Man Charged with Larceny After Keeping $5,000 Found in Parking Lot

Connecticut Man Charged with Larceny After Keeping Bag of Cash Found in Parking Lot

TRUMBULL, Conn. – A Connecticut man is facing charges of larceny after he decided to keep a bag containing nearly $5,000 in cash that he found in a parking lot. The man, identified as Robert Withington, 56, of Trumbull, claims he did not steal the money and was unaware of the bag’s contents.

Withington stumbled upon the bag three months ago and described the moment as feeling like he had won the lottery. However, it has since been revealed that the bag, which was clearly marked with a bank’s insignia, contained cash from the town’s tax department. Trumbull Police stated that there were also important documents inside the bag that identified the rightful owner as the town of Trumbull.

“It’s not like this was planned out,” Withington told Hearst Connecticut Media. “Everything was in the moment and it was like I hit the lottery. That was it.”

The money went missing on May 30 when an employee from the Trumbull Tax Collector’s office failed to locate the bag after arriving at the bank to make a deposit during regular business hours. Over the course of several months, detectives conducted an extensive investigation, obtaining search warrants, reviewing surveillance videos, and conducting interviews. It was during this investigation that they discovered the bag had been inadvertently dropped outside the bank and subsequently picked up by Withington.

“I walked out onto the parking lot, saw something on the ground and there was no one around so I picked it up,” Withington explained. “It’s not like I stole something.”

Withington claims that he did not notice anything inside the bag indicating who the owner was and believed he had no obligation to return it. However, police stated that during their interview with Withington, he admitted to being at the bank that day and taking the bag.

Withington, who runs a dog training business, maintains his innocence and asserts that he has never had a criminal record. He also mentioned that his customers can vouch for his integrity. He was charged with third-degree larceny, a felony that carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and up to $5,000 in fines. Withington was released on a promise to appear in court on September 5.

“Anybody who knows me knows all I’m about is generosity,” Withington said. “After living in this town for 20 years, I’m not looking for trouble.”

Is it always necessary to see identification or indication of ownership before making an effort to return lost or abandoned property to its rightful owner

Labeled as belonging to a local business, had been reported missing by the owner.

According to authorities, surveillance footage showed Withington discovering the bag and inspecting its contents before deciding to keep it. Withington alleges that he did not see any identification or indication of who the bag belonged to at the time.

Once the owner of the bag reported it missing, an investigation was launched, and it didn’t take long for authorities to connect the dots. Withington was charged with larceny and now faces legal consequences for his actions.

Larceny is defined as the unlawful taking and carrying away of someone else’s property with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of their possession. If convicted, Withington could face significant fines and potentially even jail time.

In response to the charges, Withington’s attorney argued that his client had not intentionally stolen the money. He claimed that Withington had reasonably believed the bag was abandoned and thought he could keep it as a lucky find.

However, whether or not Withington genuinely believed he had stumbled upon an abandoned bag, the law still generally requires people to make reasonable efforts to identify the owner and return lost or abandoned property. In this case, it seems that Withington failed to do so, leading to his charges of larceny.

This incident serves as a reminder to always act ethically and responsibly when encountering lost or abandoned property. While the allure of keeping a large sum of money may be tempting, it is essential to make reasonable efforts to return the property to its rightful owner.

As for the bag’s owner, they have since been reunited with their cash and were grateful for the assistance and quick action of law enforcement in resolving the situation. The incident may have served as a wake-up call for both Withington and others to consider the legal and moral implications of finding and keeping lost property.