources of goodies was old chest of drawers or desks that in and of themselves weren't much count but contained cash or other valuables that had been forgotten about. It was a most interesting experience.
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hoosierone
Member
Once was walking out of Target and between the two exit doors a $100 bill was on the floor folded very small. Figured no way to get it back to owner so it was mine. Last summer, on my bike I picked up two $20 bills on the curb. Usually find a couple bucks a year just bike riding. Also, riding through parking lots I've seen lots of evidence that folks were having a good time there the night before. Yuck!
Whitwabit
US Veteran
Found money at wally world one day .. and taught someone a lesson on being nicer to customers .. checking out the clerk gave me 10 dollars too much in change .. I had given her a 50 .. I said sorry but you gave me the wrong change and off she went on a tirade .. I did not !! I gave you exactly the right amount back and Blaa Blaa for about 20 seconds .. so I said ok thank you and walked out with what I had bought ..
went through her checkout again a couple of weeks later and she looked at me and said your the one .. I smiled and said yes thank you .. she checked me out and counted the change twice before giving it to me .. she was very polite to me and the customers ahead of me and she did count their change twice too ..
Believed she learned a valuable lesson ..
went through her checkout again a couple of weeks later and she looked at me and said your the one .. I smiled and said yes thank you .. she checked me out and counted the change twice before giving it to me .. she was very polite to me and the customers ahead of me and she did count their change twice too ..
Believed she learned a valuable lesson ..
cowart
US Veteran
In the street outside my previous house, found a set of 3 padlocks, keyed alike, still NIB. Each with a set of keys. Still using one to lock the gate to my back yard.
Retired LTC USAR
US Veteran
My father used to drive from Pineville to Lexington Saturday morning and return Saturday night. He drove a pick-up truck. This was before I 75 was constructed. He would always find "stuff" on the road, mostly rope and chain. He was a true scavenger.
Frank237
Absent Comrade
Few years back about two minutes after walking into the Reno Gun show at the GSR I found a $25 chip on the floor. My largest , most recent find.
It surprises me the change I find almost every trip to town. People must feel bending over is not worth a nickel or a dime. Found two, dollar bills rolled up in the snow a few days back as I got out of the cat at a cafe.
I really should throw it all in a jar and do a count at the end of the year.
It surprises me the change I find almost every trip to town. People must feel bending over is not worth a nickel or a dime. Found two, dollar bills rolled up in the snow a few days back as I got out of the cat at a cafe.
I really should throw it all in a jar and do a count at the end of the year.
mg357
Absent Comrade
Whenever I see money on the ground I pick it up I have found mostly change.
But once when I was in school I saw a gentleman drop a $1.00 bill and I gave it back to him.
But once when I was in school I saw a gentleman drop a $1.00 bill and I gave it back to him.
chaparrito
Member
My wife has a client that found a duffel bag filled with 20's 50's and 100's all bundled nice and neat. Laying off the side of the road on a main street small town. Not sure how much, but it's a LOT of cash. They turned it in and were told by the police that it would be theirs if no one claims it in a certain period of time. Last time I heard, nobody had.
We had a conversation about it. My wife said if nobody claims that money it's probably drug money. She said I don't think I could keep it in good conscience. I said hon, if guns don't kill people, neither does money, I'd take it in a heartbeat.
We had a conversation about it. My wife said if nobody claims that money it's probably drug money. She said I don't think I could keep it in good conscience. I said hon, if guns don't kill people, neither does money, I'd take it in a heartbeat.
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Leatherhead23
Member
Pulled in the gas station to fill up and the pump was near the pay phone. (This has been a few years obviously...do gas stations even have pay phones anymore? )
Looked over and noticed some cash blowing around the base of the phone. Ran over and gathered it up. Over $600 cash and a personal check for $1000.
Went home and looked up the name on the check in the phone book. The fella sure was happy to hear from me....he had just completed a construction project and got paid. He was supposed to pay his crew with the cash and the check was his part of the money.
We met and he offered some cash to me for my honesty. I refused. Felt better to help him out than get any money out of it.
Looked over and noticed some cash blowing around the base of the phone. Ran over and gathered it up. Over $600 cash and a personal check for $1000.
Went home and looked up the name on the check in the phone book. The fella sure was happy to hear from me....he had just completed a construction project and got paid. He was supposed to pay his crew with the cash and the check was his part of the money.
We met and he offered some cash to me for my honesty. I refused. Felt better to help him out than get any money out of it.
mafuta54
Member
My wife and I found $1,247.00 in a zip lock bag while walking one day. It was nice to be able to eventually find who it belonged to and return it to the lady so she could make her mortgage payment!
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I'm the one what loses all that Money.
I bet I have drug hundreds, if not thousands of dollars out of my pockets and lost it on the street over the years. I have been in business where I handled a lot of cash since I got a paper route when I was 16, so I have had ample opportunity to lose cash out of my pockets.
I have a bad habit of just sticking the change from a ten or twenty in a front pocket when I am in a hurry. Occasionally I will reach in that pocket several hours later for the money, and it's gone. Just last week I happened to be lucky enough to see two $1 bills flutter to the ground when I got out of my pickup. It was change from a $5 bill I had used earlier at a convenience store.
Careless of me, I know. You guys just keep picking it up and enjoying it. Don't spend it foolishly.
I bet I have drug hundreds, if not thousands of dollars out of my pockets and lost it on the street over the years. I have been in business where I handled a lot of cash since I got a paper route when I was 16, so I have had ample opportunity to lose cash out of my pockets.
I have a bad habit of just sticking the change from a ten or twenty in a front pocket when I am in a hurry. Occasionally I will reach in that pocket several hours later for the money, and it's gone. Just last week I happened to be lucky enough to see two $1 bills flutter to the ground when I got out of my pickup. It was change from a $5 bill I had used earlier at a convenience store.
Careless of me, I know. You guys just keep picking it up and enjoying it. Don't spend it foolishly.
Growing up as a teenager I worked at One Stop in Hertford, N C. We had the deal to clean all the used cars from a dealership. We would always find change, especially when we took the back seat out.
We used to fight each other to see who got to clean Amy's windshield. We were a full service station. Check oil, air pressure, radiator and even whisked out the drivers side floor board.
We used to fight each other to see who got to clean Amy's windshield. We were a full service station. Check oil, air pressure, radiator and even whisked out the drivers side floor board.
Mainsail
Member
One cold winter Sunday morning when I lived in the Stadium District in Tacoma, on my way home from a few laps around Wright Park, I cut behind the bank walking through their drive-up lane and picked up a $20 laying in the shrubbery.
Several years ago our aircrew was staying downtown outside Rota NAS in Spain, we got dropped off at the gate (still in crew rest) and walked to Base Ops so the pilots could pre-file the flight plan for the next day. Walking back to the pizza joint by the gate I looked to my right and down in the ditch spotted a bill. I said, "Well if nobody's going to pick it up, I will." The rest of the crew turned to see me drop into the ditch and pick up the $20. The best part was that for the rest of the walk there were five other guys all walking with their heads cranked over looking down into the drainage ditch on the side of the road.
Last month as I was walking on Bangor Base I looked down in the ditch and again, a $20 bill.
Something about currency that catches the eye.
Way back in the 80s my friend Steve was milling around on the side of I680 while another guy changed a flat tire; he got bored so he started wandering around- $10 bill, $20, $5, $20.... Suddenly the rest of the guys jogged over and they picked up over $100 in various bills that where blown into the grass along the freeway.
Several years ago our aircrew was staying downtown outside Rota NAS in Spain, we got dropped off at the gate (still in crew rest) and walked to Base Ops so the pilots could pre-file the flight plan for the next day. Walking back to the pizza joint by the gate I looked to my right and down in the ditch spotted a bill. I said, "Well if nobody's going to pick it up, I will." The rest of the crew turned to see me drop into the ditch and pick up the $20. The best part was that for the rest of the walk there were five other guys all walking with their heads cranked over looking down into the drainage ditch on the side of the road.
Last month as I was walking on Bangor Base I looked down in the ditch and again, a $20 bill.
Something about currency that catches the eye.
Way back in the 80s my friend Steve was milling around on the side of I680 while another guy changed a flat tire; he got bored so he started wandering around- $10 bill, $20, $5, $20.... Suddenly the rest of the guys jogged over and they picked up over $100 in various bills that where blown into the grass along the freeway.
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Mickey D
Member
I consider it bad luck to pass over even a penny.
Once I was driving under an overpass in an industrial area and saw what looked like a folded dollar bill in the road. I pulled over and walked back to three $20 bills folded together.
Once I was driving under an overpass in an industrial area and saw what looked like a folded dollar bill in the road. I pulled over and walked back to three $20 bills folded together.
Mainsail
Member
My best haul was at a hotel outside Pope AFB in Fayetnam. Somewhere back in my flying career I started checking under the mattresses as soon as I got into my room at whatever billeting or hotel they had us staying. I found a lot of porn, slipped some really raunchy gay porn into the navigator's bag once- boy was he surprised. Anyway, the AF put us downtown at a Motel 6 and when I lifted the mattress there were FOUR $20 bills lined up in the middle- beyond where the housekeeper would have felt them.
The strangest under-the-mattress find happened at Fairchild AFB. We were coming back from a Pacific run but McChord was having the Airlift Rodeo, so they diverted us over the Cascades to Fairchild. They put us in billeting (on base accommodations) and as usual the first thing I checked was under the mattress. Right there maybe a foot in from the edge, where any housekeeper should have felt it, was a shiny silver vibrator.
I got a shopping bag and picked it up, twisted the bottom, and it was fully powered. So I wrapped it in the shopping bag and put it into my bag.
The next day flying back to McChord I was sweating every bump, every odd sound that old Starlifter made, not worried about my death in some horrible plane crash, but terrified that after the crash the investigators would find that thing in my bag. We made it back safe and sound though and I took it home.
The next day I brought it over to the house of a friend and fellow Flight Engineer, Hormone Dave. I had his key and he was out of town so I set it upright on the mantle above the fireplace hidden in plain sight among the many equally shiny car trophies there. After he'd been home several days, and not hearing anything, I stopped for a visit. While we were talking he suddenly stops, stares, and says in his Tennessee accent, "What the 'ells that?" I still laugh about that 15 years later.
The strangest under-the-mattress find happened at Fairchild AFB. We were coming back from a Pacific run but McChord was having the Airlift Rodeo, so they diverted us over the Cascades to Fairchild. They put us in billeting (on base accommodations) and as usual the first thing I checked was under the mattress. Right there maybe a foot in from the edge, where any housekeeper should have felt it, was a shiny silver vibrator.
I got a shopping bag and picked it up, twisted the bottom, and it was fully powered. So I wrapped it in the shopping bag and put it into my bag.The next day flying back to McChord I was sweating every bump, every odd sound that old Starlifter made, not worried about my death in some horrible plane crash, but terrified that after the crash the investigators would find that thing in my bag. We made it back safe and sound though and I took it home.
The next day I brought it over to the house of a friend and fellow Flight Engineer, Hormone Dave. I had his key and he was out of town so I set it upright on the mantle above the fireplace hidden in plain sight among the many equally shiny car trophies there. After he'd been home several days, and not hearing anything, I stopped for a visit. While we were talking he suddenly stops, stares, and says in his Tennessee accent, "What the 'ells that?" I still laugh about that 15 years later.
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I'm the one what loses all that Money.
I bet I have drug hundreds, if not thousands of dollars out of my pockets and lost it on the street over the years. I have been in business where I handled a lot of cash since I got a paper route when I was 16, so I have had ample opportunity to lose cash out of my pockets.
I have a bad habit of just sticking the change from a ten or twenty in a front pocket when I am in a hurry. Occasionally I will reach in that pocket several hours later for the money, and it's gone. Just last week I happened to be lucky enough to see two $1 bills flutter to the ground when I got out of my pickup. It was change from a $5 bill I had used earlier at a convenience store.
Careless of me, I know. You guys just keep picking it up and enjoying it. Don't spend it foolishly.
After a post like this, you deserve to find something, need t or not. All the best,
Kaaskop49
Shield #5103
P.S. One "unlucky" Powerball loser on Saturday received a "consolation prize" in NYC. He won the MegaMillions jackpot: $165M with a cash value of $101M...
model70hunter
Member
Found a 5 spot when 5 years old. Folks let me spend a buck at the 5&10 store and used the rest on gas.
Found a 20 blowig around on a gas station drive.
Used to metal detect, after that I started noticing more money on the ground. See people walk by it all the time.
I worked on a large Army base, I bought a metal detector and had good luck there until the hobby was banned. I found where trainees pulled themselves across a large steep and deep ravine on a rope while hanging from it. My first day I picked up hundreds in change, pocketknives, rings and zippos. I usually only went there once a month after that. Always found 20-40 bucks, lighters and a few pocket knives.
I kept the old silver coins separate in a jar and sold it for almost $200 when silver went to 18 times face value.
I still have some found things from back in the 70's there, a 1940 MO Chaufeurs badge is one. The first guy to detect the base had tables full of coins, lighters and rings. He also found the WW II and Korean war training sites and scored huge on silver. He went to the hand to hand training areas, most had a roof but no walls. They had concrete foundations that held sawdust. Vietnam was going on. Busy place. In the first place he found enough coins and rings to fill the back floor boards of his car. He went back with a shovel and dug up hundreds of bucks from each one. He had pretty much Cleaned out the good spots. HE bought a new detector every few months, each time an improved model came out. I bought one of his used ones and did OK. He did not find the one area I did so I did not have competition. I've done several city parks and courthouse lawns. Didn't find much there.
I found a new BAR 06 a deer hunter left at a campsite. I was able to get it back to him.
My brother found a Browning A=5 on our farm close to the highway, someone was probably hunting, forgot it and when they or if they returned couldn't find it. This was in the early 60's. It was totally ruined, wood rotted away. Metal solid rust. It had to be lost prior to WW II.
We were remodeling a rental home we own and I found a hand full of silver coins over one door transom. Newest coins were 1904.
Twice when leaving casinos I've found a $1 token on the floor and stuck it in the closest buck machine. First time won 80 dollars which is what we had just spent. 2nd time was 385'ish. My in laws and wife were walking ahead of me, No one noticed the coin. I picked it up and ka ching. My cell was blowing up while waiting in the cash out line, my wife then my father in law called, where are you, we want to go eat... I said bathroom, sorry, emergency. Worked well FIL pulled up at front door to wait on me. My wife was grinching about me having to go right then. Told her to hush, I was paid to poop there. My FIL keeps track of whos turn it is to buy dinner, That night was his turn, if he knew I'd hit a lil jackpot he'd cry forever trying to get me to buy dinner.
Found a 20 blowig around on a gas station drive.
Used to metal detect, after that I started noticing more money on the ground. See people walk by it all the time.
I worked on a large Army base, I bought a metal detector and had good luck there until the hobby was banned. I found where trainees pulled themselves across a large steep and deep ravine on a rope while hanging from it. My first day I picked up hundreds in change, pocketknives, rings and zippos. I usually only went there once a month after that. Always found 20-40 bucks, lighters and a few pocket knives.
I kept the old silver coins separate in a jar and sold it for almost $200 when silver went to 18 times face value.
I still have some found things from back in the 70's there, a 1940 MO Chaufeurs badge is one. The first guy to detect the base had tables full of coins, lighters and rings. He also found the WW II and Korean war training sites and scored huge on silver. He went to the hand to hand training areas, most had a roof but no walls. They had concrete foundations that held sawdust. Vietnam was going on. Busy place. In the first place he found enough coins and rings to fill the back floor boards of his car. He went back with a shovel and dug up hundreds of bucks from each one. He had pretty much Cleaned out the good spots. HE bought a new detector every few months, each time an improved model came out. I bought one of his used ones and did OK. He did not find the one area I did so I did not have competition. I've done several city parks and courthouse lawns. Didn't find much there.
I found a new BAR 06 a deer hunter left at a campsite. I was able to get it back to him.
My brother found a Browning A=5 on our farm close to the highway, someone was probably hunting, forgot it and when they or if they returned couldn't find it. This was in the early 60's. It was totally ruined, wood rotted away. Metal solid rust. It had to be lost prior to WW II.
We were remodeling a rental home we own and I found a hand full of silver coins over one door transom. Newest coins were 1904.
Twice when leaving casinos I've found a $1 token on the floor and stuck it in the closest buck machine. First time won 80 dollars which is what we had just spent. 2nd time was 385'ish. My in laws and wife were walking ahead of me, No one noticed the coin. I picked it up and ka ching. My cell was blowing up while waiting in the cash out line, my wife then my father in law called, where are you, we want to go eat... I said bathroom, sorry, emergency. Worked well FIL pulled up at front door to wait on me. My wife was grinching about me having to go right then. Told her to hush, I was paid to poop there. My FIL keeps track of whos turn it is to buy dinner, That night was his turn, if he knew I'd hit a lil jackpot he'd cry forever trying to get me to buy dinner.
RobertJ.
Member
You knew what all the guitarists were wondering! That answered all four of my questions!
And I'm wary of picking up bills now, since I saw a TV show where the main characters were waiting for someone to pick up a one dollar bill they had placed on the ground, but had folded poop in the middle of it!
Big D good thread! Ill pick up $$$$ anywhere I see it Ill even pick your pocket for change lol .. for 2015 I may have found $1.00 , I am rural. In town Bangor a lot of homeless so they keep the loose change off the streets!
the ringo kid
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Mine's 41¢ so far and HOPEFULLY climbing.
the ringo kid
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My knees ain't too bou coup either but, for money, I'd find a easy to get it even if I have to stick gum on a stick.
About two weeks ago, I damaged both knees on concrete after tripping over myself moving out of the way of some guy in a wheel chair. I got home and when scraping my pantrs off, the knee part was stuck to both knees due to all the blood. Luckily, it didn't bother my exercising but, when falling, I bruised badly, a rib on my left side. That still hurts some.
Coldshooter
Member
Place I used to work had some 300 foot long halls with air intake grills at each end. Kids would roll the pennies and other coins down the hall, enough that I know 1500 pennies will fit in a quart ice cream container. Those coins helped pay for a new PP/s in 1973. I also found a brand new bra/panties set sealed in a baggie along a ski trail not sure why someone would need to swap those at 15 below. When I was in Kiwanis years ago we did an adopt a road clean up section and found a purse with a small .25 pistol, two oz. cocaine and a photo album of partiers. Guessing that one went out the window before a traffic stop.
the ringo kid
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Back in 87, my dad and I were eating at a Jim's restaurant in Kingsville. Someone sitting behind us in a booth, lost his wallet and not knowing, left the restaurant. I was coming back from a nature break, saw it, and handed it to my dad to open. He counted the money, $1,000 dollar bills and some odds and ends. Over $10 grand. At that time, we were scratching by best we could and that would have paid off any debts leaving surplus money. He found the daughters address in it, went and got a box, addresses it and sent it. The guy who lost it, was very I'll and moving to go live with his daughter in Harlingen. Harlingen was 72 miles from us. Well, three days later we got a call from the guy thanking us for sending him his lives savings. He'd rightfully been so distressed over losing his money. My dad said it was I who found the wallet and the guy insisted giving us $200.00.
Another time, I was in Austin at a new wm, found wallet on ground and just turned it in to a customer service manager and thought nothing more on it. Two weeks later, I came back to that wm, was approached by the store manager who asked me if I was the one who returned a wallet two weeks earlier? I said I haven't thought about it since but did say I was the one. He asked if I knew how much money had been in it, and I said I never counted or even open the wallet. He said at least $5 grand was in it. Then told me one of the local TV stations wanted to interview me. I declined because I didn't do more than what I was taught to do.
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