Millions of dollars in unclaimed cash and property is up for grabs. It's part of the annual Great Arkansas Treasure Hunt. State Auditor Jim Wood says that more than 56,000 Arkansans have been added to the database this year alone.
Diamond rings, coins dating back to 1808, old family pictures, and dozens of silver pieces. These items are just a few of this years unclaimed property worth millions.
"Just for 2009, we collected $22 million for a total of $115 million and we're trying to return it to Arkansans," Wood said.
Millions have already been returned. "We had a lady and when her mother passed away she moved to Arizona, and in a box were her original adoption papers. Also in the box was a photo of her biological mother that had never been seen. She was in tears," said Phyllis Conrad.
So why does State Auditor Jim Wood have all this stuff? Most of the time it comes from abandoned safe deposit boxes filled with family heirlooms and valuable property.
"Most of the time, someone passed away and didn't tell anyone else, so they forgot about it, and addresses are lost," Wood said.
PBS is doing a show on all the unclaimed property Tuesday night from 7-8 pm.
A list of names will be published this week in 20 major newspapers across the state. If you think you have unclaimed property
Call 1800-Claim-It or log onto
www.artreasurehunt.com
