Auburn woman finds $5,000 in bonds in couch; Covington man returned stolen documents 8 years later

An Auburn resident found more than the usual few pennies and dimes while cleaning out her couch this week.

Instead, she found $5,000 worth of U.S. saving bonds and other important documents.

The Covington Police received a surprise when the Auburnite, identified as Cindy P. in a city press release, came into their offices to turn in the bonds and documents. Cindy P. picked up the couch off the side of the road in Auburn two years ago, and decided it needed a good cleaning this week. When she took off the couch cushions she discovered $5,000 in bonds, a driver’s license, a Social Security card and two copies of a birth certificate. All of the documents belonged to a Covington resident, identified by police as Matt L.

“Matt said that those items (which had been locked away in a safe) were taken in a burglary over eight years ago,” the city’s press release said. “Luckily, Matt kept good records and was able to get the savings bonds replaced after they were stolen, but was still appreciative that the documents made their way back to him all this time later!”

Police said this is a great example of keeping records, and also that you never know what you might find in second-hand furniture.