The Albany Police Department faced online criticism after requesting the public's help to identify a man who found $30 on the floor of a Walmart and did not turn it in to store employees. The department posted on Facebook on August 18, along with a surveillance image of the individual, asking for information that could lead to his identification.
Social media users expressed outrage over the police expending resources on the matter, with many arguing that finding a small amount of cash on the floor was not a crime. "When I was out with some friends I found a bank envelope in a parking lot that appeared to be from a withdrawal and it had $8,000 in it. Now that is something you turn in not $30 found inside a Walmart," one Facebook user commented. Another user questioned the police's approach, asking, "So when I find pennies and quarters on the ground, who do I turn them in to?"
The man involved was eventually identified and returned the money to the person who had dropped it. The victim initially considered pressing charges but decided against it after the money was returned. Georgia law states that taking possession of lost property without an honest effort to return it could be considered theft.
Images of the incident were released by the Albany Police Department via Facebook. IMAGE7
Despite the legal statute, the public reaction online suggested a disconnect between law enforcement's approach and public perception of the severity of the alleged offense.