U.S. Air Force file photo

Residents in Fresno can rest a bit easier than those in San Antonio, Oakland, Washington D.C. and a handful of other cities, but still have a ways to go before they can be named amongst the country’s most honest cities like Dallas, Los Angeles and Miami according to a recent survey.

The survey, conducted by UK-based bestcasinosites.net, found that 50% of Fresnans surveyed would return $1,000 if they were to stumble upon it on the street, a ranking that places the Central Valley above Oakland and Sacramento.

While a 50/50 proposition to never see a lost $1,000 again isn’t “great,” it beats out other cities with lower returned percentages like Louisville (48%), Austin (47%) and Detroit, which tied with Memphis and New Orleans for the lowest return rate at just 38%.

The list also determined the most honest cities – those most likely to return the money – with Jacksonville, Florida, claiming the top spot at a 62% chance of returning the money. Los Angeles, Tulsa and Atlanta followed at 61%, with a number of other cities claiming above average honesty.

Overall, four California cities ranked higher than Fresno – Los Angeles (2), Long Beach (5), San Diego (8), San Francisco (9). San Jose also reported a 50/50 split between those playing finders keepers and the state’s honest brokers.

The survey cited an article published by legal resource site hg.org which analyzed potential legal ramifications in keeping found money, determining that each state possesses laws requiring the return of money or property to the owner — provided it is possible to identify the owner.

“Whilst pocketing money on the street has parallels to winning the jackpot, it can be classed as theft and unfortunately, ‘finders keepers’ won’t hold up in a court of law.,” wrote bestcasinosites.net Online Slots and Statics Expert Kiera Miller. “The most obvious way of discharging this responsibility is to simply hand the money in at a police station.”

Specifically, California Penal Code 485 states that found property must be returned to the owner if possible; if no effort is made to return the property — including money — to the owner, you may face misdemeanor or felony theft charges.

Overall, of the 6,610 people surveyed across the country, 47% of Americans would risk keeping the money if no one saw them.