Pocono News Section

1200+ Local Folks Have Unclaimed Property in Harrisburg

1200+ Local Folks Have Unclaimed Property in Harrisburg - Monday, November 2, 2009 at 6:45PM EST

Reported by: Jeff Chirico
Monday, Nov 2, 2009 @ 06:45pm EST
HARRISBURG, DAUPHIN COUNTY --More than a thousand people in our area could become richer --by watching this next story. (To see if there's money waiting for you, check out . The state treasury in Harrisburg has a billion and a half dollars worth of unclaimed property belonging to Pennsylvanians. Consumer reporter Jeff Chirico reunites local folks with their money and shows how you can cash in too.

When checks, insurance proceeds, stocks or other property aren't collected --they're sent to the state for keeping. But many people have no idea about their potential windfall. So grab a pen and paper because after the story we'll have information to help you claim forgotten funds.

Amy Cease still laughs despite the hardships she's endured. "I couldn't walk. Couldn't talk." This 68-year-old widow from Honesdale can't use her left arm, has trouble talking and can't read. It's the result of a stroke 13 years ago.

"Is it hard to make ends meet? Yea yea." Living on just social security ---Amy admits she could use some help. Chirico asks “were you surprised? Yes. I thought you were kidding." But it's no joke. Eyewitness News called Amy to tell her there's one thousand 38 dollars waiting for her at the treasury in Harrisburg.

Protected under 400 tons of stainless steel and concrete, Lori Hetrick manages the vault that secures Pennsylvanian's forgotten treasures. Hetrick points out “Cartier watches, Rolex, pocket watches, diamond rings"

Rob McCord, Pennsylvania Treasurer, says taxpayers “often don't know about insurance policies, safety deposit box proceeds that somebody had in their name" From war medals to old stock certificates. Laws drive unclaimed property here. There are valuable coins and not so costly bottles of coca cola found in an abandoned safety deposit box. McCord says it's here for owners or heirs to claim. "It is found money and in the middle of a recession we're happy to get it back in taxpayer's hands."

Cathy Sema says it’s “a gift from dad. And he's gone 8 years and still helping us." When Thomas Moore of Mahonoy City died neither his daughter nor son knew he had stock options from an insurance policy. Sema says it will come in handy. “My husband and I are retired but he still works part time because of the situation. The economy it helps."

Total windfall --54 hundred dollars. "If it weren't for WBRE contacting us. We would never have known. I'm sure." Now Cathy and her brother, Tom, have some extra cash to pay heating bills this winter.

And how will Amy spend her thousand bucks? She says she’ll "go out to eat..." A simple treat made possible with new found funds.

To find out if there’s unclaimed property in your or a family member’s name, go to