US Man Arrested Months After Keeping KSh 725k He Picked In Parking Lot: "It’s Not Like I Stole”

• A 56-year-old gentleman is perplexed as to why he has been apprehended by the police for not returning the KSh 725,000 he picked in a bag at a parking lot
• Robert Withington, the individual in question, states that he was strolling around when he noticed the bag on the ground
• Seeing that there was no one in the vicinity, he figured the money had no owner so he decided to pick it up and keep it

A Connecticut man who picked $5,000 (KSh 725,000) in cash lying in a bag at a parking lot three months ago and decided to use it has been arrested.

Unbeknownst to him, the bag which was clearly marked with a bank's insignia contained cash from the town's tax department.

I didn't steal it, Robert Withington

ABC News reports that the bag also contained “numerous documents” indicating that the money belonged to the town of Trumbull.

The man 56-year-old named Robert Withington, however, remains adamant that he didn't steal the money nor see the supposed documents showing who the owner was.

“I walked out onto the parking lot, saw something on the ground and there was no one around so I picked it up. It’s not like I stole something,” he retorted.

The money disappeared on May 30 when an employee from the Trumbull Tax Collector's office misplaced the bag after arriving at the bank to make a deposit.

Didn't know it was wrong

Soon as the money was reported missing, detectives went on a spree and obtained search warrants, reviewed multiple surveillance videos, and conducted numerous interviews.

The investigation revealed that the bag had been “inadvertently dropped on the ground outside of the bank” before being picked by Withington.

“It’s not like this was planned out. Everything was in the moment and it was like I hit the lottery. That was it,” the suspect added.

Withington underpinned that he would have given back the money if he knew keeping the cash was wrong in the first place.

Charged with third-degree larceny

During an interview with the police, Withington acknowledged being at the bank that day and taking the bag, but believed he “he had no obligation to return the bag to its rightful owner.”

The dog trainer defended himself against the crime, stating that he has no criminal record and his customers can vouch for his integrity.

He was charged with third-degree larceny, a crime punishable by up to five years in prison and up to $5,000 (KSh 727,000) in fines.

Withington, who maintains that he has lived in the town for 20 years and can be looking for trouble, was released on a promise to appear in court on September 5.

Nairobi man steals handbag, phone

In Nairobi, a man was taken to court for stealing a handbag and phone from a woman he asked to meet and greet at Nairobi Khoja stage.

Lewis Njuguna was accused of stealing the items from Grace Nyambura after calling her for the meet up.

Nyambura said that she left her handbag and mobile phone with Njuguna as she went to relieve herself in public toilets, only for him to make away with them.

The two are reported to be friends that had spent a long time without meeting each other and were set to have a catch-up conversation.