Luis Salavar returns $30,023 found in Wawa bathroom
A construction worker returned $30,023 in cash after finding a black fanny pack in a wawa bathroom in Palm Beach County, Florida. Luis Salavar later brought the bag back to police, ending a grand theft investigation that began after the money was reported missing.
Palm Beach County Wawa
The cash belonged to an anonymous 24-year-old Floridian who had stopped at the store earlier this month while driving to a family gathering. He had placed the money inside the black fanny pack, left it in the restroom after using the bathroom, and drove off without it.
The man later realized the bag was missing while heading toward Coral Springs. He said, “I thought I was absolutely screwed,” after discovering the money was gone. The loss was more than a missing envelope of cash: the money had come from selling a significant amount of his Pokémon collection, and he planned to use it for a medical procedure for his younger sister, who does not have health insurance.
Luis Salavar's search
Security footage showed 58-year-old Salavar leaving the bathroom with the fanny pack. Before leaving, he searched the shop and car park for the owner, then tried to track him down himself because he did not trust the money would find its way back otherwise. Salavar said, “$30,000 is great, but it’s not mine to keep,” and added, “I like to earn my money.”
Investigators identified him through the rental van he had been driving. Officers contacted Salavar on May 7 and asked him to come to the police station with the bag. When the two men met, Salavar recognised the sandals immediately, a small detail that helped seal the handoff.
Riviera Beach investigation
Police in Riviera Beach opened a grand theft investigation after the missing bag was reported, treating the loss as a theft case before the money came back. The return closed the case in practical terms for the owner, whose cash had been tied to his sister’s medical needs and to the sale of part of his Pokémon collection.
For anyone carrying cash to cover a specific expense, the episode is a reminder to keep it secured before leaving a restroom or a car. For Salavar, the outcome was simpler: he found a large sum that was not his, looked for the owner, and handed it over instead of walking away with it.
