2011-09-01 08:23:30
As the old saw goes, money doesn't grow on trees. But sometimes it sprouts up
in the garden. An unemployed man in northern Illinois was out working in his
backyard when he came across some serious green: bags filled with $150,000
cash.
Wayne Sabaj was headed to pick some broccoli to go with his roast. The
carpenter spotted duffel bags that looked like trash by the peppers -- but they
turned out to be a cash crop: stacks of $20 bills that added up to about
$150,000. The 49-year-old, who is living with his dad, did not exactly jump for
joy.
The out-of-work carpenter told ABC7, "I could really use this money." But with
this money comes trouble. He explained, "With my luck, it would be bank robbery
and I'd get caught and say I'd robbed a bank."
So the honest man with money troubles alerted the police to his amazing
backyard treasure.
For now, police haven't a clue to where the cash came from: There are no
reported burglaries in the area, and no banks have been robbed.
Then there was the concern that whoever left the money behind would be back,
and that's a problem the Sabaj men would rather have solved by the police.
If nobody comes forward to legitimately claim the cash, there may be a happy
ending for the man tending his garden: Police will help figure out if Sabaj can
keep the money. The carpenter has retained an attorney just in case.
For now, the cash is in custody with the country sheriff, who left behind a
card on the lawn where Sabaj found the bags, bearing the simple message, Please
call.