Couple on the Run after 'Stealing' NZ$10m Credited to their Bank Account in Error

by Charlotte Cardingham
Published on 21 May 2009
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Couple on the Run after 'Stealing' NZ$10m Credited to their Bank Account in Error

Interpol are on their trail after a banking error accidentally credited NZ$10million to their account.

A couple from New Zealand are being hunted down by Interpol after a banking error saw their account mistakenly credited with NZ$10million (£3.8m/$6m). However, instead of notifying the bank of their new found wealth, they simply took the money and ran.

Until recently, the couple - believed to be Leo Garo and Cara Young - had been managing a BP service station in Rotorua, a city on New Zealand's northern island approximately 150 miles south of Auckland.

According to reports, they had applied for a NZ$10,000 loan with Westpac Bank in an attempt to keep their struggling business afloat, only to discover that their account had been accidentally credited with a thousand times this amount instead – something which the bank have put down to human error.

Failing to notify the authorities about this sizable blunder, the couple withdrew a large percentage of the cash and fled the city on 8th May. They are believed to have left a note on their petrol station informing customers that the business had gone into receivership and simply told friends that they had decided to take a sudden holiday.

While their exact whereabouts are unknown – hence Interpol’s involvement – some reports have suggested that the couple may be in Korea or China.

Moreover, while Westpac Bank have declined to publish the exact amount the couple successfully made off with, simply stating that they are “pursuing vigorous criminal and civil action to recover the sum of money stolen", the mere fact that local authorities have enlisted Interpol’s help suggests that it was a sizable sum - with unconfirmed reports suggesting they somehow made off with NZ$6million.

Source

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32

Your Comments

stuart
on 15 Aug 2009 21:04
take the money and run, run for your lives. Ha Ha :-)
 
bud
on 11 Jun 2009 15:39
thats the right thing to do :) they wont catch them ,
 
DAVED
on 10 Jun 2009 16:40
I can't believe how many people would do the dishonest thing here; this is not just stealing from a bank, this is stealing from the people who put money into the bank and, who will pay for that gap in funds? Not the fat cats raking it in, that's for sure. They must be both desperate and stupid; you cannot steal that much money and not expect to be hunted down for it. I'm sure they will be having many sleepless nights until they're caught or killed for it by some other individuals seeing what an opportunity it would be to take the money.
 
peekakiwi
on 27 May 2009 00:45
What a crackup, and what a embarrassment for the bank LOL , I would get a face left if I was them LOL
 
melinda4952
on 26 May 2009 22:51
go them ! finders keepers
 
Matt
on 26 May 2009 19:08
Hmmm...6 million or the media rights to the story? Hmmm...decisions decisions.
 
CAS
on 26 May 2009 15:27
Damn i wish it was me lol. I hope they go to a country with no extradition. Hurrah for the little guy:-)
 
Timothy Collins
on 22 May 2009 23:23
Please read the other comments first. It's amazing that all the comments so far are essentially "good for them!!" type sentiments. What does this say about society? We're all so fed up with the banks, and other large enterprises screwing us over, that we're happy with the fact that two people have (for the moment) got the upper hand and got something out of the system. It's a sad state of affairs that we have to resort to fraud to get justice; However, I agree. "Go for it and good luck!!!! I hope it works out." Totally unconnected, but I personally feel sorry for MP's in the UK at the moment for the silly "Allowance" scandall which is rocking the uk. As Mike Magee would say, "Sheesh!".
 
kitty
on 22 May 2009 19:45
they cant be paying to much attention to let 6 million go out of a sudden withdrawal i had that happen to an told them about it they told me they dont make mistakes four diffrent people
 
LuLu
on 22 May 2009 19:34
Can anyone imagine what they would do if they were caught with this windfall dropped in their laps? With the economic times as they are, it's no great wonder why they took the money and ran. However, unless these funds are in cash form, and they never show their faces again, after a move to someplace in the Alaskan outback, they will be caught. They can most definitely claim temporary insanity when the law catches up to them. I bet they are wondering right now what in God's name they were thinking.
 
Tammy
on 22 May 2009 19:24
Run and enjoy every dime that you can.
 
hot tamale
on 22 May 2009 18:10
go to greece and blend in
 
sevey
on 22 May 2009 18:06
great story! good for them! I hope they get away with it - it was the chance of a lifetime and i doubt that there are any of us who wouldn't have done the same thing, especially in these times when everyone seems to be sticking it to the little people like us. I second LG's comment: RUN FORREST RUN....... ...I also find it very interesting that most of the posts here are sympathetic to their plight...Interpol - take note!
 
nick d stanley
on 22 May 2009 17:11
well it would be hard not to do the same thing , i cant really say that i wouldnt take the money and run , i know its wrong ,i know it isnt right , but , how can any of us truly say that we wouldnt do the same thing , good luck people , signed nicklous d stanley
 
Julia Wells
on 22 May 2009 17:04
Jolly goodl luck to them. Hope they have a super time.
 
Panda
on 22 May 2009 16:12
The couple didn't "steal" the money. The money was given to them - by mistake - and put into their account. They shouldn't be charged with theft. The police should notify them that they can come back home and return the rest of the money and all will be forgiven.
 
Rick
on 22 May 2009 16:08
Hope they don't get caught...screw the bank, they made the error.
 
nick
on 22 May 2009 14:32
I thought possession was nine tens of the law.
 
DT
on 22 May 2009 14:18
More likely than not they will be caught. Regardless, $ will never buy you happiness. Stolen $ will never bring you peace of mind. Both come from within and is attainable by all. Study Tao and read The Power of Now
 
Uprising Economy
on 22 May 2009 12:55
fair play to them i say banks are thieves charging people like us all the time for stupid things, without us the banks would not even have money.
 
Chante'
on 22 May 2009 12:44
Hell yeah! I would run too
 
RemMax
on 22 May 2009 12:35
I'm gonna guess they got the funds out of the country via Wire Transfer, Good For Them! What I don't understand is the bank being allowed to pursue "criminal" charges. I mean havent they ever heard of a "Gift" in New Zealand! And to call the couple thieves is just another LIE, these people didn't go into the bank and do anything to cause this money to appear in there acount, the bank "Donated" that money to them of there own free will, or complete incompetence! : Would you ever want to put your life savings in that bank again! I hope they find a nice place with no extradition and live a long easy life! Of course in about 20 or 30 years they might want to send the bank a note to thank them for the Gift! :-) Oh, and any bank that wants to Donate a few million I didn't aks them for into my account is welcome to do so, I'm sure I can find a nice place to Retire for the rest of my Life! :-)
 
Money
on 22 May 2009 12:23
Good for them....everyday politicians steal our money with their foolish decisions...turn around
 
saimoni delailomaloma
on 22 May 2009 03:50
I wonder if it's worth looking over your back for the rest of your life...that's if they aren't caught. ..as for the bank..how can a amount of that much go through without the nod of a superior officer.will the real slim shady please stand up:)
 
w. s. neff
on 22 May 2009 00:02
Go for it!You only live once.I would never had made this decision when i was younger,i certainly would now!
 
LG
on 21 May 2009 23:15
Run Forest Run ! :)
 
Anon
on 21 May 2009 22:10
Free money! Bank makes a double error. First for over posting to their account and second for allowing then to withdraw so much cash without checking.
 
Rise
on 21 May 2009 21:15
HAHA, I really hope these people get away with it!
 
Greg Nice
on 21 May 2009 19:41
Finders Keepers, beyotch! Banks have been stealing from us for years and years. I hope the couple has a vacation of a lifetime and gives whatever is left to poor street kids in Indonesia 8)
 
Justin
on 21 May 2009 19:27
Intentionally taking money that you knew didn't belong to you is stealing. However, when an opportunity like this faces you and you look down the path of your life, it's logical to expect that this type of "break" won't ever come again. You only live once and depending on the situation, I too, may have ran off with the loot. If they get away, I say "Good for them!" I love a good "sticking it to the man" story. Thanks for posting this.
 
p0ps
on 21 May 2009 18:54
happy accident!
 
Mark
on 21 May 2009 18:04
Good for them. I hope they live long and happy lives and that they are never caught. We have to legislate laws to keep banks from stealing from us, they are the real thieves.