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Robber returns stolen items with 'sorry' note

Posted: 08/05/11 at 5:25 am

PLAISTOW, NH -- An alleged thief was accused of stealing a woman’s wallet and GPS, but she got it all back with a note saying “sorry.”

The man has been dubbed the remorseful robber because he returned everything he stole along with a letter of apology to his victim.

The suspect, caught on camera, was seen walking into the Market Basket wandering up and down the aisles. Police said he was looking for a victim, who ended up being Bernie.

“[I realized my bag was missing] when I was in the soda aisle and I bent over to get a thing of soda and I got back up and said, ‘Something’s missing?’” Bernie said.

A few minutes later on the video it shows the ‘remorseful robber’ a few aisles away bending over his cart, stuffing her wallet and GPS into his pocket. He then walked out of the store.

“He knew every step he was going to do -- act like I'm shopping, be like shoppers, blend in and then looking for his victim," said Lt. William Baldwin of the Plaistow Police Department.

Hours after the alleged heist his photo, taken from surveillance video, was plastered in the local paper. He then showed up at Bernie’s door.

“He said ‘I'm sorry.’ It's like I stood there and froze. He

turned around and ran down the driveway," said Bernie.

The ‘remorseful robber’ returned her GPS and her money, including an extra $10 for her troubles. He left a letter offering his sincere apology and claimed here is no excuse for what he did. He signed the note with “Sorry and thank you, stupid.”

This ending tugged at the victim’s heart until she learned that she’d been victimized again.

“I would like to believe it. You know that he really needed the money, but not after I heard he tried it again. That's not sorry," said Bernie.

Bernie said police told her they saw the same man a week later in a Market Basket in Salem. They chased him down, but lost him.

(Copyright (c) 2011 Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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