Milford Man Finds Cash In ATM, Decides To Return It

MILFORD, MA — He could've had quite a night on the town. Instead, he did the right thing.

On Tuesday afternoon, a Milford man found about $900 sitting in an ATM at the Bank of America branch near Aldi along Route 16.

The man, a North Street resident, called police to report the cash — and then told the dispatcher he was going to return it to the bank, according to the police log.

Although he did the morally correct thing with the cash, it turns he was also followed state law.

Massachusetts has a very specific law about what to do with found money. Anyone who finds more than $3 has to find a way to return it within two days — up to and including taking out an advertisement in the local newspaper.

"Any person who finds lost money or goods of the value of three dollars or more, the owner of which is unknown, shall within two days report the finding thereof to the officer in charge at a police station in the town where said property was found, or, if there is no police station, post notice thereof in two public places therein, or, instead of such report or posting, cause notice thereof to be advertised in a newspaper published therein," Chapter 134, section 1 of the General Laws says.

However, if the owner of the money doesn't turn up within a year, it's legal for you to keep the money.