Police are hoping an honest punter will do the right thing and come forward after an elderly Greymouth man misplaced an envelope containing $23,000 in cash, his life savings.
The 90-year-old withdrew the money from his bank on Friday - it was given to him $100 bills in a white envelope - and then went to a cafe for a cup of tea, but his movements were unclear from there, police said in a statement on Thursday.
The money was the war veteran's life savings and he had no close family, said Constable Deane Harbison.
"I'm hoping that if someone has found the envelope they will bring it to the police station. Failing that, if a member of the public or a business owner notices someone paying for goods with $100 notes, we'd like to hear about it."
Police had reviewed security camera footage from around the town to trace the man's movements, but were now hoping for public help.
The man had withdrawn the money to pay some bills, but may have become confused about how much he needed to get out, police said.
Const Harbison said it was an offence not to return found property.
NZN