Tuesday, February 06, 2007

In the headlines

Imagine being a broke student who's just found out their student loans were way smaller than anticipated. Then imagine finding $10,000 at a bank machine.

Would you turn it in? Would you do the right thing or abscond with it, never to be heard from?

This guy did turn it in.

While on campus, Jamie Hawkins found $10,000 (which is apparently the size of a loaf of bread if you were wondering ) that was left behind when workers from Group 4 Securicor left it there after refilling a bank machine. It was apparently barey visible under a shelf. That's the same Group 4 Securicor that touts itself to form "the largest global network of security operations worldwide, with 430,000 full and part-time employees.'

People who work for them left behind $10,000. Jamie Hawkins finds it, and turns it in to an employee at the University Centre near where the machine was located.

Their reward from the "largest global network of security operations" which has $10,000 returned to it?

$500 each for Jamie Hawkins and the student centre employee.

I know that being just is its own reward, but anyone else find that amount piddley given what he did?

(In case you're wondering I do, but I still would have turned it in as he did)

15 comments:

megan said...

I hate to admitt this but I would have kept the money.

Anonymous said...

I think my paranoid tendencies would have kicked in, personally. I would WANT to keep the money, but I would know that karmically it would come back to bite me in the ass. Guilt - it's what's for dinner.

twi_stfm said...

The reward was peanuts. The guy got ripped off! I probably still would have turned it in.

Anonymous said...

A pittance! I would have been torn, but would have turned in the money. 10,000 bucks would make for a heavy conscience. That said, the reward should have been more.

mamatulip said...

I have a huge conscience, so I would have turned the money in. But I have to admit that even though I know I shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth, I'd be slightly (okay, more than slightly, more like moderately) offended by $500.

*sigh* It's all about the Benjamins...er, the Bordens...

(I find it deliciously fitting that the first four letters of my word verification are 'bank'.)

megan said...

I am beginning to feel like a criminal, you people are all so honnest. I don't know if I share your outrage about the $500 though. I mean it was a 10% reward in total. The first guy should have gotten all the cash.

kittenpie said...

that does seem pretty paltry a reward. I'm sure he appreciated it anyhow, being a student, but still.

Heather said...

megan: I'd be so afraid of the karma bus I wouldn't, but I don't deny it'd be tempting.

roro: exactly! I'd be jumpy waiting for the meep-meep of the karma bus coming to run me over.

elaine: I think so too!

wordgirl: Agreed on both counts.

mamatulip: Agreed - $500, especially after the story broke seems pretty paltry.

megan: Don't feel like a criminal - and while I think it was paltry, I agree the first guy should have received the whole reward.

kittenpie: As a student I took what I could get, so I'm sure it's appreciated too.

Teena in Toronto said...

I'd be tempted to keep the $$ too ...

Jess said...

See? Guys from Nova S? The best.

(As long as they don't work as ATM re-fillers.)

I was surprised to hear the reward was so low. And why did the other fellow get any?

Beulah said...

I would want to keep it, not necessarily out of guilt or honesty, but because I'd be afraid the serial numbers were registered somewhere or I would be caught on camera taking the money, LOL.

And I think the reward was too small.

Beulah said...

I completely screwed up my comment. I would want to keep it, but would NOT because of my paranoia.

EUC said...

Teena: It would be tempting, but I'd still have to turn it in.

daysgoby: I know some Ontario boys who would have done the right thing, and i agree, no idea why the student centre person got any moulah, let alone the same amount as the guy who found it!

trish: Yeah the whole finder's keepers might totally bite you in the butt.

Anonymous said...

Honestly, I probably would have turned it in, but not out of goodness, more out of fear of being caught.

Her Bad Mother said...

I think that it was piddly. And I would have turned it in, too - but more because I would have been afraid of it being drug money, than any altruistic impulse. Twisted, I know.