[shenmecar]

http://www.theprovince.com/Lucky+break+Chinese+student+left+Vancouver+airport/1948819/story.html

Leon Lu made a very expensive mistake Saturday afternoon — a $20,000 mistake.

Luckily, a stranger’s random act of kindness saved the day.

Nineteen-year-old Lu landed at Vancouver International Airport on Saturday at about 2 p.m. after a 24-hour trip back from China, where he spent time with his parents.

Lu has been studying in Canada for six years.

The trip was his last visit home before starting his first year at the University of B.C. this fall.

“I was really, really tired. I don’t know what I was doing. I just wanted to get home,” he said.

Lu was so tired, in fact, that he left behind the yellow, orange and grey Wilson-brand backpack in the airport’s baggage-claim area.

In the backpack, which he had carried on the plane with him, were Lu’s identification cards, passport and $20,000 in cash, which his parents had given him to help pay for his housing.

Carrying that much cash, a large sum by Canadian standards, is not that unusual for Lu at the start of a new school year.

His parents gave him cash because it is an easier exchange for the Chinese banks, he said.

Lu didn’t realize he had put the precious pack down and failed to pick it back up until he arrived at his Coquitlam home.

“I was like, ‘Oh my God!’” he said. “I freaked out. I was like, ‘How am I going to live here?’” Lu headed straight back to the airport.

He didn’t even have time to make a panicked call to his parents.

He was ushered into the airport’s security area, where he was informed that his backpack had been recovered and returned by a benevolent — and nameless — stranger.

“I was so happy. That money is for my school and living costs,” said Lu, who plans to study bioscience.

The stranger did not open the backpack and had no idea of its valuable contents, security told Lu.

Security returned Lu’s identification cards and passport, but told him that the money had already been turned over to the Richmond RCMP for safekeeping.

Lost articles are typically handled by YVR’s lost-and-found department.

In special cases, such as this one, the file is referred local RCMP forces.

Lu initially spoke with The Province on Monday, just before heading out to pick up his money at the Richmond RCMP’s main detachment.

When he arrived at the detachment, an RCMP officer counted the cash — 200 crisp $100 bills — for Lu.

Not a single dollar was missing.

He has since been able to share his dramatic tale with his father, who invests in retail developments in China.

Lu might hold off on telling his mother though, he said with a little laugh.

“She probably knows now, but you know, she’s my mom. I know how she’ll react,” he said.

And while Lu has had time to touch base with his parents, as of Monday afternoon, he still had not gone to the bank to deposit his money.

“No, not yet, but I’m going today,” he said.

Lu said his father plans on writing a thank-you letter to the RCMP and wants to send them a gift — even though they cannot accept it.

Lu still doesn’t know the identity of the kind stranger, but said he wishes he could thank that person face-to-face.

“I want to say thanks from the deepest part of my heart. He probably saved my career. I wouldn’t be able to go to school without his help.”

The stranger is probably shooting himself point blank in the face with a rifle right about now for not pocketing that huge amount.

[hotjoint]

damn, thats a nice sum of money. The person probably didnt even bother checking the bag. I know I would have if I found it :)

[Nintensity]

I wouldn't. I strongly believe in Karma ;)

[Gumby]

You're taking a chance if you open a random bag at the airport... And if you kept it, wouldn't you be scared of some gang/drug dealer coming after your ass?

Also, don't you get in trouble for not declaring that kind of money at the border?

[Nintensity]

Besides, Cameras would be on your ass at the YVR. They would track you down in a day.

[thumper]

damn! i should have checked the bag before i turned it in :lol

[maxx]

a similar story with a buddy of mine, but it was 15k in photography equipment in a shoddy no-name backpack in the middle of amsterdam. he got it back though. and took the girl that found it, out

[Eastwood]

I work ramp at YYJ. It's not uncommon for guys to get canned for stealing shit. This guys lucky.

[silk]

i read this news this morning, and suspecting those cash were "dirty money" from business and got ship into Canada...

[skyxx]

The stranger did a good part on his behave. If it was me, regardless if the backpack had anything or nothing or even if it had couple million dollars or whatever. I would still return it, I didn't earn it. No point of taking it. Good stuff on the guy's part. :thumbsup: Plus i doubt the guy would shoot himself in the foot, since he never even opened the bag in the first place. That proves that he's a good guy/girl.

[ZhangFei]

I wouldn't. I strongly believe in Karma ;)

karma gave him a chance to snag $20,000

[skyxx]

I believe in Karma. Sometimes when I take a shit I wonder if I'd get "bad" Karma for shitting in the toilet then make those Sanitary engineers clean it. :/

[shenmecar]

I believe in Karma. Sometimes when I take a shit I wonder if I'd get "bad" Karma for shitting in the toilet then make those Sanitary engineers clean it. :/

you're so called "bad" karma is the tax you pay.

[skyxx]

^ wow i can't believe you got it. :lol

[q0192837465]

I'd still return it cuz i'm a pussy

[Aetios]

Besides, Cameras would be on your ass at the YVR. They would track you down in a day.

no doubt.

[shenmecar]

^ wow i can't believe you got it. :lol

;)

[ilvtofu]

Lol nice to know that there are decent people out there, I doubt if 20k CAD was found in china that mr. Lu would ever see it again... Lol he wouldn't even have to put down his bag, they would steal it right out of it while he was carrying it :haha: and he wouldn't realize until he got home!

[Hondaracer]

i'd snag it, head over to riverrock and put it all on red :D

[Mercy]

Couple years ago a cop found a million dollars, he turned it in... year passed no one claimed it and it became his... lucky bastard.

[ImportPsycho]

hope he declared that money...
"good you found your money, come this way sir" puts on a pair of rubber gloves....LOL

[TRDood]

why the hell is he sharing that he got 20k in cash with the whole world?

now people are just going to kidnap him at his "coquitlam home" or "UBC"

[KuSouL]

nothing to do with karma = = i just wouldn't have opened it period ... weird opening other people's stuff no?

but then again ... i wouldn't have turned it in ... probably just leave it there

[wingies]

Couple years ago a cop found a million dollars, he turned it in... year passed no one claimed it and it became his... lucky bastard.

its obvious that cop was corrupt there was no way in hell he would "randomly find" 1 million dollars

[ShanghaiKid]

^^^ or you could kidnap 1 of the other million rich international chinese kids in the GVRD and hold them for ransom just as well

[JSALES]

stranger should've left his name and phone number incase the guy wanted to give him a reward or someshit haha

[RFlush]

I wonder if he claimed he was crossing into Canada with more than $10,000. Most likely not.

[JSALES]

i'd actually take the cash and bring it to the river rock casino haha

[SkinnyPupp]

Whoever returned that backpack is probably kicking themselves for not looking inside first :lol

[nipples]

karma?? wtf. might as well believe in tinkerbell standing on the tips of your shoes sprinkling good luck dust on the ground as you walk then.

[Ilagon]

its obvious that cop was corrupt there was no way in hell he would "randomly find" 1 million dollars

I heard about this story in my Business Law class. From what my teacher said, she explained that it was a Burnaby RCMP officer who was walking his dog through a baseball diamond around 11 PM and saw a garbage can positioned on second base. The cop thought it was odd and decided to check it out and found a million bucks in a garbage bag inside. He immediately fled the scene because he thought it may have a been a drug deal. Called the Burnaby detachment and the money was confiscated. There was a dispute whether the money belonged to the officer or the city of Burnaby. As you said, no one claimed the money, probably because it was a drug deal, and the court awarded the officer the million bucks.

[Vansterdam]

i stongly beleive in karma. i return all sorts of expensive shit to their owners all their time.... feels preety good after even though your greedy mind may think so otherwise at times.

[raven69]

HOLY FUCK I work in the airport in the baggage system, and i could have easily walked right by that bag left on the carousel...man i dont even know what i would have done with that if i had known what was inside!

[skyxx]

^Bahaha I heard so many stories from my friend who works at the baggage systems.

[raven69]

^Bahaha I heard so many stories from my friend who works at the baggage systems.

is he a bag boy for an airline?

[simsimi1004]

bet that person didnt claim over $10000 cash.

[Unagi]

very lucky

[El Bastardo]

Stupid people shouldn't be allowed to have money if they're going to treat it like its an old pair of sunglasses and just leave it sitting on a bench in the middle of the airport.

[orange7]

NTS: become one of Lu's new friends..

[silk]

china smuggler

[shenmecar]

That guy probably drives a nice car as well. No way daddy will pay $20,000 for tuition and living expenses and not buy a M3 so the kid can drive to school from Coquitlam.

[SumAznGuy]

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned one thing. Since post 9/11, no one is supposed to leave bags unattended. I'm surprised no one called the cops about the suspicious bag.

[thumper]

imagine the bomb squad turning that bag into $20k of confetti :lol

[shenmecar]

imagine the bomb squad turning that bag into $20k of confetti :lol

Lol, i fucking hope not, whose gonna pay the retard his $20k back? Us.

[racerman88]

Did they give him a hard time for not declaring that he had $20,000 cash on him?

[orange7]

That guy probably drives a nice car as well. No way daddy will pay $20,000 for tuition and living expenses and not buy a M3 so the kid can drive to school from Coquitlam.

$20 000 is not a lot of money for international full-time students. In fact, $20 000 for tuition, books, housing, eating, and chilling is not much considering he doesn't get a weekend job. Now why would you think his daddy is baller? Perhaps he is, but i don't see enough evidence to jump to that statement. You know, students learning internationally is a common thing. I know some poor international students who are learning at UBC because of whatever reasons. Some parents save up for their children to have an education at a place which they believe is better, and I ensure you that their children aren't spoiled.

[Meowjin]

$20 000 is not a lot of money for international full-time students. In fact, $20 000 for tuition, books, housing, eating, and chilling is not much considering he doesn't get a weekend job. Now why would you think his daddy is baller? Perhaps he is, but i don't see enough evidence to jump to that statement. You know, students learning internationally is a common thing. I know some poor international students who are learning at UBC because of whatever reasons. Some parents save up for their children to have an education at a place which they believe is better, and I ensure you that their children aren't spoiled.

China.

[too_slow]

Jealous much? A first year course for an international student can cost upwards of $1,400.

(was referring to shenmecar)

[shenmecar]

Jealous much? A first year course for an international student can cost upwards of $1,400.

(was referring to shenmecar)

Just one course?? Wow they getting jipped then.

[michimaro]

Nice to hear that he got his money back especially if that money was suppose to pay for his schooling/survival.

[Mugen EvOlutioN]

weak


no happy endings


:D

should at least put up a notice and reward the fool

[SumAznGuy]

Just one course?? Wow they getting jipped then.

Not really. Education for local students are heavily subsidized by the government.
My cousin came over from HK to go to highschool in Vancouver and it cost her $10K a year, and this was almost 18 years ago.

[shenmecar]

Not really. Education for local students are heavily subsidized by the government.
My cousin came over from HK to go to highschool in Vancouver and it cost her $10K a year, and this was almost 18 years ago.

Is that a public or private school? 10k?!?

[Jeffield]

i'd snag it, head over to riverrock and put it all on red :D


You are going to get a 0

You are better off throwing it on Banker :)


bwhahahah

[spoon.ek9]

same thing happened to an extended cousin of mine. $12,000 for 1/2 a year in public school in RICHMOND.

[Meowjin]

You are going to get a 0

You are better off throwing it on Banker :)


bwhahahah

banker has 7
player has baccarat

player draws a 8

player wins 8 over 7

fml

[SumAznGuy]

Is that a public or private school? 10k?!?


Public school.

[Jeffield]

banker has 7
player has baccarat

player draws a 8

player wins 8 over 7

fml


Nah its usually like this


Player draw 9

OH SHIT

Branker Draws 9

Tie



it has happened so many times...


=(