Mysterious Benefactor Leaves Cash All Over German Town

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Oodles of money are popping up all over in Braunschweig, Germany, right on residents’ doorsteps. The problem is that no one is quite sure who’s doing it — not that anyone is going to complain about €10,000 (about $13,000) left at their homes.

Since last November, unmarked envelopes full of cash have been popping around the German town’s local institutions. From the Natural History Museum to soup kitchens, the unexpected windfall has reached about 18 different beneficiaries.

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Though this mysterious donor is being dubbed a “Robin Hood,” there are questions about how the money is being delivered and received. There is no way to know for certain if the money is indeed being found by its intended receipient, but, it seems the mysterious benefactor often scans the town’s local papers to get an idea of his next fortunate target.

Michael Knobel from the Braunschweig Hospice, which also found cash lying on its steps, postulated his theory to CNN, saying that “It could be someone at the end of his life and wants to distribute his money because he doesn’t have a family, or doesn’t like his family… or just someone who wants to do good, and we’re almost not used to that.”

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Erica Ho is a contributor at TIME and the editor of Map Happy. Find her on Twitter at @ericamho and Google+. You can also continue the discussion on TIME’s Facebook page and on Twitter at @TIME.