Thief in Tamil Nadu leaves apology note promising to return stolen goods: 'Someone sick in my house'

The contents of the note suggested that the thief was driven to commit the crime out of desperation.

In a burglary case in Tamil Nadu's Tuticorin district, police discovered an apology note left by the thief, explaining the reason behind the crime and pledging to return the stolen items within a month, Times of India reported.

The incident occurred at the residence of Chithirai Selvin, a 79-year-old retired teacher. Selvin and his wife, also a retired educator, have four children. The couple had travelled to Chennai on June 17 to visit their son's family, leaving their house in the care of a hired maid.

On Tuesday evening, the maid arrived at the house to find it had been broken into. She immediately alerted the local police, who responded promptly.

Upon inspecting the scene and speaking with Selvin over the phone, officers confirmed that Rs 60,000 in cash, two pairs of gold earrings, and silver anklets were missing, as per TOI. However, what truly stood out was the note left by the thief, written in green ink on an envelope. The note, penned in Tamil, read: "Forgive me. I will return [it] in one month. Someone sick in my house."

The contents of the note suggested that the thief was driven to commit the crime out of desperation, ostensibly to cover medical expenses for an ailing family member.

The local police have launched a thorough investigation into the burglary. While the note provides a possible motive, law enforcement officials are treating the case with the seriousness it deserves, given the significant amount of money and valuable items stolen.

Meanwhile, a burglar in Shanghai not only stole valuables from a business but also left behind a note advising the owner to enhance their security measures.

According to Shanghai police, the burglar, identified as Sang, gained entry to the business by scaling the outer wall of the building. Once inside, he made off with a wristwatch and an Apple MacBook. However, before leaving, Sang left a handwritten note under a pile of mobile phones and laptops on a desk.

"Dear boss," the note began, "I took a wristwatch and a laptop. You should improve your anti-theft system. I did not take all the phones and laptops, fearing it might hurt your business." In a further twist, Sang provided his contact number, adding, "Contact me if you want your laptop and phone back."