An 11-year-old in Dijon, France, has been celebrated for his honesty after finding 800 euros in a bush on his way home. A year, police handed him the money after no one came forward to claim it.
The national police praised the boy’s actions on media as “a beautiful example of honesty and civic-mindedness rewarded.” The child, now 12, was invited to the police station on, August 3, where he received the full sum, a police badge, and a special behind-the-scenes visit with officers.
2>A Mother’s Instant Decision to Do the Right Thing
The story began in June 2025, when the—identified as Adam—spotted the cash hidden in a bush while walking home. Surprised by the find, he showed his mother who immediately knew what to do.
“When he showed me what he found, I got scared,” she told local newspaper <>Le Bien Public. “As soon as I got off work, we went straight to the police. I didn’t want take any risk. The money wasn’t ours. Adam understood that completely.”
Police officers welcomed the family’s reflex. At the time, they gave Adam a citizenship diploma and explained that if no one claimed the money within one year, it could legally his. They also let him watch a canine unit demonstration and visit the station’s camera control room.
An Eager and a Special Police Visit
According to his mother, Adam thought about the money constantly. “He was counting down days until June 2026, waiting to find out if he could keep it,” she said.
The big day arrived a later than expected. On August 3, Adam and his mother were invited to the police station. There, officers handed over the 800 euros no one had claimed it. Adam also received an official police insignia and spent an hour with officers, including members of the intervention brigade, showed him equipment such as stun grenades and an assault rifle.
What the Boy Plans to BuyNow a middle school student, Adam already knows how he wants to spend his reward. He hopes to buy a phone and a laptop “and of course, a gift for my mother,” he said.
However, the original owner of the 800 euros still two more years to claim the money, provided they can prove it belongs to them. French law is clear on found property: hiding money you is a criminal offense punishable by up to one year in prison and a fine of up to 1,500 euros, in addition to the full amount.
Police Praise a Rare Act of Integrity
The police force used the occasion to highlight the importance of civic responsibility. “A beautiful example of honesty and civic-mindedness rewarded,” they wrote on social media, alongside a photo of Adam at the station.
The case stands in contrast to the legal risks of keeping found money. Under French law, anyone who finds or valuables must make reasonable efforts to return them to their rightful owner. Failing to do so can lead to criminal charges.
>For Adam, the lesson was simple: honesty pays—sometimes literally.
