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If You Found $7,000, Would You Keep It?

A woman found an envelope full of cash outside Hartsfield-Jackson Airport and turned it over to authorities. Would you have done the same thing? Tell us how you would’ve handled the situation.

A find outside Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport could have made a woman thousands of dollars richer.

WSB TV reported Tuesday that Pamela North Hollowaay found an envelope full of cash outside a parking deck at the airport. The woman, who works at the airport, immediately turned her find over to her supervisor, who then contacted police to pick it up.

It was later discovered that the envelope contained $7,000—all in $100 bills. Authorities handed over that money to a man who was able to identify how the bills had been wrapped and what was written on the envelope that contained them.

Here’s what we’d like your take on: Would you have turned the money over to authorities, or would you have kept it? Would your decision change if this situation were different in some way? And lastly, if you kept the money, how would you spend it?

Share what’s on your mind with us, and then return here to see what your neighbors in Cobb, Douglas and Paulding counties have said.

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Pam J March 6, 2013 at 02:01 pm
First, I don't understand how you lose an envelope with $7,000 in it. How does that happen? And I think we all hope we would do the right thing in a situation like this, but would we. I found a wallet outside the South Cobb Library last month. It had credit cards and the guy's social security card in it. I honestly don't think it ever occurred to me to keep it. I marched right into the library and gave it to one of the employees. Only afterwards did I think about what I could have done with the credit cards and the social security card. If you are a good person, even if you kept the money and spent it, I don't think you would ever feel good about it.
Jacqueline Mcgarity March 6, 2013 at 04:41 pm
I found $1,000 on the floor at the airport when in transit. I was going to turn it in to the flight attendants but I figured they would keep it so I boarded my flight and kept the money. Is it wrong that I kept it?!? It was on the floor... No wallet... no envelope..
Renee Booker March 6, 2013 at 06:53 pm
nope
Greg March 6, 2013 at 08:11 pm
And did you feel good about yourself spending the money? I think I would have looked around and see if anyone looked frantic searching for something they lost and asked them.
J March 6, 2013 at 08:38 pm
If I found a social security card and credit card I would feel good about turning it in. I'm a victim of identity theft and I know how it feels. I would be relieved that those items were found and returned back to the person. I'v done it before, I dont see how someone would not feel good about it.
Pam J March 6, 2013 at 09:44 pm
I went back into the library a few days later and they said the guy had picked it up. They said that he didn't even say "thank you". But I'm still glad I did it.
Pam J March 6, 2013 at 09:48 pm
Did you check to make sure it wasn't counterfeit? I probably wouldn't have given to a flight attendant either, but I would have called the airport when I got to my destination and asked if anybody had reported losing the money. I did find a $20 bill laying on the floor in Target last year. I went to the service desk and told them, but they said to just keep it. I gave them my name and phone number, but they never called. So I spent the money. I guess it just depends on the circumstances and the amount of money involved.
JACQUE March 7, 2013 at 04:34 pm
Found a wallet laying on a table at the post office one day and called the guy at work based on his business cards I found in the wallet. Asked if he lost something. He said yes he had lost his wallet. I told him I had it and would bring it over in a few minutes after he described it to me. When I got there he was on the phone and instructed his secretary to have me leave it for him. I could see him yapping away on the phone through the window of his office and he waved at me so I did. I left my business card tucked in the wallet sticking out. I never even got a polite thank you and there was over $800.00 in his wallet as well as several credit cards. No good deed goes unpunished I guess.
J March 7, 2013 at 05:51 pm
While it is nice to have a thank you or some kind of politeness or appreciation from doing a good deed, I think what's most important is our conscience. We cant control how other people respond to what we do when we do good things. I do believe in karma. When someone doesnt appreciate any good deed that I do, I brush it off and know some good energy will come back to me and I know at the end of the day I have a clear conscience. Some people are just ungrateful and unappreciative and sadly enough we can't control that. I continue on this path, because I do hope it becomes a ripple effect.
Karen March 7, 2013 at 07:38 pm
Doing the right thing is always right when it comes to finding a large amount of money. You always have to ask yourself if that had been you that lost the money, wouldn't you want that person to do all they could to make sure it was returned to to you? There will always be jerks out there who never show appreciation for good deeds. Shame on the man who did not take the time to personally thank you. You proved you are a better person than him.
Charles Schwable March 8, 2013 at 01:37 am
Some people that have been down and out and on the streets have found large sums of money to turn it in have been blessed either by God or the person who lost or misplaced the money with a job or other needs they have prayed for so honesty is the best policy! I used to work with a elderly grandmother in the 90's at Shoney's restaurant on Thornton Rd who struggled to raise her grandchildren because her daughter was on drugs and had custody of her grandchildren and customers who come up to her and hand her hundred dollar bills and tell her the Lord told them to do this when she didn't have a way to keep those kids either clothed, fed, or a roof over there head so you never know if that money dropped on ground was a test from God or honest mistake.
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Slick Hickman June 19, 2013 at 09:44 am
Sun Valley Beach. Buy it now, before it's in the MLS. It's a deal. Selling for less than land value.Read More Appraised for 3.3 million in 2009 (see attached exhibit). The Park was foreclosed last year and has been closed during the 2012 season. 33.78 Acres located in West Cobb County. Has been opened as an amusment center & water park since 1964 (see Park History attached). Zoning is mostly commercial with some R-15. All utilities including sewer on site along with over 20 buildings, 1.5 acre pool, including 2,100 sq. ft. office, several pavillons up to 5,300 & 4,200 sq. ft., baseball fields, putt putt golf or go-cart tract, etc.Utilities are being turned back on. Build your church here, summercamp, childcare, event facility, subdivision, your own "Beverly Hillbilly "Cement Pond"? We will even subdivide into two tracts. 20 acres & most of the park for $410,000 and 14 acres to the north with 5,300 sq ft pavillon for $170,000. Short term financing with 30% down payment. Get it off our books. Will pay the property taxes for the next two years for you! Just come take a look - only $17,000 per acre.
Slick Hickman June 19, 2013 at 09:46 am
o
THE TRUTH June 19, 2013 at 09:06 am
My point exactly!!! At that time hooters and red lobster were also shown the back door. these areRead More the businesses that bring change and money to a town.
Jon June 19, 2013 at 12:30 pm
Big chain restaurants like Applebees, Red Lobster, and Hooters don't bring money to a town. TheyRead More bring (dead-end minimum-wage) jobs, and the profits get funneled elsewhere. It is interesting, though, that there is only one full service restaurant that I'm aware of in the city limits - La Parilla further up Marietta St from the square. (I'm using the industry definition of a full-service restaurant: a sit-down restaurant, serving at least two meals six days per week, with a beer/wine license) I'm not in that business, so I really don't understand the conditions that would create a situation like that, but it is interesting to note.
THE TRUTH June 19, 2013 at 01:46 pm
I am not necessarily speaking about the jobs it will bring in jon, however, there are a lot ofRead More people in powder springs that will be thrilled with those "dead-end minimum wage" jobs. The fact is these restaurants draw people into town and those people in turn be exposed to businesses in powder springs. Ask yourself, if you and your family wanted to eat out or go shopping, where would you go? The answer would be hiram or austell rd. (east-west connector). Think about how many people from powder springs alone are drawn to these areas. Customer traffic, that's what these businesses bring, which in turn brings customers, that's the bottom line.
Greg T June 7, 2013 at 09:56 pm
Joel, the speech in front of the Woodrow Wilson Center is even more ironic and scary. Wilson was aRead More scary president because he jailed his political opponents for opposing the war after campaigning to keep us out of WWI. Also, his hatred of black Americans showed no humanity even after blacks voted overwhelmingly for him.
Ambo June 11, 2013 at 05:05 pm
This is exactly why I talk about my inflamed hemorrhoids on the phone every time I call someone! IRead More usually blame it on the IRS!
Marlene Mitchell June 13, 2013 at 06:49 pm
Pam J, Please don' t assume that Verizon is the only company.....it is everyone of them. VerizonRead More is the only one we have been told about. :(
CLUBFV June 6, 2013 at 04:42 pm
New cartoon show coming soon to a channel near you "NAMBLA Man" This superhero fightingRead More against all the evil powers that would deny him and his ilk of young male bodies.
EthelToffelmayer June 6, 2013 at 07:18 pm
And yet there has to be something that made you develop that opinion. I'm fascinated to hear whatRead More makes someone develop a personal belief that is so utterly reductive. The "anecodotal (sic) and opinion evidence (whatever that is...)" that created my belief is informed by empathy, compassion, understanding, and open-mindedness. What have you got?
Christopher Straub June 13, 2013 at 09:08 pm
Might recheck history; this nation was founded on religious freedom. You write as if you haveRead More disdain for other faiths, such as the one Jesus was a part of - you might remember, it was Judaism. Thought that was in the Bible - all the iterations, even the politically re-written versions.
Joel Clark June 11, 2013 at 12:31 pm
Most people don't know that the Trident originally had no eagle on it until the Navy made it anRead More exclusive Seal emblem... as a UDT member from the EOD side it pi$$ed a lot of us off that it was taken away. Seals had buds, basic underwater demolition and we had studs, strategic tactics underwater demolition. Anyway, we should have a cup of coffee, I bet we swam some of the same waters. Nihil Obstat, brother..
MA Evans June 12, 2013 at 12:22 am
Our youth are engaging in acts before their minds and bodies are ready for the acts.
JB June 12, 2013 at 11:57 am
@KJL: My have three children. It never ceased to amaze me the stories they would tell about friendsRead More having oral sex because "that isn't sex"- and about how young the friends were when they started. If information will help us to combat this problem then, yes, we should obtain it. For parents who think this will lead to your children thinking they are abnormal, think again. The fact that their friends are and they aren't already makes them feel that way. And if you think that this battle can be handled in the home, it should- and on every other front we can find.
exe May 24, 2013 at 05:12 pm
Frankly, I don't believe anyone NEEDS or has the RIGHT to expect a Bible or any religious book at aRead More state park. I go to enjoy the outdoors. Anyone who wants to bring their own religious text is free to do so. It is not right for the state parks to give the impression that they are in favor of certain religions and beliefs and not others.
stephen m george jr mpa May 24, 2013 at 05:43 pm
that book also explicitly states: "There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor aRead More SODOMITE of the sons of Israel," -Deuteronomy 23:17
Richard Pellegrino May 25, 2013 at 06:52 am
Stephen: Just because a text explicitly states something does that mean there is only one meaningRead More and interpretation of that verse or biblical text? For example the one you quoted have many different interpretations and meanings, most of which do not even indirectly relate to homosexuality. On another note...you seem to be a student of the Bible and ancient texts, as well as someone who is versed in many subjects. We have small group discussions on some of these topics, sometimes at my home, other friends' homes, and sometimes at coffee shops or other public places. And I often seek out those whose opinions or understandings may be different than mine to participate--not to debate whose opinion is right (though certainly some of that takes place) but to learn from each other and try to find some commonalities. If you think you might like to participate sometime feel free to contact me directly at pilgrim1@mindspring.com (and this goes for other bloggers too).
ray jay May 20, 2013 at 06:13 pm
Look for all you obama supporters y'all need to shut up. There was a ton of evidence, speculationRead More and everything else showing this president and his administration were and are as crookex as a dogs hind leg. Y'all idiots voted him back in at least that what they say I'm still not sure it wasn't a rigged election you know the kinds they have in russia? If there was a picture of president obama snortin coke off the oval office desk and a whore under each arm and him toasting the leader of iran y'all would still worship this creep.
ray jay May 20, 2013 at 06:14 pm
Bush was a honest and loyal president who had morals!!!!
Andrew Blawat May 20, 2013 at 08:55 pm
Spout all your usual lies and propaganda you want as no one believes your lies anyway libtard.