Thief returns $800 from 1980s burglary
HASTINGS, Mich. (AP) — A burglar expressing guilt about stealing $800 from a western Michigan store three decades ago has repaid the money, plus some interest.
The anonymous thief sent a note and $1,200 in $100 bills to the Barry County sheriff's department in Hastings, and they arrived Monday, WOOD-TV reported.
The writer admitted breaking into the Middle Mart on Michigan 37 in Thornapple Township north of Middleville about 30 years ago.
In a letter packed with emotion and spelling errors, the writer asks for "help in locating a man" to whom the writer owes the money.
"Anyways, I did a very bad thing that I am shamed of and have lived with this guilt," the writer said. "I can't begin to say how sorry iam but have lived with this guilt too long," the letter went on to say. "If you do find him, please tell him that I was afoolish stupid man when I did that and iam sorrie."
The letter was unsigned and had no return address.
The $1,200, while it includes some interest, falls short of making up for the loss in the dollar's purchasing power over the intervening years. The stolen $800 would be worth about $1,800 today, based on changes in the consumer price index.
WOOD-TV said the former owner of the store, now called Greg's Get-N-Go, confirmed it was broken into in the 1980s. The store was sold in 1988.
Undersheriff Bob Baker said the letter and cash came as quite a surprise.
"This doesn't happen every day," Baker said. He said the department isn't interested in reopening the case because of the time that has passed.
The anonymous thief sent a note and $1,200 in $100 bills to the Barry County sheriff's department in Hastings, and they arrived Monday, WOOD-TV reported.
The writer admitted breaking into the Middle Mart on Michigan 37 in Thornapple Township north of Middleville about 30 years ago.
In a letter packed with emotion and spelling errors, the writer asks for "help in locating a man" to whom the writer owes the money.
"Anyways, I did a very bad thing that I am shamed of and have lived with this guilt," the writer said. "I can't begin to say how sorry iam but have lived with this guilt too long," the letter went on to say. "If you do find him, please tell him that I was afoolish stupid man when I did that and iam sorrie."
The letter was unsigned and had no return address.
The $1,200, while it includes some interest, falls short of making up for the loss in the dollar's purchasing power over the intervening years. The stolen $800 would be worth about $1,800 today, based on changes in the consumer price index.
WOOD-TV said the former owner of the store, now called Greg's Get-N-Go, confirmed it was broken into in the 1980s. The store was sold in 1988.
Undersheriff Bob Baker said the letter and cash came as quite a surprise.
"This doesn't happen every day," Baker said. He said the department isn't interested in reopening the case because of the time that has passed.
Makes me wonder if the guy is in recovery from drug or alcohol addiction.. Â One of the "steps" is to make amends to those you have wronged..
Okay I confess!!! I had a beer or two or three or four or five.......when I was 17...There I am glad I got that off my mind.
@dkgiovenco Wow. What an awful thing to do. Confessing all that must have been really hard.Â
Ya, now I need a drink.
Most likely there is a statute of limitations on this crime, so he may not have been obligated to pay it back. Some people really do have a conscience....he appears to be one of them.Â
"The $1,200, while it includes some interest, falls short of making up for the loss in the dollar's purchasing power over the intervening years. The stolen $800 would be worth about $1,800 today, based on changes in the consumer price index."
Tough crowd.
As for me, I would accept his apology and hope that they can get the money to the owner at the time of the theft.
@RalphCramden Â
No doubt; if that was the response to my effort to make right I'd be annoyed that I had bothered to live without the $1200. The description of the attached note indicates that this individual likely really needed the money when it was stolen and probably has difficulty parting with it now....even though it is a relatively paltry sum.  The fact that his conscience haunted him for all those years suggests that he is a fundamentally better person than any banker or wall street person or all the other scum that have stolen billions without any remorse.
@Icarus
You did fine up till the banker, wall street person. Making it political really took the focus away from the guy who, as you said, is probably a pretty good person.
That is the story and it has nothing to do with banks or wall street.
@Icarus
There was no apology.
You just blurred the positive actions this guy took in trying to right a wrong that he did decades ago with your political twisting of the story.
If you think that is an attack then so be it. I call it as I see it and you made a political issue that was uncalled for.
Can't you just leave it that they guy did a good thing and was trying to make amends?
@RalphCramden   is it political to say this guy actually showed greater social conscience over a few dollars than anyone who manages billions of dollars in the finance and then to give a couple of examples?   Â
I think you doth protest too much: the fact that you attack my statement without defending an alternative or proving it wrong is pretty much the definition of an ad hominem attack and such pathetic tactics are an obvious admission agreement while trying desperately to save face. Thank you for your apology.Â
You forgot to include "Some of the Welfare recipients also"
This act of kindness really touches George Bush's heart and he admits his war crimes. though cheney remains a sith lord
@Trickledown Really... If Cheney was a Sith Lord, the imperial army would have won. He'd have taken his 12 guage pump action saber out and yoda would have been all "tf, w?". Of course Obama would have been all up with Scotty and Kirk the second Star Wars is mentioned.
@Trickledown Always someone that has to turn a "feel-good" story into something political. Â
I have a suggestion - go to Home Depot, buy some tools, wood, nails, glue, etc. Then build a bridge and GET OVER IT!!!
@scoreboard @Trickledown Better yet, he could buy some concrete and bury himself.
@starshadow @scoreboard @Trickledown Oget some of that new all-in-one cleanser and glue. I think it is called "Take it and Stick it."
@scoreboard   So you don't deny that Deadeye Dick is a sith lord....duly noted. Â
@Icarus @scoreboard Whatever......
Restitution is an important part of forgiveness. Sometimes it takes a while for some people's better angel to make an appearance. Kudos to the person for trying to make things right.
@Mikey Which one of the 12 steps would that be?Â
My sister returned a stupid wicker back to JCPenny's over 20 years ago. It was one of her 12 steps and she has been sober for over 20 years now.
@WendyTeagarden @MikeyÂ
I know people who taken at least 144 steps if not more.
@disgustedman  Stop being so ironic and go shave that hipster beard that you crocheted for yourself.
Not PBR!! God NO!!!
@RalphCramden  I hate hiking.  Anyone up for a beer?
@WendyTeagarden
For them it's not 12 steps, it's a long hike and they hike the same trail over and over.
@WendyTeagarden @RalphCramden Practice makes perfect....
@RalphCramden practice, practice practice