Monday, January 28, 2002
Boy won't get $600
By Christine Moran
Staff Writer
NEW BRITAIN - Joe Csira isn't $600 richer.
After promising to give the 16-year-old Central Bucks West sophomore the $600 he found at New Britain Town Center just days before Christmas, police changed their minds Tuesday.
The borough solicitor learned of the department's intentions and contacted New Britain Borough Police Chief David Sempowski. Sempowski said the solicitor informed him of a state statute that mandates that any unclaimed property be turned over to the state.
When Sempowski promised to give Joe the money if no one claimed it, Sempowski said he wasn't aware of that statute.
"This doesn't diminish what he did," the chief said on Tuesday. "I'm very proud of this boy. Everyone should be very proud of this boy."
Joe isn't feeling very proud, though. The events left him scarred, his mother said, and questioning Pennsylvania's laws.
"It's just ridiculous," Susan Csira said. "You mean to tell me if I find a quarter, I should turn it over to the state? It just doesn't make sense."
To complicate matters, after watching Joe's story on a television news show then reading an article in this newspaper, several people called police and said they lost $600 at New Britain Town Center on Dec. 21.
Only one report checked out.
Sempowski said the caller knew details not released on TV or in the newspaper.
"It's a shame for Joe," Sempowski said, "but that's why he turned it in, because he thought it might be someone's money."
The chief hasn't decided to give the caller the cash just yet, though. He said he'd continue to look into the claim. If it turns out it isn't credible, Sempowski, as much as he'd like to give Joe the $600, said he'd do the "appropriate thing" - turn the money over to the state.
Joe won't go away empty-handed, though.
The chief said he plans to do something for him, but he wouldn't discuss what that might be.
Joe said he found the stash on Dec. 21 while shopping with his mother at the center on Butler Avenue.
Though Joe admitted it was tempting to keep the cash, he decided to turn it in.
"It was just the right to do," he said last week. _______________________________________________________
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