A man from Connecticut said he felt as if he had won the lottery when he stumbled upon a bag containing almost $5,000 in cash lying unattended in a parking lot. He chose to hold onto the money, a decision that has now led to larceny charges three months later.
Unbeknownst to him, the bag was clearly marked with a bank’s logo and was discovered right outside that same bank.
Trumbull Police revealed that the bag contained funds from the town’s tax department, along with “numerous documents” that identified the legitimate owner as the town of Trumbull.
The individual in question, Robert Withington, a 56-year-old resident of Trumbull, maintains that he neither stole the money nor noticed any indications of ownership while inspecting the bag.
He stated that the discovery felt like a spontaneous lottery win and was not premeditated.
While Withington could not be reached for comment, he had initially believed he had not committed any wrongdoing.
The money had gone missing on May 30, when an employee from the Trumbull Tax Collector’s office realised the bag was absent upon arriving at the bank to make a deposit.
Subsequent investigations, including surveillance footage analysis and interviews, led to the discovery that Withington had unwittingly picked up the bag that had been accidentally dropped outside the bank.
Withington, who operates a dog training business and asserts his reputation for integrity, faces charges of third-degree larceny, a felony with potential consequences of up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.
He was released with a commitment to appear in court on September 5. Despite the legal situation, Withington asserts his commitment to generosity and expresses a desire to avoid trouble, considering himself a longstanding member of the community.
