Police in Minden, Germany, say a Syrian man who arrived last year as a refugee is their “hero of the day” after he found €150,000 ($166,000)  and handed it to authorities.

The 25-year-old discovered the money in a cupboard he had been given by a charitable organisation.

Minden police said on Tuesday that the man had found about €50,000 in cash and savings books containing more than €100,000 hidden under a board while assembling the furniture.

After a quick internet search proved to him that what he had found was “real money”, he reported it to the local authorities, who in turn told the police.

“This young man has behaved in an exemplary manner and deserves great credit,” said the police, quoted in a statement. “People often report small amounts of money found to the police, but such a large sum is absolutely exceptional.”

According to the statement, the man arrived in Germany last October as a refugee, having left his family behind in Syria, and came to Minden four weeks later where he is taking language lessons and planning further studies.

Police are trying to find the rightful owner of the money.