In a bizarre twist of fate, a half-million-euro lottery win has become a cat-and-mouse game between a robbery victim and the thieves who unknowingly purchased the winning ticket with his stolen bank card.
Jean-David discovered earlier this month that his backpack had been stolen from his car in the southern city of Toulouse, including bank cards and other documents, the lawyer said.
Jean-David filed a police complaint about the theft, but is ready to withdraw it if the thieves come forward so that they can share the money, Mr Debuisson said.
The thieves, having used the stolen card to purchase the ticket, are now among France’s most wanted fugitives.
As of Saturday, La Francaise des Jeux (FDJ), the state lottery operator, confirmed that the winning ticket remains unclaimed.
