Elderly man pays back money stolen 60 years ago from Sears

[Liberal_in_LA]

Elderly man pays back money stolen 60 years ago from Sears

A customer service desk at a big retail store during the holiday shopping season can be an ugly place to be. Not so at a Seattle Sears store, where an elderly man walked up recently with an envelope addressed to "Sears Manager."

Inside was a $100 bill — payback, the man said, for $20 or $30 he stole from the store during the 1940s.

"I think that his conscience probably has been bothering him for the last 60 years," store manager Gary Lorentson told Seattle's King-5 television, which also had interviews with surprised fellow customers.

"During the late forty I stole some money from the cash register in the amount of $20-$30," the note said. "I want to pay you back this money in the amount of $100 to put into your theft account."

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/nationnow/2011/11/sears-theft-100-return-seattle.html

[lapfog_1]

1. But, adjusted for inflation

$20 in 1947 would be $221 now.

[MayHamm]

2. When you're worried about getting into heaven...

Ya gotta do what you gotta do.

[bigwillq]

3. Hello

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[MayHamm]

7. Hi backatcha!

And thanks for the welcome.

[LanternWaste]

5. Or simply worried about doing the right thing...

Or simply worried about doing the right thing... :shrug:

But that's probably just six of one and half a dozen of the other. :P

[PeaceNikki]

4. He should have donated it to a charity instead. Sears managed to get by without that pocket change

all of these years.

Good for him for making 'good', but still - there are PLENTY of charitable organizations who could actually use that money.

[MayHamm]

6. Sears management isn't dumb.

Seattle Times reports: "The store plans to put the money toward helping needy families in the holiday season."

I mean, what else could they do?

[PeaceNikki]

11. Good!

[JohnnyRingo]

9. Actually, Sears is on their way to failure.

I believe it's owned now by KMart and has been deemed too expensive to maintain floorspace for items mow sold in strip mall units. Even Handyman now sells Craftsman, and KMart says it will liquidate Sears (after the next catalogue is delivered?).

If only this guy had repaid the hundred before it was too late. LOL

[Ter]

8. Why would he feel guilty?

That was over 60 years ago. He stole it from a store, not from a person. No offense, but he's a bit of a fool IMO.

[arikara]

10. Some people have

a conscience. That doesn't make him a fool, it makes him a human being.

[Ter]

14. I stole my friend's Star Wars figure in 1982 as a boy

I guess I should find him on Facebook and buy him a new one. Please.

[arikara]

15. Whatever.

Maybe you just need a hug.

:hug:

[PeaceNikki]

12. Catholic upbringing?

:shrug:

[Ter]

13. If he's Catholic...

Then just say a prayer that you're sorry, or go to confession and tell your priest. The Catholic (and probably all) religion forgives sinners who are truly sorry.