Australian train passenger, 74, arrested for taking $26K he found in missing bag — but avoids jail time
An Australian train passenger stole over $26,000 ($40,000 AUD) he found in a bag during his commute before gambling away some of his takings — but was spared prison time for his finders keepers heist.
Emil Holaj seized the cash he found inside a designer handbag left behind by the rightful owner on a train to Glenfield, southwest of Sydney on July 2.
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4 Emil Holaj leaves the Campbelltown Local Court after his sentencing on July 24, 2025.
7NEWS Australia, /YouTube
The 74-year-old passenger is accused of swiping the money from the missing bag and placing the funds into his carrier before he stepped off the train, NSW Police said.
Officials were alerted to the misplaced dough by the forgetful owner and began a search for the missing cash.
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Holaj was tracked down to his suburban home in Rossmore, 35 miles southwest of Sydney, where he was arrested for stealing the money the next day.
Police recovered a majority of the cash, equaling roughly $24,000.
Holaj allegedly gambled the missing money away in the 24 hours he had the cash, 7News reported.
4 The 74-year-old passenger is accused of swiping the money from the missing bag and placing the funds into his before he stepped off the train, NSW Police said.
7NEWS Australia, /YouTube
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The sticky-fingered bandit was taken to the Campbelltown Police Station, 12 miles south of his home.
He was charged with larceny, dispose property – theft equal serious indictable offence and deal with property proceeds of crime.
Holaj was released on bail but returned to Campbelltown Local Court on July 24 for sentencing.
4 The theft took place on a train in Glenfield, southwest of Sydney, Australia on July 2, 2025,
Rafael Ben-Ari/Chameleons Eye
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The court sentenced Holaj to nine months of community correction, according to the outlet.
He was ordered to repay the amount he took from the stash and gambled away.
During his court appearance, Holaj claimed his former police friend advised him not to hand the money over to the police and instead call a lawyer, 9News reported.
He did neither and instead went gambling at a pub.
4 The Glenfield Train Station in Glenfield, Australia.
7NEWS Australia, /YouTube
Police discovered Holaj had also split some of the money to smaller bills, and deposited $650 into his personal bank account, according to the report.
Holaj remained silent when he left court Thursday, refusing to answer a majority of questions from reporters outside.
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He did claim he was going to hand the cash, and believed it was fair that he was charged.
A forgetful LIRR straphanger was fortunate that no greedy traveler snatched their bag they left behind on the train in February 2024.
The unidentified passenger left their bag containing $30,000 behind during a crowded commute to Ronkonkoma.
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Eagled-eye Assistant Conductor Christopher Nocito spotted the bag and searched through it, discovering the hefty sum inside.
Nocito delivered the bag to MTA Police Detective Kristin Riker and was returned to the rightful owner with all the money accounted for.
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