Community 'searches for' owner of jewelry bag mixed in relief goods of Da Nang people

Gold and jewelry found in relief boxes sent from Da Nang - Photo: VIEN SA

On the evening of September 17, Captain Tran Thi Thanh Thao (pen name Vien Sa) - reporter of the Military Radio and Television Center, head of the Relief Community of Bac Ha, Bao Yen, Simacai, Bat Xat (Lao Cai province) - said that she had reported to the Xuan Quang Commune Police (Bao Thang district) to verify and return the gold and jewelry found in the relief goods sent from Da Nang.

Unexpectedly found a bag of gold in a relief box

According to Captain Thao, in order to promptly help people in the northern provinces overcome the loss after storm No. 3, she and many friends established the Bac Ha, Bao Yen, Simacai, and Bat Xat Community Relief Group.

The group called for the cooperation of philanthropists nationwide. Relief goods for compatriots were brought to Lao Cai. There, teams will receive them, classify them into groups, and then distribute them to localities.

On the morning of September 16, while receiving a relief vehicle from Da Nang, volunteers discovered a cloth bag containing jewelry, gold chains, rings... This bag was inside a cardboard box, containing many belongings, books, clothes... On the outside of the box was written the words " Tan Khang group supports the people of the North, keep it up! ".

Photo of Mrs. Dao's husband in Da Nang handing over relief goods to the transport force to Lao Cai - Photo: PHAN THI DAO

Determining that the gold and jewelry might have been mixed in during the shipment from Da Nang, the members opened it and recorded a video clip. Then they posted it on the community to find the missing person. However, as of noon on September 17, the owner had not been identified.

On the afternoon of September 17, Captain Thao called Colonel Tran Van Thong - chief representative of the Military Radio and Television Center in Da Nang - to ask for help finding clues.

From the notebook in the box with the names, classes, and schools of the two students, Colonel Thong connected to a secondary school in Da Nang.

Through the school board, they found the parent of the student whose name was on the notebook. This parent said that the gold might have come from his relative and was mistakenly left behind while packing the relief supplies.

Late in the afternoon of September 17, after many verification steps, Captain Thao's team was able to connect with Ms. Phan Thi Dao. Over the phone, Ms. Dao burst into tears when she learned that her jewelry, gold, and pearls had been lost all the way to Lao Cai.

"I asked Ms. Dao to tell me the origin of the package with the bag of gold inside. Because she was the one who directly packed the relief goods, Ms. Dao described it very accurately.

When it came to the number of jewelry, gold and silver in the bag... Mrs. Dao also described the shape, quantity, type, and even the name of the jewelry processing facility that had the items' names" - Captain Thao recounted.

After preliminary verification, Captain Thao reported to the local police. The group will hand over all jewelry, gold, and pearls so that the authorities can accurately verify the lost owner.

The carton containing the lost bag of gold from Da Nang - Photo: VIEN SA

"I am just the person who connects to verify the person who lost the gold and jewelry. Ms. Van Nam and the brothers in the Bac Ngam and Xuan Quang Charity Association (Bao Thang district, Lao Cai province) discovered the item.

They do not covet lost property, but try to find the owner to return it. During the storm and flood, we can see everyone's heart towards the people in distress" - Captain Thao shared.

Loss of sleep because of mixed up bags of gold

Speaking to Tuoi Tre Online , Ms. Phan Thi Dao (Ho Xuan Huong Street, Da Nang) said she cried when she received a phone call from Lao Cai reporting that her bag of gold and jewelry had been found.

"Seeing the people in the North in such great grief, we mobilized relatives, neighbors, and colleagues to contribute whatever they had to support our people.

On the night of September 14, I took a cardboard box and sat in my room to fold my cousin's clothes and books (with their names on the labels) so that I could go to the Da Nang City Youth Union headquarters the next day to send relief aid.

While packing, the little girl sitting next to me took the cloth bag containing the jewelry and put it in the box without me knowing. When the goods left, I looked for my jewelry but couldn't find it anymore, and I didn't know that my jewelry was in the relief box. I thought it was gone so I couldn't eat or sleep, and didn't dare tell my husband.

The jewelry includes bracelets, wedding rings, gold necklaces, pearls... 9999 gold is a total of 5 taels; the rest is western gold, pearls, and less valuable jewelry. All are dowries, wedding rings of the couple, and gold keepsakes from my mother to my husband and me" - Ms. Dao said.

Volunteers in Lao Cai with the gold found in a carton from Da Nang - Photo: VIEN SA

Husband stops being angry because of a beautiful story

Ms. Dao said she authorized her nephew in the North to complete procedures with the police to receive the lost jewelry, gold, and pearls in Lao Cai.

Mrs. Dao added that at first, when he heard that his wife had accidentally mixed the bag of gold in the relief box, her husband was a bit angry. But when he saw the strange "return" journey of the souvenir, in a beautiful story about mutual love with flood victims, her husband was no longer angry.

"My husband was the most enthusiastic person, standing up to mobilize colleagues and people to donate and support our compatriots in the North. He also carefully printed a piece of paper with words of encouragement for people to overcome and personally pasted it on the outside of the boxes.

When he saw the gold and jewelry he found from strangers, and while sorting relief goods for the people, he said that he must have been kind and that he was reciprocated. We were very touched," said Ms. Dao.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/cong-dong-truy-tim-chu-nhan-tui-nu-trang-lan-trong-hang-cuu-tro-cua-nguoi-dan-da-nang-20240917212714592.htm