Two thieves from Toulouse, France, used a stolen credit card to buy a scratch card and ended up winning the €500,000 jackpot!
In a shocking twist, Jean-David E, the victim of the theft, is appealing for the burglars to come forward in the hopes that they could split the cash.
Jean-David's backpack, which contained his bank card, was stolen from his car earlier this month. Although he had alerted the bank to block his credit card, he was informed that it had already been used in a local shop.
He learnt that two seemingly homeless men had used his card at the store to purchase a lottery ticket.
"They were so totally happy that they forgot their cigarettes and their belongings and walked out like crazy people," Jean-David's lawyer, Pierre Debuisson, stated.
Although Jean-David initially filed a police complaint regarding the theft, he will withdraw it if the thieves come forward and share some cash with him.
Mr Debuisson launched a national appeal on Thursday, requesting the thieves to contact his office for a deal.
"Without them, no one would have won," he told public broadcaster France-2. "It's an incredible story, but it's all true!"
Mr Debusion said that prosecutors might try to seize the winnings, considering them "illegally obtained gains," and reminded that the ticket would eventually expire. "Time is working against us", adding, "You risk nothing... we will share with you… and you would be able to change your lives."
The state lottery operator, La Francaise des Jeux (FDJ), has confirmed that no one has yet submitted the ticket to claim the prize.
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