A man out walking his dog at the end of October was astonished to discover literally hundreds of bills floating in a river in Lincolnshire county, England.
Authorities were alerted and Lincolnshire police eventually recovered about £60,000 (around $100,000) from the Spalding river, according to ITV News. There could be more bills out there.
While some of the money appeared burned or otherwise damaged, many of the bills are still usable and were seized by police.
"We do think it's probably the proceeds of crime and it's come from some kind of criminality," Lincolnshire Detective Inspector Steve Hull told ITV. "Because of that it's been seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act and we have been to court and we've got a retention order to keep that money. That allows us to keep it for six months whilst we carry out these inquiries".
Ultimately, a judge will have the final call in terms of where the small fortune ends up, the Lincolnshire Echo reports.
"[The magistrate] could decide that the cash should go to the police property act fund," Lincolnshire Police spokesman James Newall said, according to the Echo. "Alternatively, it could be given to the finder."
The police have not ruled out a detailed forensic examination of the money, and also will ask the Bank of England for help in order to complete an accurate final count of cash, according to a press release from the Lincolnshire Police Department.
Anyone with information about the money is encouraged to call the department, although the release notes "evidence of ownership will be required if the owner wishes to come forward."
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