A thief who dropped a winning lottery ticket at the scene of his crime has been given a lesson in honesty.
A
thief
who
dropped
a
winning
lottery
ticket
at
the
scene
of
his
crime
has
been
given
a
lesson
in
honesty
.
His victim, who picked up the ticket, then claimed the PS25000 prize, managed to trace him, and handed over the cash.
His
victim
,
who
picked
up
the
ticket
,
then
claimed
the
PS25000
prize
,
managed
to
trace
him
,
and
handed
over
the
cash
.
The robbery happened when maths professor Vinicio Sabbatucci,58, was changing a tyre on an Italian motorway.
The
robbery
happened
when
maths
professor
Vinicio
Sabbatucci,58
,
was
changing
a
tyre
on
an
Italian
motorway
.
Another motorist, who stopped "to help", stole a suitcase from his car and drove off.
Another
motorist
,
who
stopped
``
to
help
''
,
stole
a
suitcase
from
his
car
and
drove
off
.
The professor found the dropped ticket and put it in his pocket before driving home to Ascoli in eastern Italy.
The
professor
found
the
dropped
ticket
and
put
it
in
his
pocket
before
driving
home
to
Ascoli
in
eastern
Italy
.
Next day, he saw the lottery results on TV and, taking out the ticket, realized it was a winner.
Next
day
,
he
saw
the
lottery
results
on
TV
and
,
taking
out
the
ticket
,
realized
it
was
a
winner
.
He claimed the 60 million lire prize.
He
claimed
the
60
million
lire
prize
.
Then he began a battle with his conscience.
Then
he
began
a
battle
with
his
conscience
.
Finally, he decided he could not keep the money despite having been robbed.
Finally
,
he
decided
he
could
not
keep
the
money
despite
having
been
robbed
.
He advertised in newspapers and on radio, saying: "I'm trying to find the man who robbed me.
He
advertised
in
newspapers
and
on
radio
,
saying
:
``
I
'm
trying
to
find
the
man
who
robbed
me
.
I have 60 million for him--- a lottery win.
I
have
60
million
for
him
--
-
a
lottery
win
.
Please meet me.
Please
meet
me
.
Anonymity guaranteed."
Anonymity
guaranteed
.
''
Professor Sabbatucci received hundreds of calls from people hoping to trick him into handing them the cash.
Professor
Sabbatucci
received
hundreds
of
calls
from
people
hoping
to
trick
him
into
handing
them
the
cash
.
But there was one voice he recognized--- and he arranged to meet the man in a park.
But
there
was
one
voice
he
recognized
--
-
and
he
arranged
to
meet
the
man
in
a
park
.
The robber, a 35-year-old unemployed father of two, gave back the suitcase and burst into tears.
The
robber
,
a
35-year-old
unemployed
father
of
two
,
gave
back
the
suitcase
and
burst
into
tears
.
He could not believe what was happening.
He
could
not
believe
what
was
happening
.
"Why didn't you keep the money?"
``
Why
did
n't
you
keep
the
money
?
''
he asked.
he
asked
.
The professor replied: "I couldn't because it's not mine."
The
professor
replied
:
``
I
could
n't
because
it
's
not
mine
.
''
Then he walked off, spurning the thief's offer of a reward.
Then
he
walked
off
,
spurning
the
thief
's
offer
of
a
reward
.
A thief who dropped a winning lottery ticket at the scene of his crime has been given a lesson in honesty. His victim, who picked up the ticket, then claimed the PS25000 prize, managed to trace him, and handed over the cash. The robbery happened when maths professor Vinicio Sabbatucci,58, was changing a tyre on an Italian motorway. Another motorist, who stopped "to help", stole a suitcase from his car and drove off. The professor found the dropped ticket and put it in his pocket before driving home to Ascoli in eastern Italy.  Next day, he saw the lottery results on TV and, taking out the ticket, realized it was a winner. He claimed the 60 million lire prize. Then he began a battle with his conscience. Finally, he decided he could not keep the money despite having been robbed. He advertised in newspapers and on radio, saying: "I'm trying to find the man who robbed me. I have 60 million for him--- a lottery win. Please meet me. Anonymity guaranteed."  Professor Sabbatucci received hundreds of calls from people hoping to trick him into handing them the cash. But there was one voice he recognized--- and he arranged to meet the man in a park. The robber, a 35-year-old unemployed father of two, gave back the suitcase and burst into tears. He could not believe what was happening. "Why didn't you keep the money?" he asked. The professor replied: "I couldn't because it's not mine." Then he walked off, spurning the thief's offer of a reward.