Peña finds large sum of money in a brown paper bag, returns it to owner
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Amanda Peña of George West arises at 1:30 a.m. to go to work each morning. She delivers newspapers to area businesses for the San Antonio Express-News. This past Sunday morning while on one of her routes she found a large sum of money in a brown paper bag.
“At about 5:30 a.m., I was delivering newspapers at Big Dawgs in Three Rivers. They have a little bench by the door where I set my papers. At first I thought it was trash and was going to throw it away; but I have an agreement with the owner to leave his front page paper clippings of unsold newspapers in a bag. I picked up the brown bag and it felt heavy so I looked inside and saw there was a lot of money. My friend was with me and she said you need to call somebody. At that moment I couldn’t remember the owner’s name so I dialed 911 and told them I found a bag of money on the bench by the store,” said Peña.
According to public record from the Live Oak County Sheriff’s Office, Peña called 911 at 5:32 a.m. Three Rivers Police Officer Rey Medrano arrived on the scene within minutes and saw the bag not only contained money it also contained checks, credit card receipts and a deposit slip. The sheriff’s complaint log further indicates the bag presumably was holding the business’ night deposit. The business owner, Ruben Salazar, was summoned and the property was released to him at 6:20 a.m.
Officer Medrano said, “It is good to see honest, decent people like Miss Peña. With the economy the way it is, it could be tempting to keep the money. It’s great when people look out for one another. I hope Mr. Salazar acknowledges her and gives her a reward.”
“At about 5:30 a.m., I was delivering newspapers at Big Dawgs in Three Rivers. They have a little bench by the door where I set my papers. At first I thought it was trash and was going to throw it away; but I have an agreement with the owner to leave his front page paper clippings of unsold newspapers in a bag. I picked up the brown bag and it felt heavy so I looked inside and saw there was a lot of money. My friend was with me and she said you need to call somebody. At that moment I couldn’t remember the owner’s name so I dialed 911 and told them I found a bag of money on the bench by the store,” said Peña.
According to public record from the Live Oak County Sheriff’s Office, Peña called 911 at 5:32 a.m. Three Rivers Police Officer Rey Medrano arrived on the scene within minutes and saw the bag not only contained money it also contained checks, credit card receipts and a deposit slip. The sheriff’s complaint log further indicates the bag presumably was holding the business’ night deposit. The business owner, Ruben Salazar, was summoned and the property was released to him at 6:20 a.m.
Officer Medrano said, “It is good to see honest, decent people like Miss Peña. With the economy the way it is, it could be tempting to keep the money. It’s great when people look out for one another. I hope Mr. Salazar acknowledges her and gives her a reward.”
That said. The entire article should have celebrated Amanda. There should have been no focus of the details of what was in the sack. As business manager finding the sack sends all sorts of red flags that some type of procedures and policy or policies were not followed ---intentionally or unintentionally.
If this was my business, I would be changing my habits...because thanks to the newspaper, (and criminals can read --at least some of them)they have announced that there is possibly a large cash flow leaving the store, in a brown paper back, probably when the store closes. Duh! This also means there is probably no safe...Duh! Man here are some opportunities to expand the coin in my pocket if I can get away with it...Duh!
So I am back to saying both the sheriff's department allowed too much information be released to the newspaper for print. And the newspaper reporter, did not consider the ramifications of reporting too much information in the story.
There is a fine line that reporters walk in journalism when trying to avoid censorship and protecting citizens.
The story should have been a glorious story for Amanda without the details of the sack. In fact all it had to say was it was found at one of the businesses on her route. It did not have to name the business.
It could have said the manager was called and identified the contents. There is a way to write the story so that that employees of the Big Dawg will not now be in danger when some fool gets a dimwhit idea.
Recommendations:
Change policies and procedures;
get a safe if you don't have one;
fire the employee that left the money outside
Sheriff's department reconsider how much information to release to protect a business and employees
Newspaper review editorial policy for stories to insure the story does not put other people's lives in danger in the future by disclosing too much information
Don't forget the key element --Amanda -the honest American.
I simply meant before that this story could have given the wrong idea to certain people and that this business, or any others for that matter, could now be in danger.
What should have happened here was a simple article recognizing someone for their honesy, that's it. No crime was committed here and it's not like the community would have lost anything or felt something was "hidden" if some of the information was left out, plain and simple.
We all have our opinions and we are entitled to it. I guess we will not see eye to eye on this and agree to disagree. Have a great day!
I give shame shame to the reporter. TMI about the issues.....there appears to either be a breakdown in procedures or there was an agreement for a crime. The Sheriff's department should have not released that much information. SHAME ON YOU TOO.
In today's world we the people don't need to know that much information. I agree that now this release of information could put employees in harms way. Will the newspaper be responsible. I vote yes.