Man frightened by burglars loses savings he hid in fireplace as wife lights fire

The Italian was so worried about burglars that he thought his fireplace would be a safe hiding place for his €20,000 (£17,700) - but he 'almost fainted' when he found out his wife had lit a fire in the fireplace for Christmas

The man's wife didn't know there was a small fortune hidden in the fireplace when she set the Christmas fire (

Image: Getty Images)

A man said he 'almost passed out' after his small fortune hidden in the fireplace went up in smoke when his wife set the Christmas tree on fire.

The unidentified Italian was so worried about the burglars that he chose the unconventional hideout for €20,000 (£17,700) in government bonds during the summer months.

When winter came, he was supposed to remove the stuffing so they could heat their apartment in Monteverde, Rome.

But he forgot this year and his wife burned their future savings to ashes by lighting the Christmas fire.

Speaking to Il Messaggero, he said: "When I saw the flames, I almost fainted."

He added, "I thought it would be a safe place where thieves would never think to look.

Miraculously, there might be a way to get the bonds reissued (

Picture:

Getty Images/iStockphoto)

"My wife didn't know I hid them there."

Miraculously, there might be a way to get the money back.

In Italy, postal bonds are marked with a serial number, so if the man has registered them, he may be able to get them reissued.

The Italian outlet has registered similar cases in recent years.

In Brescia in 2015, a businessman thought he could dodge the taxman by hiding €250,000 in a pannetone - an Italian sweet bread popular at Christmas and New Years.

Unfortunately for him, the Italian Financial Crimes Squad caught him in the act and realized his culinary enthusiasm after spotting the bread in his car over Easter, despite it being a winter dish.

After being shaken by the pannetone, cops raided his home and found €1.2m (£1,063m) in €100 notes hidden behind a secret compartment in the cellar .

He was charged with money laundering and the court found he owed €300,000 (£265,000) in tax.

Crazy money...