11.07.2026 13:40
Nursen Helva, a staff member of the Beykoz Municipality Cleaning Department, found a pouch containing gold and jewelry worth approximately 500,000 Turkish Liras at Elmasburnu Beach, where she was on duty. Helva set an exemplary behavior by handing over the pouch to security forces, saying, "When they find money that is not halal on the road or anywhere else, they should act as an example like me and hand it over to the security forces."
Nursen Helva, who was carrying out cleaning work at Beykoz Elmasburnu Beach, noticed an object in the sand while collecting trash.
FOUND IN THE SAND
Curious about the object buried in the sand with only its top visible, Helva pulled it out with her hand and encountered a small black gold pouch. When she opened the pouch and saw Turkish Lira inside, and felt from its weight that it contained gold, the municipal worker immediately reported the situation to the Beykoz Municipality Cleaning Department Manager. Taking photos of the pouch and informing her superiors, Helva followed her manager's instruction, "Go to the police station with your supervisor and hand it over in exchange for a report," and promptly went to the station.
LOST POUCH RETURNED TO OWNER
Examination of the pouch revealed approximately 80 grams of gold, 1 quarter gold coin, 100 dollars, and 400 TL in cash. The found valuables were handed over to the police by Nursen Helva and her supervisor in exchange for a report. After the incident, a woman who reported losing a pouch containing her gold at the beach was brought together with the municipal worker Helva who found it. Following checks, it was confirmed that the gold belonged to the reporting woman, and the lost pouch was returned to its owner intact.
"SHE HUGGED ME AND SAID, I FORGIVE YOU"
Expressing great happiness and pride in the process, Nursen Helva described the incident with these words:
"That day I was on duty here, my post was Elmasburnu. While collecting trash, I saw a black pouch on the ground and picked it up. Then I saw it contained gold and money. There was about 80 grams of gold, a quarter, 100 dollars, and 400 TL. I took them, photographed them, and reported to our Cleaning Department Manager. Our manager instructed me, 'Go with your supervisor, hand over the gold to the police and get a report.' We fulfilled our civic duty, our human duty. We handed the money over to the police station, and it was documented. Later, a woman came there, she had reported 'My gold is lost.' Then they determined that the gold belonged to this woman, and the gold reached its owner. This is, of course, a very beautiful and gratifying thing for me. We talked at the police station, she hugged me, thanked me, and said, 'My daughter, I forgive you.' They were also very embarrassed for losing it; she said the gold belonged to her son because it was entrusted to her. We handed it over, we were happy and proud. If people find money that isn't rightfully theirs on the road or anywhere, they should act as an example like me and hand it over to the police." - ISTANBUL