A 24-year-old Florida man who accidentally left $30,000 in a public restroom has been reunited with the cash thanks to an honest stranger. The money, raised by selling a valuable Pokémon card collection, was intended to pay for his sister's medical treatment.
Lost fortune in a fanny pack
The incident occurred earlier this month at a Wawa convenience store in Palm Beach County. The young man, who has chosen to remain anonymous, stopped to use the restroom while driving to a family gathering in Coral Springs. He was carrying a black fanny pack containing $30,023 in cash – the proceeds from selling a significant portion of his Pokémon collection. The funds were earmarked to cover a vital medical procedure for his younger sister, who lacks health insurance.
After leaving the restroom, he drove off, forgetting the fanny pack. When he realized his mistake, he returned to the store, but the bag was gone. 'I thought I was absolutely screwed,' he told The Washington Post.
The finder's dilemma
Luis Salavar, a 58-year-old construction worker, discovered the fanny pack hanging on a disabled support rail in the bathroom. Security footage shows him leaving the restroom with the bag. Salavar searched the store and parking lot for the owner but found no one. He then checked the bag for identification and found bundles of $100 and $50 bills.
'My heart just dropped,' Salavar said. He never considered keeping the money. '$30,000 is great, but it's not mine to keep. I like to earn my money,' he stated. Instead of handing the bag to staff or police, he decided to track down the owner himself because he didn't trust the money would be returned otherwise. He remembered the man had dark curly hair, beige sandals, blue jeans, and a white shirt.
A happy reunion
Days later, police identified Salavar through the rental van he was driving. Officers contacted him on May 7 and asked him to bring the bag to the station. When the two men met, Salavar recognized the sandals immediately. 'This is yours,' he said. 'You're a lifesaver,' the younger man replied. The owner counted the cash at the station – every dollar was present. He later gave the money to his sister for her treatment.
Police concluded the case was a lost property incident, not a theft. The 24-year-old offered to take Salavar to dinner, but he declined. 'I just did the right thing. I don't need to be put on a pedestal,' Salavar said.
