A $50 note is left in the middle of a bustling street as part of a social experiment – but hardly anyone picks it up because they're all too busy on their phones

  • Social experiment tests what people do when faced with $50 note on the street
  • A huge number of pedestrians were too busy on their phones to notice the cash
  • Of those that did, many were conflicted about what to do with the money
  • Pocketing money that is not yours - however you came by it - is a criminal offence

By Laura Hedges For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 20:12 EST, 12 November 2018 | Updated: 20:20 EST, 12 November 2018

It would be a nice surprise and may even make your day, but spotting a $50 note in the street is not as easy as it sounds.  

Fair Go reporter Garth Bray left a $50 note in the middle of a street in New Zealand's North Island, and was astonished when the majority of passers by simply didn't spot it.

'What amazed us was the number of people who seemed oblivious and walked by – on their phones mostly,' he said.

Fair Go reporter Garth Bray left $50 in the middle of a street in New Zealand's North Island, and was astonished when the majority of passers by simply didn't spot it. 'What amazed us was the number of people who seemed oblivious and walked by ¿ on their phones mostly,' he said

Fair Go reporter Garth Bray left $50 in the middle of a street in New Zealand's North Island, and was astonished when the majority of passers by simply didn't spot it. 'What amazed us was the number of people who seemed oblivious and walked by – on their phones mostly,' he said

He stated that around 95 per cent of people that walked past the area didn't see the money, but suggest they could have avoided a moral conflict in doing so.

Of those that did stop and pick up the money, there were some very opposing views about what you ought to do next.

One woman told Mr Bray she would attempt to return the $50 to its rightful owner.

'I'd take it to the cops because it's not my money,' she said.

Others were a little less squeaky-clean, saying they weren't sure what they'd do before admitting they would probably pocket it.

One man said that handing the money into the police would be a waste of time.

'Bank notes are non-traceable to the owner,' he said.

One man said that handing the money into the police would be a waste of time. 'Bank notes are non-traceable to the owner,' he said. 'So you would waste the resource and time of the police to try and return it to the owner.'

One man said that handing the money into the police would be a waste of time. 'Bank notes are non-traceable to the owner,' he said. 'So you would waste the resource and time of the police to try and return it to the owner.'

'So you would waste the resource and time of the police to try and return it to the owner.'

However, pocketing money that is not yours – however you came to find it – is a criminal offence called larceny by finding.

Mr Bray spoke to Good Samaritan Robyn Dobbs from Te Kauwhata who recently handed in $50 to her local police station after finding it on the street.

She said that the police initially praised her action and said they would keep the money for two months, after which – if no one had claimed it – they would give to her as a reward.

However, nearly five months passed and despite being told noone had claimed the $50, Ms Dobbs still hadn't received the money.

Good Samaritan Robyn Dobbs (pictured) from Te Kauwhata recently handed in $50 to her local police station after finding it on the street. It took five months but she eventually received the unclaimed money as a reward for her action

Good Samaritan Robyn Dobbs (pictured) from Te Kauwhata recently handed in $50 to her local police station after finding it on the street. It took five months but she eventually received the unclaimed money as a reward for her action

It was only when Mr Bray and his camera crew were filming outside of the police station that a part-time police officer helped them with their enquiry.

It seems that a number of senior officers were required to approve the pay-out, but Ms Dobbs was eventually credited with the $50 and police commended her actions.

'We would encourage anyone who finds cash or other valuables to follow Ms Dobbs' example and take the items to their local police station,' they said in a statement.

According to Fair Go, Police bank around $327,000 every year from people who've handed in lost money, and they pay out an estimated $300,000 either to the owner or the finder.

The discrepancy amount adds up year by year and is now understood to stand at around $194,000. 

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$50 notes are left in street in social experiment – but hardly anyone picks up too busy on phones 

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