Honest thief says sorry for chocolate bars he stole more than 40-years ago

The manager of a shopping centre said their “faith in humanity” has been restored after a shoplifter with a guilty conscience sent payment of £5 (AU$8.90) in the post – more than 40-years after they stole committed the crime.

An anonymous letter was mailed to the manager of Belle Vale Shopping Centre, in Liverpool, UK, which contained the cash and a heartfelt handwritten apology from the former thief, who said they “didn’t know any better” when they committed the crime.

The honest shoplifter said sorry to the manager of the shopping centre after confessing to stealing two chocolate bars from a Woolworths store there in 1975, when he was a young boy.

A photograph of the note was shared on Twitter, alongside the caption: ” Restoring our faith in humanity. Thank you.”

Restoring our faith in humanity ❤️ Thank you. pic.twitter.com/f9rdXlR1Qf

— Belle Vale Shopping (@BelleValeSC) July 13, 2018

The letter, which was not signed, read: “Dear Sir, I stole 2 bars of chochlate from woolworths in your shopping centre in 1975 when I was a little boy. I apologize I didn’t know any better heres the money I owe you for them.” (sic)

A spokesperson for the shopping precinct told the Liverpool Echo: “In a time of division, it is great to see an act of kindness that restores faith in humanity. Belle Vale Shopping Centre wants to thank the sender and acknowledge his apology. It is a positive message that is worth sharing to encourage all to be kind.”
Woolworths went bust in the UK almost 10-years ago when the last store closed its doors for good in 2009, so the sum of money will be donated to a local children’s charity.

What do you think? Have you ever felt so guilty about something, you’ve carried the burden for years?