$200,000 In Jewels Left In Cab, Returned To Owner
Published: July 26, 2005
A New York City cab driver is being commended for his honesty. Last week when a passenger got out of his cab - that passenger accidentally left behind a bag filled with jewelry - worth more than $200,000. Today it is back with its rightful owner thanks to that cab driver.
A pair of 10-carat diamond bracelets worth $23,000, a 6-carat emerald cut diamond ring valued at $70,000 and a vintage Cartier watch that’s, well, priceless.
Now imagine leaving all that jewelry, and much more, in the back of a cab. Anthony Labate doesn’t have to imagine. Last week, that’s exactly what he did.
Anthony LaBate, Brooklyn Resident: “I pictured someone wearing my jewelry and dancing around the house with it.”
Labate can laugh about it now because he got all the jewelry back.
Anthony LaBate, Brooklyn Resident: “I was crying with happiness this time, because I just couldn’t believe it was just, just amazing that it was there.”
Labate can thank taxi driver Jean L. Jean-Louis. After dropping off Labate at his Brooklyn home, the 47-year-old cabbie found the Louis Vuitton caseful of jewels in the back of his taxi as he loaded up the luggage of his next passenger.
He took the jewels home, never looked in the box, and waited for the phone call.
Jean L. Jean Louis, Taxi Driver: “I told my wife I know where I dropped him off and that the next day, a Saturday, I was going to take the box to him.”
And when Jean-Louis hand delivered the jewels, Labate thanked him profusely, gave him a gift and yes, cried once more.
Anthony LaBate: “I just couldn’t believe that I got it back.”
The Taxi and Limo Commission honored Jean-Louis with a plaque. The 21-year-cabbie will receive another award at a driver recognition dinner in September.
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