Students Find Stolen Money, Turn It In

SAN FRANCISCO — Middle school students practiced a lesson in honesty Monday when they returned stolen cash that bank robbers had tossed onto school grounds.

While others stood back in disbelief, dozens of Roosevelt Middle School students scooped up about $4,600 dumped by fleeing robbers in front of the school. Many of the bills were stained red by an exploding package of dye triggered by a timer hidden in the money.

Three men, armed and masked, took the cash at 11:45 a.m. from the Bayview Federal Bank and fled in a stolen taxicab.

Police said the robbers--who remained at large Monday night--threw some of the money out the taxi’s window when they discovered the dye packs.

As the money came flying out the car window, students jogging by during gym class stumbled onto the bills and coins scattered near the school’s gate. Many of them bent down and began stuffing the money in their pockets.

School principal Charles Corsiglia came on the scene and urged the children to give him the money.

Corsiglia said the 50 students who were involved “are very honest” and that he was able to persuade them to return the bills, although a few of them needed coaxing.

After giving police a shopping bag filled with coins and $20, $50 and $100 bills, Corsiglia said the incident ended well and served as a practical lesson in morality.

San Francisco Police Officer Keith Singer said he was impressed by the children’s honesty and that an adult passerby had not been as virtuous.

An off-duty police officer saw a woman in a green Saab stop, grab a handful of cash and drive away.