[FONT="]For years Matthew and Maria Colonna-Emanuel thought a piece of rusty metal behind some trees in their backyard was just part of a cable or electrical box.
[/FONT][FONT="]But it wasn't. It was a safe containing $52,000 in cash, gold and diamonds. And the story of how they discovered it -- and what the couple did next -- is remarkable.
[/FONT]
[FONT="]The couple saw the metal box between some trees when they moved in to their Staten Island home in New York, but never paid much attention to it.
[/FONT]
[FONT="]"I thought it was an electrical box," Matthew Colonna-Emanuel told CNN affiliate WCBS.
[/FONT]
[FONT="]When trees in their yard were damaged by wildlife they got a better view. "It [the box] was really prominent when the deer ate away all the foliage," Matthew said.
[/FONT]
[FONT="]After digging it up they realized it was a rusty old safe. Inside they found wet money, and a lot of jewelry in plastic bags.
[/FONT]
[FONT="]"Hundreds, jewelry, diamonds, engagement ring. Dozens of rings, gold with jade. It was stunning," said Matthew.
[/FONT]
[FONT="]There was also a piece of paper with an address -- one of their neighbors.
[/FONT]
[FONT="]"First, I knocked on the door and I asked them if they were ever robbed and they said they were," Matthew said.[/FONT]
[FONT="]According to the New York Police Department, a burglary was reported at their neighbors' home the day after Christmas in 2011. The only thing taken was the safe. It had a large amount of cash, jewelry and other items inside: a total of $52,000 worth of property, police said.
[/FONT]
[FONT="]"The cops told her, you'll never see your stuff again," said Matthew's wife, Maria.
[/FONT]
[FONT="]But eight years later, thanks to the Colonna-Emanuels, she did.
[/FONT]
[h=3]They didn't keep it[/h]
[FONT="]Matthew said their neighbor was shaking when he told her they had found her safe.
[/FONT]
[FONT="]When asked why they didn't keep the loot for themselves, Maria said, "It wasn't even a question. It wasn't ours."
[/FONT]
[FONT="]"The reward is karma. Good karma." added Matthew.
CNN's Tony Marco contributed to this report.[/FONT]
[/FONT][FONT="]But it wasn't. It was a safe containing $52,000 in cash, gold and diamonds. And the story of how they discovered it -- and what the couple did next -- is remarkable.
[/FONT]
[FONT="]The couple saw the metal box between some trees when they moved in to their Staten Island home in New York, but never paid much attention to it.
[/FONT]
[FONT="]"I thought it was an electrical box," Matthew Colonna-Emanuel told CNN affiliate WCBS.
[/FONT]
[FONT="]When trees in their yard were damaged by wildlife they got a better view. "It [the box] was really prominent when the deer ate away all the foliage," Matthew said.
[/FONT]
[FONT="]After digging it up they realized it was a rusty old safe. Inside they found wet money, and a lot of jewelry in plastic bags.
[/FONT]
[FONT="]"Hundreds, jewelry, diamonds, engagement ring. Dozens of rings, gold with jade. It was stunning," said Matthew.
[/FONT]
[FONT="]There was also a piece of paper with an address -- one of their neighbors.
[/FONT]
[FONT="]"First, I knocked on the door and I asked them if they were ever robbed and they said they were," Matthew said.[/FONT]
[FONT="]According to the New York Police Department, a burglary was reported at their neighbors' home the day after Christmas in 2011. The only thing taken was the safe. It had a large amount of cash, jewelry and other items inside: a total of $52,000 worth of property, police said.
[/FONT]
[FONT="]"The cops told her, you'll never see your stuff again," said Matthew's wife, Maria.
[/FONT]
[FONT="]But eight years later, thanks to the Colonna-Emanuels, she did.
[/FONT]
[h=3]They didn't keep it[/h]
[FONT="]Matthew said their neighbor was shaking when he told her they had found her safe.
[/FONT]
[FONT="]When asked why they didn't keep the loot for themselves, Maria said, "It wasn't even a question. It wasn't ours."
[/FONT]
[FONT="]"The reward is karma. Good karma." added Matthew.
CNN's Tony Marco contributed to this report.[/FONT]
