NewsOffbeat

Actions

Determined Uber driver returns $3K left in car, finds out it was man’s entire savings

Posted at 11:51 PM, Jul 27, 2016
and last updated 2016-07-27 23:51:45-04

CHICAGO -- When an Uber driver noticed a wallet left behind in his car, he knew what he had do -- he just wasn’t sure how to do it.

The passenger, who didn't speak english, had his life’s savings in that wallet, but neither could figure out how to connect, according to WGN.

The man had just landed at O’Hare. He moved to Chicago about a year ago after selling his business in Ukraine. His sister had ordered the Uber for him and he was lucky he got such an honest driver.

For the past three months Jose Figueroa has been making ends meet by driving for Uber.  Figueroa likes to drive at night and likes the airport runs.

The ride started around 8 p.m. Monday at O’Hare when he tried picking up a passenger who didn’t speak much English. They finally connected, and despite the language barrier, Figueroa figured out a few things about his passenger.

When the ride ended, the man got out and Figueroa headed back to the airport. When he got there he noticed a wallet on his back seat. He opened it up looking for an ID and found a lot more: $3,000.

The Uber driver app deletes the passengers phone number when the ride ends, but Figueroa decided to drive back to where he dropped him off to return the wallet.

He wasn’t about to give up, so he started ringing bells and explained to someone why he was there and started knocking on every door. He eventually gave the man and his sister back the wallet and they sent him on his way with a $100 reward.

He decided to get back on the road, but shared his good deed on Facebook.