James Cain

The initial call is, and we're magnet fishing. I said, we just found a safe with a ton of money in it.

The initial call is, and we're magnet fishing. I said, we just found a safe with a ton of money in it.

There was a small investigation. They wanted to see how we got in. Questions were asked. Yeah. Took like an hour.

There was a small investigation. They wanted to see how we got in. Questions were asked. Yeah. Took like an hour.

Terrifying, terrifying.

Terrifying, terrifying.

The bill's date, I think the only date I could read was 2013. 13, yeah.

The bill's date, I think the only date I could read was 2013. 13, yeah.

They probably were in a rush. Imagine how much money you need to take out already to just leave two giant stacks in there and say, let's go. We have no time.

They probably were in a rush. Imagine how much money you need to take out already to just leave two giant stacks in there and say, let's go. We have no time.

Yeah, our parents knew each other.

Yeah, our parents knew each other.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I was immediately, babe, we're going to get some pizza.

I was immediately, babe, we're going to get some pizza.

I always told officers, I said, I'm not going to deny someone if they prove that it's their money. I wouldn't be like, no, you can't have it. No, dude, if it's yours, just let me get like $1,000.

I always told officers, I said, I'm not going to deny someone if they prove that it's their money. I wouldn't be like, no, you can't have it. No, dude, if it's yours, just let me get like $1,000.

We always bring Ziploc, so we put it in the Ziploc bag and sealed it and put it in our backpack.

We always bring Ziploc, so we put it in the Ziploc bag and sealed it and put it in our backpack.

It all ran away because of the smell?

It all ran away because of the smell?

The bags started getting hard and swollen, you know. The bills started turning to rock. So that's the point where I was like, we got to go.

The bags started getting hard and swollen, you know. The bills started turning to rock. So that's the point where I was like, we got to go.

I would say the year before, we were maggot fishing in Central Park near the Bethesda Fountain. There's like a drop off of the water right there. And we found cell phones galore. I would say one day we found maybe 12 cell phones. And in the back of one of the phones was money behind the case. I guess people store money in their cell phones. And it turned out it was $200.

I would say the year before, we were maggot fishing in Central Park near the Bethesda Fountain. There's like a drop off of the water right there. And we found cell phones galore. I would say one day we found maybe 12 cell phones. And in the back of one of the phones was money behind the case. I guess people store money in their cell phones. And it turned out it was $200.

So I went to our local bank, and they said you could exchange it in the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Washington, and they do all free money exchanges.

So I went to our local bank, and they said you could exchange it in the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Washington, and they do all free money exchanges.

Now we found out Megabus from 12th Avenue and 34th Street will take you right there in about four and a half hours.

Now we found out Megabus from 12th Avenue and 34th Street will take you right there in about four and a half hours.

We jumped in a car and... Actually, we couldn't find the engraving and printing building. It was a little weird to find at first. Got to the building eventually and went inside. A very secure location, believe it or not, where they make the money for the country. Pretty secure.

We jumped in a car and... Actually, we couldn't find the engraving and printing building. It was a little weird to find at first. Got to the building eventually and went inside. A very secure location, believe it or not, where they make the money for the country. Pretty secure.

were greeted by people in lab coats.

were greeted by people in lab coats.

And the other wild thing is they literally said, where is the safe? So there was more money that we didn't take that was just these tiny little flakes and sand, and it was water. And they said, you should have collected everything, the sand, the water, the mud, in the safe and brought us everything because they will issue a bill.

And the other wild thing is they literally said, where is the safe? So there was more money that we didn't take that was just these tiny little flakes and sand, and it was water. And they said, you should have collected everything, the sand, the water, the mud, in the safe and brought us everything because they will issue a bill.

I don't know how they do it, but they can find the bill even if there's a tiny bit of money only.

I don't know how they do it, but they can find the bill even if there's a tiny bit of money only.

The official estimation is 50,000 to 80,000 only. Only. One of the people in the office said it could be even more because the water does something to the money where it compacts it.

The official estimation is 50,000 to 80,000 only. Only. One of the people in the office said it could be even more because the water does something to the money where it compacts it.

Oh, yeah. A lot of YouTube. Yeah.

Oh, yeah. A lot of YouTube. Yeah.

Shake Shack, I think.

Shake Shack, I think.

Believe it or not, it was my first time going there, so we visited all the main areas, like the monument and some of the main buildings that are there. I saw the White House for the first time, and I saw spots to magnet fish. I don't know. There's some places right by the monument. I don't know if we try. The Secret Service might tackle us, but I want to try it one day.

Believe it or not, it was my first time going there, so we visited all the main areas, like the monument and some of the main buildings that are there. I saw the White House for the first time, and I saw spots to magnet fish. I don't know. There's some places right by the monument. I don't know if we try. The Secret Service might tackle us, but I want to try it one day.

Two and a half to three years.

Two and a half to three years.

Before we're going to see a single penny.

Before we're going to see a single penny.

That is the waiting line.

That is the waiting line.

My stepson and I, during COVID lockdown, we saw something called magnet fishing on YouTube, watched a few videos.

My stepson and I, during COVID lockdown, we saw something called magnet fishing on YouTube, watched a few videos.

We will, yeah.

We will, yeah.

No, they explain that. There is no taxes taken out of that. Because it's just an exchange from damage to working.

No, they explain that. There is no taxes taken out of that. Because it's just an exchange from damage to working.

I don't believe it. Barbie spent it.

I don't believe it. Barbie spent it.

It still doesn't feel real.

It still doesn't feel real.

Still doesn't. We don't have a single penny of it, so.

Still doesn't. We don't have a single penny of it, so.

I couldn't do it without Barbie, honestly. Barbie's, you know what I mean?

I couldn't do it without Barbie, honestly. Barbie's, you know what I mean?

So magnet fishing is where you take a really strong magnet, you tie it on the end of a rope, and you throw it in the water. Most metals are going to be attracted to that, and you take it out of the water, it being garbage or treasure or other things. Basically, you're taking metal out of the water.

So magnet fishing is where you take a really strong magnet, you tie it on the end of a rope, and you throw it in the water. Most metals are going to be attracted to that, and you take it out of the water, it being garbage or treasure or other things. Basically, you're taking metal out of the water.

Found a $20 magnet about six inches wide and an inch in thickness, weighs maybe a pound. Put it on the rope, went to our local pond in Jamaica. Queens, by the way. I wish it was Jamaica Island.

Found a $20 magnet about six inches wide and an inch in thickness, weighs maybe a pound. Put it on the rope, went to our local pond in Jamaica. Queens, by the way. I wish it was Jamaica Island.

And we found some... toenail clippers and bottle caps, and that was super exciting.

And we found some... toenail clippers and bottle caps, and that was super exciting.

I would say within a month we started getting the big stuff. A full-size Kawasaki motorcycle, scooters.

I would say within a month we started getting the big stuff. A full-size Kawasaki motorcycle, scooters.

Drones, yeah.

Drones, yeah.

It got real.

It got real.

I'm going to say it, but I guess obviously I don't know if we could put it on or not, but we found a... It was in Cheapside Bay. We found a bag of a sex bag, we're going to call it. Handcuffs, pleasure toys. Yeah, thumb cuffs. I don't know if we can put that on or not, but that's a strange one.

I'm going to say it, but I guess obviously I don't know if we could put it on or not, but we found a... It was in Cheapside Bay. We found a bag of a sex bag, we're going to call it. Handcuffs, pleasure toys. Yeah, thumb cuffs. I don't know if we can put that on or not, but that's a strange one.

I didn't know either. They're police-issued cuffs you wear along with handcuffs for very dangerous people that just locks your thumbs together. And I tried it, so it locked my thumbs together, and it wasn't nice.

I didn't know either. They're police-issued cuffs you wear along with handcuffs for very dangerous people that just locks your thumbs together. And I tried it, so it locked my thumbs together, and it wasn't nice.

and some magazines with bullets still in it in a park in Jamaica. And I was excited, but also very nervous because I had no idea how it's going to go, you know. Obviously the firearm was in the water because somebody did something really bad with that. So I was petrified. And then we go ahead and contact the authorities.

and some magazines with bullets still in it in a park in Jamaica. And I was excited, but also very nervous because I had no idea how it's going to go, you know. Obviously the firearm was in the water because somebody did something really bad with that. So I was petrified. And then we go ahead and contact the authorities.

The first confusing thing is, do you call the police department or do you call 911? He decided on 911. I have to explain to them what magnet fishing is. So they hear a guy on a bridge with a gun. And I'm like, no, no, no, no, no. I'm not standing on a bridge with a gun. I am on a bridge with a gun, but I found it.

The first confusing thing is, do you call the police department or do you call 911? He decided on 911. I have to explain to them what magnet fishing is. So they hear a guy on a bridge with a gun. And I'm like, no, no, no, no, no. I'm not standing on a bridge with a gun. I am on a bridge with a gun, but I found it.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And I was so nervous, I was like, I don't want to, when we handed it in to the police department, I was like, I don't want to follow up, I don't want to know.

And I was so nervous, I was like, I don't want to, when we handed it in to the police department, I was like, I don't want to follow up, I don't want to know.

I played enough video games to see what those were. They were World War II grenades.

I played enough video games to see what those were. They were World War II grenades.

Oh, God, yeah.

Oh, God, yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Oh, goodness, yeah.

Oh, goodness, yeah.

I tell people, you can't imagine. Anything you can think of is going to be in the water. And I think you would be shocked of the things that are disposed of in the bodies of water around the world. And specifically in New York City is unbelievable.

I tell people, you can't imagine. Anything you can think of is going to be in the water. And I think you would be shocked of the things that are disposed of in the bodies of water around the world. And specifically in New York City is unbelievable.

It's a hollow sound. And my experience with finding metal boxes, it's always a freaking safe.

It's a hollow sound. And my experience with finding metal boxes, it's always a freaking safe.

Maybe a foot and a half wide, weighed about like 30 pounds. It's a cheap Amazon safe that you can get for like 40 bucks or something like that.

Maybe a foot and a half wide, weighed about like 30 pounds. It's a cheap Amazon safe that you can get for like 40 bucks or something like that.

This is like the sixth one that we got.

This is like the sixth one that we got.

Stuck my hand in. I felt what I thought was Ziploc bags, and it turns out it definitely was not Ziploc bags.

Stuck my hand in. I felt what I thought was Ziploc bags, and it turns out it definitely was not Ziploc bags.

It was a giant stack of bills.

It was a giant stack of bills.

Completely soaked and slimy as the mud you could ever, the blackest of black water. And I peeled it back, and I just lost it.

Completely soaked and slimy as the mud you could ever, the blackest of black water. And I peeled it back, and I just lost it.

Oh! Oh, it is! Stacks of bills, dude! Hundreds! Oh, my God! Oh, my God! And then I started banging in on the floor, and the door popped open. So it wasn't so much, it wasn't really a safe-safe, you know what I mean?

Oh! Oh, it is! Stacks of bills, dude! Hundreds! Oh, my God! Oh, my God! And then I started banging in on the floor, and the door popped open. So it wasn't so much, it wasn't really a safe-safe, you know what I mean?

I'm estimating like $100,000 at least in the safe. The first second we saw all that money, and it's hard to explain, but the first feeling I had was fear. Because, you know, fear of as in not everyone forgets their stacks of $100 bills in the safe before they throw it in. I don't know who's doing that. So we contacted the NYPD and no one believed us.

I'm estimating like $100,000 at least in the safe. The first second we saw all that money, and it's hard to explain, but the first feeling I had was fear. Because, you know, fear of as in not everyone forgets their stacks of $100 bills in the safe before they throw it in. I don't know who's doing that. So we contacted the NYPD and no one believed us.