Couple Discovers 'Electrical Box' In Backyard Was Actually A Safe Filled With Treasure
By Mustafa GatollariIf you grew up on cheesy action-adventure movies like me that are set in the early 20s or 30s, then you probably are wary of ancient treasures and the inevitable curses they'll bring upon you.
I know it seems like an irrational fear, but the idea that my greed and desire for a "shortcut" to fame and fortune resulting in an eventual and horrible curse is something I worry about a little too much, seeing as they're not real (probably). So the idea of grave/tomb robbing isn't something I'm into, because I don't want a visit from any supernatural creatures chasing me to the ends of the earth.
But ancient artifacts is where I draw the line. If I find an old-timey safe or something that's existed in the last couple of centuries and it's filled with modern day cash and goods, you best believe I'm going to take that stuff with a clear conscience or fear of repercussion.
Which is why I can't understand, for the life of me, why this couple would do what they did when they discovered a rusty safe behind some trees in their backyard. A safe that they thought for the longest time was just an electrical box. It wasn't.
This couple thought a piece of rusty metal behind some trees in their backyard was just part of a cable or electrical box, but it turned out to be a safe containing $52,000 in cash, gold and diamonds https://t.co/ig0vexJkp1 pic.twitter.com/pkmpnjZYcy
— CNN (@CNN) May 18, 2018
This gross-looking box was on their property. This gross looking box contained $52,000 in cash, gold, and diamonds. This gross looking box could been their next decadent vacation. A double-or-nothing "bet on black" single game of roulette. A brand new supercharged Audi. A $52K bitcoin investment.
And Matthew and Maria Colonna Emanuel decided they couldn't keep it. They could've said, "Finders keepers." They could've easily kept the money and all of the belongings. But there's a reason they didn't.
This couple found a buried safe containing $52,000 worth of money, gold and jewelry in their backyard, but didn't keep it https://t.co/M56v3976xY pic.twitter.com/BDkukAaghv
— CNN (@CNN) May 17, 2018
It's because the couple are decent people. In addition to all of the discovered loot, these two State Island folks found a sheet of paper.
On that paper, was an address.
Couple's 'cable box' turned out to be a safe with cash, gold, diamonds and an address https://t.co/IHBDlFx0Nl pic.twitter.com/rt9AWAQhVK
— The News & Observer (@newsobserver) May 18, 2018
Because they have a conscience or whatever, they knew that they needed to contact the person whose name was on the address and as it turns out, that person was their neighbor.
So they knocked on their door and asked if they'd ever been burglarized. Turns out that they were and the police reports from 2011 prove it.
Buried treasure worth $52,000 found in Staten Island, NY. Matthew and Maria Colonna Emanuel assumed the rusting hulk of metal jutting out beneath some trees was a cable box. Inside was an address. This is about what Good Samaritans in #NYC do https://t.co/CmeGqjPQXe
— Mae_Westside (@Mae_Westside) May 16, 2018
So the couple let their neighbor know that they had their safe without hesitation, which of course, people admired. Because it's very easy to talk yourself into keeping it in that situation, think of all the excuses?
They probably got insurance to cover it.
or:
This is fate, the universe is looking out for me.
or the most compelling:
Finder's keepers, b****es.
People on Twitter not only commended the couple for their honesty...
Now this is almost UNHEARD of in today's world, but it goes to show that there are still plenty of good people in this world. #AwesomeStory https://t.co/6HmJ9eCXu3
— Josh Alvarez (@Raider7597) May 18, 2018
...but they also had a bunch of questions for whoever stole the safe.
Weird. Trying to figure out what possessed the theft to bury the loot AND add the neighbor’s info in it. SMH
— Nancy (@nancamar) May 18, 2018
Like, if they were planning on going back and getting the safe after stealing it, why didn't they ever go back and pick it up? Why would they leave it so close to the crime scene?
Why would the thief just leave the safe there!? Did they forget where they left it? Oh well...good for them for being Good Samaritan’s and returning the money. pic.twitter.com/XZT0XUsgXJ
— Uwanna Nic🌸 (@UwannaNic) May 18, 2018
And then a bunch of other people basically told the same joke.
I lost a safe just like that!! Was it rusty, metal, found in a wooded area with cash, diamonds and assorted valuables? Right behind a house? Text me and ill arrange pick up! Thank You!!
— Sam Combs (@SamMirrorFlexes) May 18, 2018
That's where I left it...... pic.twitter.com/cQ0UE4Zftc
— DBNorCal (@DBNorCal) May 18, 2018
The story also inspired some hopeful treasure hunters to grab a shovel and go to work in their own backyards.
*starts digging in my backyard* pic.twitter.com/TnwxeagjTL
— Mika Gisele 🌻 (@mickiela) May 18, 2018
And others lamenting their own misfortune.
Why can’t this be me... I have student loans that this would help with :(
— B.Rad (@brandan2011) May 18, 2018
Honestly, as sad as it sounds, I know plenty of people who happened upon $52,000 randomly just means they'll be in less debt than they were before. #StudentLoanLife.
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