In a heartwarming twist of holiday karma, a music store in New Jersey has become the centre of an unusual online story. A man who stole two expensive mandolins months ago quietly returned them just before Christmas, leaving behind a handwritten note of apology that has since captured the internet's attention.
The Surprise Return at Lark Street Music
The incident unfolded at Lark Street Music, a shop owned by Buzzy Levine. Levine took to the store's Facebook page to share the unexpected update. He revealed that the thief surreptitiously opened the front door and left the two mandolins inside shopping bags near the entrance.
"Recovered!" Levine wrote in his social media post. "An hour ago, the thief surreptitiously opened the front door and returned them in two shopping bags." The store owner's reaction was swift. Upon realising what was happening, he ran out of the shop in pursuit of the man.
"I ran up to the door and saw him running down the street, so summoning all my feet' fleetness, I took off after him. Not so smart, I lost him, called 911, and they are in pursuit," Levine added in his post.
A Handwritten Apology and a Viral Story
Along with the instruments, the man left a brief, candid note. The handwritten message read: "SORRY, I BEEN DRUNK, MERRY CHRISTMAS. You are a good man." This sincere, if grammatically flawed, apology added a deeply human element to the story, resonating with thousands online.
Levine, who has been running the store since 1981, believes the widespread sharing of the original theft video played a key role in the return. He thanked the online community for their support, stating, "Your re-posts and pressure definitely made him realise the walls were closing in. Thank you all!!! I feel like I'm in a TV movie."
The Theft and the Value of the Mandolins
Prior to the return, the shop had shared CCTV footage of the theft online. The video clearly showed a man concealing the two mandolins under his parka before exiting the store. The original alert post described the stolen items as a Gibson F-12 #A2985 and a Weber Yellowstone #9360302, and noted the thief had a Montenegrin accent.
The combined value of the instruments is substantial. According to a report, the two mandolins were estimated to be worth Rs 3.1 lakh (approx $3,500) and Rs 3.8 lakh (approx $4,250) respectively, putting the total value at over Rs 6.9 lakh.
Christopher Kurschner, the captain of investigations at the Teaneck Police Department, confirmed that the case remains under investigation and that no arrests have been made so far. The return of the property, however, marks a significant and unusual development in the case.
