/ 21 January 2006

Jewellery-laden lost handbag returned

A handbag containing jewellery worth more than $110 000 has been returned to a woman who left it hanging on a shopping trolley in a car park, Australian police said on Saturday.

The handbag, containing gold bracelets, rings, earrings, chains and pendants — plus a large sum of cash — was handed in to police in Melbourne by another woman, who wanted to remain anonymous.

”Victoria police are very pleased that a good Samaritan has actually decided to hand it in and not keep it for themselves, especially [as it is] a large quantity of jewellery and cash,” said police spokesperson Shaun Livori.

”The person who lost the jewellery was very unfortunate that she lost it and she’s an extremely lucky person that she’s going to get it returned to her.”

The owner, who wanted to be identified only as Kathy, told national radio she was overwhelmed by the return of the bag and its contents.

”I can’t believe it at all — I am so grateful to that person,” she said. ”I didn’t expect to ever see it again.” — Sapa-AFP