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The backpack forgotten by Brenda Schenatto and Neto in Navegantes contained cameras and accessories valued at around R$ 30,000. Recicle collectors found the equipment in the trash, kept everything safe, and with the support of residents and cameras, helped the couple recover essential professional work material.
The backpack with filming equipment valued at around R$ 30,000 was recovered in Navegantes, on the North Coast of Santa Catarina, after an unlikely sequence involving residents, security cameras, and garbage collectors from the company Recicle.
According to the portal nd+, the incident happened on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, when videomaker Brenda Schenatto and her fiancé, Neto, went out for work and later realized that the backpack with cameras and accessories had been left next to the gate of a house. The search lasted about eight hours.
Couple noticed the disappearance after leaving for work
The couple’s routine changed when Brenda and Neto noticed that the backpack was no longer with them. The material contained equipment used in filming, meaning items directly linked to income, professional schedule, and the continuity of their work.
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The problem was not just the financial value. For those who work with images, cameras, lenses, accessories, and cards can also carry projects, records, and years of investment in a career built gradually.
When the couple returned to the place where the backpack had been left, the equipment was no longer there. From that moment, the situation was no longer just a forgetfulness and turned into a race against time.
The concern increased because the backpack passed through more than one person throughout the day. Without knowing where the material was, Brenda and Neto relied on the help of residents to reconstruct the path of the equipment.
Security cameras helped retrace the path
Residents of the street collaborated with security camera footage, allowing the couple to understand who had come into contact with the backpack. This support was crucial in organizing the search and preventing the story from ending without an answer.
The footage acted as a kind of map for the search. With each new piece of information, Brenda and Neto were able to advance a little further in their attempt to discover where the material had been taken.
According to the report, a woman in a vulnerable situation found the backpack first. The Military Police even accompanied Brenda to her residence, but the woman claimed she had returned the equipment to the same place.
The information seemed to reduce the chances of recovery because the material would have returned to the street. Even so, the mobilization of the residents kept the search active and helped the couple follow the sequence of events.
Backpack ended up in the trash before being found
After being left on the street again, the backpack was placed in the trash by a resident. Shortly after, Recicle collectors passed by during collection and found the object with high-value equipment inside.
The workers’ actions changed the course of the story. Instead of ignoring the contents or letting the backpack get lost in the disposal, they decided to protect the items until the owners were identified.
It was at this moment that the case stopped being just a loss and turned into a story of honesty. The collectors realized there was important material there and made the decision to keep everything safe.
Later, with the information gathered by cameras and residents, Brenda and Neto arrived at the company’s depot. There, they discovered that an employee had placed the equipment in a car to preserve it until the owners were located.
Honesty of the collectors surprised the videomakers
The recovery of the backpack moved the couple because the outcome could have been completely different. Filming equipment is easy to resell, difficult to replace quickly, and essential for those who depend on it for work.
Brenda highlighted that the collectors’ actions drew attention for their honesty. They could have treated the backpack as ordinary waste, but chose to preserve the equipment and assist in its return.
The gesture also showed the weight of responsibility in tasks that often go unnoticed. Garbage collectors deal daily with discarded objects, but in this case, they managed to identify that there was something valuable and important inside the collected material.
The workers’ stance transformed a situation of loss into a narrative of solidarity. Instead of ending with a loss, the episode ended with public gratitude and recognition on social media.
Residents were also decisive in the mobilization
The return of the equipment did not depend on a single person. The case involved a network of collaboration formed by residents, security footage, Military Police, Recicle employees, and people close to the couple.
This collective mobilization was what allowed the pieces of the story to come together. Without the cameras provided by the residents, it would have been much more difficult to identify the backpack’s route throughout the day.
The episode also shows how small gestures can make a difference. A shared image, a piece of information passed on, or a caring attitude can change the outcome of a situation that seemed lost.
On social media, Brenda and Neto thanked the support they received. The couple reported that they almost saw years of work disappear due to a moment of distraction, but found help from both known and unknown people.
Story ended with relief and gratitude
The backpack recovered in Navegantes turned into a story of relief for the couple and recognition for the Recicle collectors. The material valued at around R$ 30,000 returned to the owners after almost an entire day of uncertainty.
More than recovering cameras and accessories, Brenda and Neto regained the possibility of continuing to work without starting from scratch. For independent professionals, losing equipment of this magnitude can compromise schedules, income, and future projects.
The case also reinforces a simple but strong message: honesty still changes destinies. The attitude of the collectors and the help of the residents prevented a backpack lost in the trash from turning into a huge loss.
Do you think stories like this show that honesty still surprises in everyday life, or do you believe that this kind of attitude should be more common? Leave your opinion in the comments.
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