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Gold Bar Found in €15 Safe Returned to 90-Year-Old Owner

Police say the parties settled the ownership question without a court fight.

Overview

  • A 56-year-old in Trostberg bought a used safe online for €15 and later uncovered a secret compartment holding a 250-gram gold bar worth about €32,000.
  • He reported the find to local police, who traced the sale to a man acting on behalf of his 90-year-old grandfather, the safe’s former owner.
  • Officers said the hidden compartment was an aftermarket addition, which helps explain how the bar was deliberately stashed and then forgotten.
  • Police report no dispute between the sides, with the bar returning to the original owner and the finder receiving a reward.
  • German rules require reporting finds valued over €10, and police noted that ownership in such cases can hinge on whether a sale includes contents, a question that did not need litigation here.