ATLANTA — Hundreds of millions of dollars is sitting where it doesn't belong: in the hands of state government.
Channel 2 consumer investigator Jim Strickland Wednesday brought a camera inside the vault where the loot is languishing. It takes three different employees from multiple departments to swipe ID badges just to access the racks of stacks that make up the state's unclaimed property vault.
"People need to know that this money is rightfully theirs, and they need to come claim it," said Department of Revenue spokesman Nick Genesi.
The Department of Revenue is the guardian of stuff left unclaimed from safety deposit boxes whose owners can't be found.
Strickland saw a collection of baseball cards, including Johnny Bench as a rookie and Hank Aaron when he had less than 600 home runs. He also saw several old coins, jewelry and a book of writings from 17th century poet Alexander Pope.
"It's amazing the rarity of some things that people will keep in their safe deposit boxes and then forget about," said Genesi.
To get what's coming to you, go on the Department of Revenue website and search for a dead or missing loved one. If you make a claim, the state will investigate to make sure you deserve the loot.
"We have ways here at the DOR to make sure you are the rightful owner," Genesi said.
They did not show Strickland any cash, although there's plenty of it.
"I can give you a total for the past four years; it's over $500 million," Genesi said.
WSBTV
