# What Do You Do if a Bag of Cash Falls Out of an Armored Truck? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 25, 2013, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-a-bag-of-cash-falls-out-of-an-armored-truck/664487 "2013-07-25T15:52:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-a-bag-of-cash-falls-out-of-an-armored-truck/664487/1 "2013-07-25T15:52:47Z")
"A man and woman are facing felony charges after allegedly grabbing a bag of cash that fell out of an armored truck Wednesday morning. The pair were arrested leaving Merle Hay Mall after a shopping spree, police said." [http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20130725/NEWS01/307250074/1001/](http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20130725/NEWS01/307250074/1001/) ---
**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-a-bag-of-cash-falls-out-of-an-armored-truck/664487/2 "2013-07-25T15:55:42Z")
Well I wouldn’t do \*that \*with it. If I saw it fall, or knew what it was, I’d contact authorities. Random anonymous untraceable money shows up, I might stash it away somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-a-bag-of-cash-falls-out-of-an-armored-truck/664487/3 "2013-07-25T15:55:43Z")
Pick it up, say “Thank you, Jesus” and run like hell!😃 ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-a-bag-of-cash-falls-out-of-an-armored-truck/664487/4 "2013-07-25T15:56:04Z")
Serves them right. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-a-bag-of-cash-falls-out-of-an-armored-truck/664487/5 "2013-07-25T15:59:59Z")
I like the mugshot in the linked article. That woman is _way_ too cheery for someone being arrested. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-a-bag-of-cash-falls-out-of-an-armored-truck/664487/6 "2013-07-25T16:02:49Z")
I shut my big fat mouth, wait for a few years, then use the money for daily non-traceable transactions, like food and whatnot. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-a-bag-of-cash-falls-out-of-an-armored-truck/664487/7 "2013-07-25T16:39:23Z")
In a street or neighborhood full of people who I know could identify me (or simply take down my tag number), I wouldn’t risk it. The guards in the truck evidently tried to respond too. I wouldn’t chance taking a round from a .45 for any amount of cash. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-a-bag-of-cash-falls-out-of-an-armored-truck/664487/8 "2013-07-25T16:58:27Z")
Step 1, bring it home for “safe keeping”, unless I’m going to be immediately arrested or shot at for picking it up. Step 2, call the police from a burner cell, or pay phone\* ask them if anyone reported missing money, indicate clearly that you are hoping to return it to the owner ASAP, but that you are not turning anything over until the owner claims it. Step 3 - return it, if someone can correctly identify the amount, spend it if nobody reports it missing. \*Your grandparents might know what these are. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-a-bag-of-cash-falls-out-of-an-armored-truck/664487/9 "2013-07-25T17:10:23Z")
[Celebration!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GwjfUFyY6M) ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-a-bag-of-cash-falls-out-of-an-armored-truck/664487/10 "2013-07-25T17:14:55Z")
I’d be looking for the camera crew filming the prank. I might pick up the bag, see what’s in it, and ‘accidentally’ spill the contents out onto the street. But most likely I’d just call the police and report it. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Know\_Nothing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f04885/32.png) [@I\_Know\_Nothing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Know_Nothing)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-a-bag-of-cash-falls-out-of-an-armored-truck/664487/11 "2013-07-25T17:42:18Z")
I cousin of mine took bag of cash that fell off an armored truck to the police. Turns out there was another bag that was missing or at least that’s what the police said while questioning him. They thought he turned in one to avoid suspicion about keeping the other one. I don’t remember if he was actually detained or arrested and let go, but he was at the police station all day answering questions. I wouldn’t touch it. I don’t think I would be doing anyone any favors if I did. The driver is still getting fired whether the money turns up or not. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-a-bag-of-cash-falls-out-of-an-armored-truck/664487/12 "2013-07-25T18:53:20Z")
Call the police; since I know it came from an armored truck I can reasonably expect that they can identify who it came from and arrange for its return. Therefore I have a responsibility to do so. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-a-bag-of-cash-falls-out-of-an-armored-truck/664487/13 "2013-07-25T18:56:42Z")
> [@Yorikke](#): > > I shut my big fat mouth, wait for a few years, then use the money for daily non-traceable transactions, like food and whatnot. Same. Of course, I’m torching the bag and any money bands. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-a-bag-of-cash-falls-out-of-an-armored-truck/664487/14 "2013-07-25T20:28:02Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Call the police; since I know it came from an armored truck I can reasonably expect that they can identify who it came from and arrange for its return. Therefore I have a responsibility to do so. Exactly this. I’m curious to know how those who suggest they’d keep it justify the theft in their minds? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-a-bag-of-cash-falls-out-of-an-armored-truck/664487/15 "2013-07-25T20:31:36Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > I’m curious to know how those who suggest they’d keep it justify the theft in their minds? I think the obvious answer is the money. That must be the most common reason people justify theft. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-a-bag-of-cash-falls-out-of-an-armored-truck/664487/16 "2013-07-25T20:33:36Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I think the obvious answer is the money. That must be the most common reason people justify theft. Yes, I suppose you’re right. What I meant to do, though, was explore the potential moral and ethical dilemma created by the tension between the desire to keep the money and the desire to behave in a moral and ethical manner - not to mention a legal manner. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-a-bag-of-cash-falls-out-of-an-armored-truck/664487/17 "2013-07-25T20:36:28Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Call the police; since I know it came from an armored truck I can reasonably expect that they can identify who it came from and arrange for its return. Therefore I have a responsibility to do so. I wouldn’t even touch the bag. I’d call the police, and maybe keep an eye on the bag if I’ve got nothing better to do, but I wouldn’t risk getting any more involved by touching the bag. I don’t have any responsibility to do more than that. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-a-bag-of-cash-falls-out-of-an-armored-truck/664487/18 "2013-07-25T21:01:19Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I like the mugshot in the linked article. That woman is _way_ too cheery for someone being arrested. Looks like she may have spent some of the cash on happy pills of some sort. Or a lobotomy. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-a-bag-of-cash-falls-out-of-an-armored-truck/664487/19 "2013-07-25T22:15:25Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > Same. > > Of course, I’m torching the bag and any money bands. Be sure to pulverize and scatter the ashes. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-a-bag-of-cash-falls-out-of-an-armored-truck/664487/20 "2013-07-25T22:19:46Z")
Turn it into the cops and hope for a reward; bitch like hell to the media if I didn’t get one. But first I’d send out pictures of rolls of bills next to my penis using the name ‘Carlos Danger Too’. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-a-bag-of-cash-falls-out-of-an-armored-truck/664487.md?page=2)