A brazen thief who stole nearly $8,000 worth of vintage mandolins from a New Jersey music store shocked everyone by returning them four days later with a handwritten apology note.
Story Highlights
- Thief stole two vintage mandolins worth $7,750 from Teaneck music store on December 22
- Store owner’s surveillance video went viral with over 4 million views after posting online
- The criminal returned instruments December 26 with a note: “Sorry, I been drunk. Merry Christmas. You are good man”
- Police continue investigating despite anonymous return; no arrests made yet
Viral Video Exposes Brazen Christmas Week Theft
Security cameras at Lark Street Music captured a man with a Montenegrin accent stealing two high-value vintage mandolins on December 22. The thief concealed a Gibson F-12 valued at $3,500 and a Weber Yellowstone worth $4,250 inside his jacket before casually walking out. Store owner Buzzy Levine immediately called police and posted the surveillance footage online, transforming a local crime into a viral sensation that garnered over four million views within days.
Conscience Strikes Back With Holiday Redemption
Four days after the theft, the criminal experienced an apparent change of heart. On December 26, he anonymously returned both mandolins in shopping bags left at the store entrance, accompanied by a handwritten note apologizing for his actions. The grammatically imperfect but sincere message read: “Sorry, I been drunk. Merry Christmas. You are good man.” Levine spotted the thief fleeing the scene and briefly gave chase but lost him before calling 911.
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Social Media Justice Succeeds Where Traditional Policing Stalls
This case demonstrates how viral exposure can accomplish what formal law enforcement sometimes cannot. The massive online attention likely pressured the thief into returning the stolen property, avoiding a $7,750 loss for the small business owner. Teaneck Police Department Captain Christopher Kurschner confirmed that no arrests have been made despite the ongoing investigation. The department continues seeking tips from the public at 201-837-2600, though the anonymous return complicates traditional prosecution efforts.
Small Business Owner Celebrates Unusual Victory
Levine, who has operated Lark Street Music since 1981, described the entire episode as “like a weird movie with a happy ending.” The 40-year veteran of vintage instrument retail expressed shock at both the brazen theft and the unexpected return. While the criminal remains unidentified and free, Levine recovered his valuable inventory intact. This outcome highlights the vulnerability of specialty music retailers while showcasing how community engagement through social media can protect small businesses from opportunistic theft.
Sources:
Man who stole mandolins from Teaneck store returns them with note saying ‘Sorry, I been drunk. Merry Christmas’
Stolen mandolins returned to New Jersey guitar shop with apology note: ‘Sorry, I been drunk’
Drunk thief returns stolen mandolins to New Jersey guitar shop with apology note
