Cabbie turns in bag full of cash

Taiwan Living in Taiwan
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Indebted Taipei cabbie turns in cash-filled bag
By Wu Yueh-hsiu
STAFF REPORTER
Thursday, Nov 09, 2006, Page 2

An honest Taipei taxi driver has been praised for turning over to police a bag containing about NT$210,000 in cash and store vouchers that a passenger left in his car on Sunday.

“I may be poor, but my heart is not,” 63-year-old Hsu Chiang-chuan (徐江泉) said.

Hsu said he has debts totalling NT$3 million, but he would never have been at peace if he had kept the money.

Hsu dropped off a woman at Breeze Center on Fuxing S Rd around 3pm on Sunday.

The woman was in such a hurry that she paid the fare and leapt out of the cab with her leather purse without even shutting the door.

While stopped at a red light a few moments later, Hsu noticed that the woman had left a purple paper bag on the seat.

When he opened it to see if he could find a way to contact the woman, he was stunned to see that it contained more than NT$170,000 in cash and NT$30,000 in Breeze Center vouchers.

Hsu immediately returned to Breeze Center and went inside to look for the woman, at the risk of having his cab towed from its illegal parking space.

After searching tor about 10 minutes without success, Hsu went to the Songshan District police station to turn over the bag.

Not long afterward, the woman arrived at the police station and thanked Hsu profusely for turning in her bag.

“I have been poor, so I know the pain of not having money,” Hsu said.

He said he knew he couldn’t take the money when he thought that by pocketing it he could be hurting a person or family that might be depending upon it.

Hsu has driven a taxi for more than 10 years. He says that he always returns lost items to their owners – personally if he can – or by turning them into the police.
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That passenger wasn’t A-bien’s wife, was it?

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Glad to read such a stories. Hope the cabbie was rewarded, otherwise that lady is a slut!

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stories like this always make me cry. Thanks for putting such a heartwarming one up… :bravo:

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When you have NT$30,000 in Breeze Center vouchers you’re unlikely to be in desperate need of money.

I think that guy chewed one too many betel nut.

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[quote=“Tyc00n”]When you have NT$30,000 in Breeze Center vouchers you’re unlikely to be in desperate need of money.

I think that guy chewed one too many betel nut.[/quote]

some people live by their principles. Life aint just bout money in the scheme of things

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[quote=“tommy525”]
some people live by their principles. Life aint just bout money in the scheme of things[/quote]

DING DING DING We have a winner, folks. :bravo:

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[quote=“Namahottie”]stories like this always make me cry. Thanks for putting such a heartwarming one up… :bravo:[/quote]Gimme an Amen! on that.
Thanks for sharing this one.

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Follow up report.

Broke honest cabbie chopped by irate wife. :laughing:

HG

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It’s great to know there are such honest folks out there, especially among cabbies.

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[quote=“tommy525”][quote=“Tyc00n”]When you have NT$30,000 in Breeze Center vouchers you’re unlikely to be in desperate need of money.

I think that guy chewed one too many betel nut.[/quote]

some people live by their principles. Life aint just bout money in the scheme of things[/quote]

Really? Thats probably what a poor cab driver who works 15 hours a day and can’t watch his kids grow up thinks. Not suggesting stealing is a good idea, but just that money really IS important in the scheme of things.

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Yes, but not at the expense of his integrity. This is someone who’s been poor for 10 years and probably has learned a thing or two about it. While he probably jumped for joy at his luck, it’s obvious that he is guided by higher principles. And living here, to hear about that is something not to mock. I think it’s a good sign that all is not shot to hell in this country where everyone is got the NT dollar on their brain.

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I lost my laptop a while back - the bag somehow jumped out of its carrying place on my motorbike while I was driving.

Half an hour later I got a call from a cabbie who had found it on the road, opened the case, found a business card, and done the decent thing. And I usually ‘secure’ my table in restaurants by leaving my phone while I go for a pee. Madness, I know, but Taiwan is a much more honest society than most people give it credit for. I’m not at all surprised to read this story.

I remember finding a woman’s handbag on the road once in England and taking it to the police station. The desk officer expressed disbelief and amazement when I told him I didn’t know how much was in the purse because I hadn’t opened it. Dishonesty is expected, and I wish the world was a nicer place.

(I got a letter of thanks, but no reward, btw.)

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The scooter I use has a storage that can not be locked and I have forgoten my digital camera over night there.

People here are more honest and polite than in europe until they get behind a steering weel.

If annybody could get me the phone number to that cabbie I will use him if I nead a cabb.