Man Arrested, Charged After Finding $5,000 in Cash on the Ground

We have all seen posts on Facebook where someone discovers a lost item on the ground and wishes to reunite it with its owner. Sometimes it is a piece of jewelry, a cellphone, or even a wallet. A Connecticut man discovered a bag with close to $5,000 cash in it and instead of posting about it on Facebook, he took it as a sign of good luck.

Robert Withington says he felt like he won the lottery, but now he is being charged with theft three months later.

Get our free mobile app

The 56-year-old found the bag of cash outside in the parking lot of an insignia bank in Connecticut, to which Police are saying the bag of cash belongs. This bag contained cash from Trumbull, Connecticut's tax department. Robert Withington says he didn't steal the money but police said the bag had documentation in it that indicated it belonged to the bank.

It's not like this was planned out, Everything was in the moment and it was like I hit the lottery. That was it.

Withington told Hearst Connecticut Media that this was not premeditated and felt like he won the lottery when he "walked out onto the parking lot, saw something on the ground". Withington says he didn't see anyone else around so he picked up and went about his day.

If I knew I was wrong in the first place, I would have given it right back. I didn’t think I was doing anything wrong

He was charged Friday with third-degree larceny despite never having a criminal record and having customers and coworkers vouch for his character. Robert says he has lived in Trumball for two decades and isn't looking for any trouble.

Anybody who knows me knows all I’m about is generosity

He could face up to 5 years in prison, and ironically $5,000 in fines the same amount he is being accused of stealing. Withington is set to appear in court on September 5th.