# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-a-bag-of-cash-falls-out-of-an-armored-truck/664487/21 "2013-07-25T22:39:08Z")
Honestly, I wouldn’t do one damned thing. For starters, a bag of cash falling out of an armored truck is going to attract **plenty** of attention with or without me, so me calling it in or not wouldn’t mean much in the grand scheme of things. Also, the idea of taking that money is silly as it seems easily traceable. So I’d just look at it, think “Wow, you don’t see _that_ every day” and keep on keeping on. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-a-bag-of-cash-falls-out-of-an-armored-truck/664487/22 "2013-07-25T23:05:38Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Exactly this. > > I’m curious to know how those who suggest they’d keep it justify the theft in their minds? You don’t have to justify theft, just live with it. ---
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2013, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-a-bag-of-cash-falls-out-of-an-armored-truck/664487/23 "2013-07-25T23:18:22Z")
Return it right away and hope for some reward. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2013, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-a-bag-of-cash-falls-out-of-an-armored-truck/664487/24 "2013-07-26T00:49:41Z")
Not touch it. Then race home to post my story on the SDMB. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2013, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-a-bag-of-cash-falls-out-of-an-armored-truck/664487/25 "2013-07-26T01:32:56Z")
I’m sufficiently needy/greedy that **if** I could get away with it scot-free, I would. But I would not if it meant taking one iota of risk of getting caught. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2013, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-a-bag-of-cash-falls-out-of-an-armored-truck/664487/26 "2013-07-26T02:12:30Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Exactly this. > > I’m curious to know how those who suggest they’d keep it justify the theft in their minds? Ummm, finders keepers/losers weepers??? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2013, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-a-bag-of-cash-falls-out-of-an-armored-truck/664487/27 "2013-07-26T02:21:47Z")
The word is important here. They say “grabbed the money” which implies to me that they could see the truck & guards were returning for the money. They grabbed it and ran. Thats different from picking up something that seems abandoned. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2013, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-a-bag-of-cash-falls-out-of-an-armored-truck/664487/28 "2013-07-26T02:50:54Z")
I’d have picked it up, followed the truck and honked or made enough of a ruckus until they pulled over, then handed it back to them. I’d probably be calling 911 as I pursued them, just to be sure it was reported and documented. I can’t believe there’s any other answer. For G-d’s sake, if you keep it, it’s theft. Why would you _do_ that? ---
**Author:** ![turtlescanfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@turtlescanfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/turtlescanfly)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2013, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-a-bag-of-cash-falls-out-of-an-armored-truck/664487/29 "2013-07-26T02:59:18Z")
I need someone to explain to me how a bag of money falls off of an armored truck. It’s not like we’re talking about an open bed pickup truck or anything. You hear of this happening every once in a while, but HOW? My guess is that the driver/guards have something to do with this “accident” and may even be acquainted with the people who “find” it. As for the OP, as tempting as it would be to take the money and run, the potential to f\*\*\* up your life is too great. I would immediately report it and hope for a reward. ---
**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 26, 2013, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-a-bag-of-cash-falls-out-of-an-armored-truck/664487/30 "2013-07-26T03:27:33Z")
> [@turtlescanfly](#): > > I need someone to explain to me how a bag of money falls off of an armored truck. It’s not like we’re talking about an open bed pickup truck or anything. You hear of this happening every once in a while, but HOW? My guess is that the driver/guards have something to do with this “accident” and may even be acquainted with the people who “find” it. They could be inside jobs. We probably don’t hear about the cases where it happens and the money isn’t returned because if it’s due to carelessness or internal theft the armored car company doesn’t want their customers to find out. But sometimes it’s just plain carelessness. A more likely case for a simple accident is when one of the guys puts a bag on the ground while getting his keys out and forgets to put it in the truck before driving away. But any kind of distraction could make someone forget that they forgot to close the door, though I imagine in a modern armored truck there’d be an indicator in the cab about that. ---
**Author:** ![Schism](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/97f17d/32.png) [@Schism](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schism)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2013, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-a-bag-of-cash-falls-out-of-an-armored-truck/664487/31 "2013-07-26T04:34:07Z")
A book called **A Simple Plan** touches on this subject of found money and how it can seriously fuck your life up. I’d take it. I’d be scared as hell I was going to get busted but I’d take it. :What’s the most they’d give you anyway? A year? I could do that standing on my head. 🙂 ---
**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 26, 2013, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-a-bag-of-cash-falls-out-of-an-armored-truck/664487/32 "2013-07-26T04:38:11Z")
> [@Schism](#): > > A book called **A Simple Plan** touches on this subject of found money and how it can seriously fuck your life up. This was also a movie starring Bill Paxton. (And it was a pretty good movie.) ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2013, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-a-bag-of-cash-falls-out-of-an-armored-truck/664487/33 "2013-07-26T04:47:57Z")
Poor communication between the 2 man crew of the truck could result in one of them not securing the doors properly. As for taking the money? It’s theft. And since the money is probably the property of a bank, it’s considered bank robbery. As for this particular incident, the idiots snatched it as the crew was trying to get back to recover it. The armored truck crew got the license plate number of the idiots’ vehicle. It wasn’t a case of just finding a bag filled with currency, it was more of a snatch and run. ---
**Author:** ![Schism](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/97f17d/32.png) [@Schism](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schism)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2013, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-a-bag-of-cash-falls-out-of-an-armored-truck/664487/34 "2013-07-26T04:52:16Z")
It was pretty good. Made me want to read the book and now I know what NOT to do when I find my bag o’ dough. ---
**Author:** ![Tequila\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a6a055/32.png) [@Tequila\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tequila_Party)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2013, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-a-bag-of-cash-falls-out-of-an-armored-truck/664487/35 "2013-07-26T05:06:20Z")
Also **Money for Nothing** with John Cusack. It was based on a true story and, right around the time the movie came out, the guy who had found the money in real life, committed suicide. ---
**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 26, 2013, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-a-bag-of-cash-falls-out-of-an-armored-truck/664487/36 "2013-07-26T08:33:01Z")
Remember the episode of _ **The Rockford Files** _ where the guy who had stolen a suitcase full of money _x_ years earlier got a pang of conscience and wanted to return it because he thought the statute of limitations had run out? Turned out he was wrong, and he brought a whole shitload of trouble down on him, including a bill for over $1 million from the IRS! ---
**Author:** ![Barking\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Barking\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barking_Dog)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2013, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-a-bag-of-cash-falls-out-of-an-armored-truck/664487/37 "2013-07-26T08:46:21Z")
For the potential thieves here, I believe Fearless Leader did an article about laundering money [here.](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2836/how-would-i-go-about-laundering-money) And yeah, I’d take the money too if there was a reasonable chance of getting away with it. No moral justification needed. I’d be ok with the knowledge that I was a dirty, dirty criminal. And if I ever had a pang of conscience later in life, that kind of money can buy lots and lots of booze to drink the guilt away! ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2013, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-a-bag-of-cash-falls-out-of-an-armored-truck/664487/38 "2013-07-27T03:07:00Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > The word is important here. They say “grabbed the money” which implies to me that they could see the truck & guards were returning for the money. They grabbed it and ran. That’s what Bobbie Sue did. mmm ---
**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 27, 2013, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-a-bag-of-cash-falls-out-of-an-armored-truck/664487/39 "2013-07-27T03:14:37Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > That’s what Bobbie Sue did. > mmm Billy Mack is a detective down in Texas / You know he knows just exactly what the facts is. That rhyme is a far greater crime than anything mentioned in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2013, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-a-bag-of-cash-falls-out-of-an-armored-truck/664487/40 "2013-07-27T03:21:36Z")
Return it, with my luck I would know damn well 14 cameras would be recording my picking it up, license plate, VIN tag, fingerprints and who knows what else. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-if-a-bag-of-cash-falls-out-of-an-armored-truck/664487.md?page=1) [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=3)