Some residents of San Francisco, in the United States, participated in a treasure hunt with a prize of US$10,000 (R$50,200) that ended in complaints by public bodies.
The website “Buried Treasure” announced that a treasure had been hidden in the city and promised a prize of thousands of dollars. The chest was found 20 days after the announcement, but what happened became a topic of debate on social media after a publication showed deep holes spread across parks and other green areas.
Organizers revealed that the chest weighed more than 68 kg and was about 30 centimeters above the surface. Interested parties could search within an 11 km radius of San Francisco City Hall.
In the instructions, participants were asked to take care of the places where the holes would be made, collecting trash and not damaging other structures.
However, over the days, employees from parks and environmental areas began to report damage to the city’s green space, in addition to significant damage to plants and the irrigation system.
According to organizers, Parks and Recreation Department gardeners and Angel Island officials indicated that the holes were dug illegally and were not being covered properly, requiring repair.
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Those responsible for the treasure hunt released new clues after the case gained repercussion, with the intention of moving the search away from the most affected areas.
The original clues, intended to be similar to a pirate treasure hunt, were as follows:
“Short steps rise, and beyond them fingers rise,
following over pegs where the treasure rests
consider heavenly towers of islands, over an abandoned district;
severe wooden shelter to the north and Powell, facing back
Under stone this mint lies buried in guard,
but interrupt briefly, please — sit down
take a moment between us, you will reap;
only we know this plane, this sanctuary, this glimpse
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let’s celebrate our land, the city, this journey
the climbing, the landscapes, our only hunt for this refuge
truly framed in full cast, stage left, at your feet;
dig just a foot deep and — finally — lift the prize you seek“.
