BOY, MOTHER TURN IN $1,000 IN CASH 9-YEAR-OLD FOUND WAD OF MONEY ON STREET.

Byline: Judy O'Rourke Staff Writer

SAUGUS - A 9-year-old and his mother who found $1,000 on a Saugus sidewalk turned the money over to sheriff's deputies this week, surprising one veteran detective who'd never seen anything like it.

``I've never had anybody turn money in to me,'' said sheriff's Detective Dan Finn, on the force for 20 years.

Adam Beattie, a fourth-grader from Saugus, spotted $800 on the sidewalk last Sunday evening while riding his bike last weekend. He scooped up the wad of eight $100 bills - folded in half - rode back home, and handed it to his mom.

``It was exciting!'' said Adam. ``I was going back to my house from this one jump and I found this money between two houses on the sidewalk.''

Adam's mother, Renee Beattie, saw two more $100 bills when she and Adam returned to the spot where the boy found the cash. The family spent a couple of days canvassing the neighborhood in search of clues to the owner. On Thursday, the Beatties turned the $1,000 in to the Santa Clarita Valley sheriff's station.

``We bought our first house,'' Renee Beattie said, noting they moved on July 2 from Santa Clara. ``We could have really used the money.''

But she and her husband decided it was more important to set a good example for their kids, Adam and his 6-year-old sister.

``We didn't hesitate at all,'' Renee Beattie said. ``We were looking for a wallet.''

This wasn't the first time Adam found money. He spotted a dollar once, near the old house. ``I kept it,'' he said.

Finn said the money will be held at the station and if it isn't claimed within three months, it will be returned to the Beatties.

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