CHULA VISTA, Calif. (KGTV) – A South Bay teen is being hailed for his actions after he found a purse with cash and credit cards left behind at a Chula Vista grocery store and returned it to the owner.
When Eliana Martin realized she didn’t have her purse with her after a trip to a Ralphs store, she scrambled to cancel her credit cards. Martin forgot the bag in a shopping cart once she arrived home.
Adrian Rodriguez spotted the purse, and he said, “My first thought was to give it back. I was debating whether I should take it back to the store or just bring it [to her], and I just brought it.”
Adrian was able to find Martin’s home, handed the purse to a relative, and then left.
Martin said she was surprised when she saw the Ring video in which Adrian rang the doorbell with her purse in his hand.
Martin’s friend, Melina Marquez, said, “We should find him, so we can give him a little gratitude.”
On Monday, Martin and Marquez were able to meet Adrian and thank him in person.
Marquez told Adrian, “I think it’s an amazing thing, what you did …”
Marquez added, “As soon as I saw his actions, I was like, ‘I hope my son grows up to be just like him.’ The values his parents were teaching him, I’m just glad he kept that.”
“… I didn’t expect none of this. I just did it just to do it,” Adrian said. “I didn’t expect nothing back, honestly. I just gave back her purse.”
Marquez organized a GoFundMe account as a way for community members to thank Adrian for his good deed.
