An elderly couple lost several pieces of gold jewelry, valued at about 50,000 euros, in an underground parking lot in Coimbra at the beginning of the month. An employee of the facility discovered the jewelry and raised the alert.
In a statement issued to the press on Wednesday, the Public Security Police (PSP) disclosed that on August 1, a cleaning staff member found a bag containing several pieces of gold and reported the discovery to the security manager, who in turn notified the PSP.
Immediately, a patrol team arrived at the scene to retrieve the items and collect information provided by the two employees.
Subsequent efforts through the lost and found section and the criminal investigation squad of the Coimbra District Command were made to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident—whether a crime might have been committed—as well as to identify and return the items to their rightful owners.
The police utilized the parking lot’s surveillance system to identify a vehicle briefly stopped near where the bag was found.
Following this lead, further police inquiries allowed the identification of the owners—an elderly couple residing in Coimbra—who confirmed ownership of the jewelry, which was subsequently returned to them.
According to the PSP, it was established that a member of the couple left the bag in the parking lot upon entering their vehicle.
Concluding the statement, the security force praised the “example of citizenship and honesty” demonstrated by the two employees, leading to a “happy ending for the couple who forgot the gold.”
Additionally, the PSP reiterated several safety tips: “do not carry valuables or large sums of money; store valuable items in secure places; do not leave items visible in cars, place them in the trunk before reaching the parking location.”
