As a child, I loved playing treasure hunts with my friends. We’d hide small “treasures”—maybe some coins or candy—and search for them later, pretending we had uncovered something valuable.
For Matthew and Maria Colonna-Emanuel from New York, the idea of discovering hidden treasure became a reality—only their find was far more shocking.
The couple had come across not one but two mysterious safes in their home years earlier. However, they assumed they were just old electrical boxes and didn’t think much of them. That is, until one fateful day when curiosity got the better of them.
What they found inside changed everything—and their first reaction was to call the police.
A Safe Hidden in Plain Sight
For years, the mysterious metal box sat unnoticed. It wasn’t until an unexpected event forced them to take a closer look.
A fire had broken out in their backyard, scorching trees and revealing the safe. Still, they didn’t pay much attention to it—until a deer wandered into their yard and began sniffing around the box. That strange moment made them realize this wasn’t just some forgotten piece of electrical equipment.
It was a real safe. And it was locked.
Breaking It Open and Uncovering the Truth
Determined to see what was inside, the couple set out to crack it open. It wasn’t easy—breaking into a safe without a key required serious effort and heavy tools. But after some time, the door finally swung open.
What they found inside left them speechless.
“The safe was packed with hundreds of diamonds, gold, engagement rings, and jewelry. It was unbelievable,” Matthew recalled in an interview.
Stacks of cash were also inside, though years of moisture had ruined most of it. But the biggest mystery remained—who did all this belong to?
The Safe’s Owner Finally Found
Amidst the valuable items, they spotted an old note with an address written on it. When they looked it up, they were stunned—it was their neighbor’s address.
Matthew decided to pay him a visit. When he asked if the neighbor had ever lost anything unusual, the response was immediate.
Years ago, on Christmas Day 2011, the neighbor had been the victim of a burglary. The only item taken? A safe containing an estimated $52,000 worth of valuables.
After nearly a decade, his long-lost possessions were finally returned.
Doing the Right Thing
For Matthew and Maria, there was never a question about keeping what they had found. They knew from the moment they saw the note that the safe and its contents belonged to someone else.
Without hesitation, they handed everything over, proving that sometimes, real treasure isn’t about wealth—it’s about honesty.
