By BRIDGET COOK
NARRE Warren South teenager Amy Riley was last week given a ticket by local police, but not in the form one would usually expect from an officer.
Amy, 17, was given a Positive Ticket, in the form of a certificate and two Westfield vouchers for her honestly and integrity in handing in $1000 she found in Dandenong in April.
Amy found $1000 sitting in an ATM in Dandenong in April and handed the cash into Narre Warren Police Station the same day.
The money was returned to its rightful owner.
“When I found the money, the first thing I thought was this is a lot of money left behind and I thought it was a joke or something,” she said.
“I looked around for cameras.
“I found it necessary to hand in the money because if I had left behind such a large amount of money I would feel sick, and hope that someone would do the right thing and hand it in.
“Once I found out the money was returned to the owner, I was glad that such a large amount of money was handed back to the rightful owner.”
Casey Police Youth Resource Officer Leading Senior Constable Brett Owen said police rewarded Amy for her honestly through their Casey Positive Ticketing Program.
“This program recognises and rewards positive behaviour by young people in the Casey area,” he said.
“The program is funded via the Casey Youth Resource Officer Programs Trust that receives money via community donations.
“The basis of the program involves police giving tickets to young people who have been identified as exhibiting good citizenship and behaviour.
“This may include assisting police by supplying information, witness statement, handing in located property or wearing a bike helmet when their peers are not.
“The positive tickets are in form of a certificate and a voucher for free goods or services.”
