Alghero: An elderly man withdraws €500 but forgets it at the ATM. A woman sees the whole thing and returns it to the post office.

A simple, yet far from obvious, gesture caught the attention of the post office staff on Via Enrico Costa in Alghero. A woman entering the office noticed 500 euros left in the ATM outside . An elderly customer had earlier withdrawn the money but, presumably distracted, had entered without withdrawing it .

The 39-year-old woman of Brazilian origins picked up the money and immediately handed it over to postal workers. Using internal security cameras, the staff was able to trace the man, who was still inside the office, within minutes, and returned the entire sum. The episode particularly affected those present, not only because of the happy ending but also because, as some workers pointed out, such a gesture is increasingly less taken for granted these days.

A story of daily honesty that, in a small way, left its mark. The retiree was certainly able to breathe a sigh of relief, as he was in danger of returning home penniless.