Thieves win the lottery with a stolen credit card, and the card owner offers an unbelievable deal

Can a robbery ever lead to an unexpected stroke of luck? It’s hard to imagine, but that’s exactly what happened in this bizarre case. A group of thieves used a stolen credit card to buy a lottery ticket—only to win big. But instead of just pressing charges, the card’s owner has made a surprising offer: to split the jackpot with the very people who took their money.
As per reports, Jean-David Estele, a man from Toulouse, France, had his car broken into on February 3. Among the purchases made with his stolen credit card was a lottery ticket—one that turned out to be worth 500,000 euros ($525,000). While most would be outraged by the crime, Estele has taken a different approach. Instead of pressing charges, he’s offering to split the jackpot with the very thieves who unknowingly changed his fortune.
According to Estele’s lawyer, Pierre Debuisson, the two suspects—believed to be homeless—have vanished without a trace. Despite fingerprints being found at the scene, authorities have yet to identify them. Now, Estele’s legal team is urging the thieves to come forward.
“Without my client’s credit card, the ticket wouldn’t have been purchased, but without the thieves’ actions, the win wouldn’t have happened either,” Debuisson explained. “It’s truly unbelievable.”

Estele, who plans to use his share of the money to build a new house with his wife, has no interest in taking legal action. “They have nothing to fear from us,” Debuisson assured, adding that this may be the first time someone has been genuinely happy to have their credit card stolen.
The bizarre story has made headlines worldwide and has caught the attention of netizens. “I never imagined this case would attract so much attention,” said Debuisson. “It’s not the craziest case I’ve handled, but it’s certainly the funniest.”
Meanwhile, France’s national lottery operator, Française des Jeux (FDJ), confirmed that no request for payment had been made yet. However, Jean-David's offer comes with a few complications. Legal experts have pointed out that the winnings might not be claimable since the ticket was purchased using stolen funds. Adding to the uncertainty, if the thieves don’t come forward soon, the ticket will expire before anyone can claim the prize.