Travelers going through airport security often leave things behind, either on the conveyor belt or in those annoying plastic trays.
Usually it's loose change or a driver's license, but sometimes it's something valuable -- like a $100,000 gold and diamond watch.
That's what one apparently high-rolling traveler left behind at the airport in Newark, New Jersey. Lucky for the passenger, the Transportation Security Administration agents found it and were able to arrange to have it returned to the rightful owner.
A traveler lost this $100K gold diamond watch @ a Newark Airport checkpoint. #TSA's Lost & Found arranged its return. pic.twitter.com/LZtksq2phv— TSAmedia_LisaF (@TSAmedia_LisaF) May 7, 2015
TSA Public Affairs spokesperson Lisa Farbstein tweeted that a man who knew the owner picked it up, and is taking it with him to Japan Thursday night.
Man who picked up the watch found by #TSA said he was planning to fly to Japan tonight to personally deliver it to the owner of the watch.— TSAmedia_LisaF (@TSAmedia_LisaF) May 7, 2015
That is a hefty chunk of change to forget at the security screening, but travelers leave much more than that in loose change each year. In 2014, travelers at U.S. airports left $674,841.06 of "unclaimed money" at checkpoints. (The money goes to the agency's general fund.)
And that's to say nothing of the valuable but banned items the TSA confiscates each year, including weapons like guns and knives, but also more unusual items like nunchucks and grenades.
So travelers, let this be a reminder to you all: Leave your weapons at home -- and don't forget your $100,000-watch in the security screening tray.
This story was updated with additional information about the planned return of the watch.