A man in his fifties from southern Italy faced a nightmare after mistakenly disposing of a metal box that contained 20 gold bars valued at over 120,000 euros. The gold bars had been hidden away in a scrap metal box in his garage, where the man believed they would be safe from thieves. After years of keeping the bars hidden, he decided to clean out his garage and got rid of what he thought was just junk, which included the box with the gold inside.

The unfortunate incident occurred when the man, convinced that the scrap metal box had no value, tossed it into a garbage bin during his cleaning spree. The following day, a sudden recollection of the contents made him rush back to the bin, only to find it empty as a garbage truck had already picked up the trash and left. In complete disbelief, he reported the incident to the police. The officers initially questioned his story, but surveillance video footage later confirmed his claim, leading them to pursue the path of the garbage truck.

Investigations pointed the police to a landfill site in the town of Aujinito in southern Italy. The story highlights not only the folly of neglect but also the lengths authorities must go to in order to recover potentially valuable items, raising questions about waste management and public awareness regarding the disposal of personal property. The event has garnered significant public attention, reflecting on how a moment of inattention can lead to significant loss.