if you need to be made happy...

[Esperante]

This made my day, especially after Bush's uneventful and crooning State of the Union. January is quite depressing, this gave me just a little bit of hope back for the human race.

China phone thief repents after 21 text messages

BEIJING (Reuters) - A Chinese thief has returned a mobile phone and thousands of yuan he stole from a woman after she sent him 21 touching text messages, Xinhua news agency said on Monday.

Pan Aiying, a teacher in the eastern province of Shandong, had her bag containing her mobile phone, bank cards and 4,900 yuan ($630) snatched by a man riding a motorcycle as she cycled home on Friday, Xinhua said, citing the Qilu Evening News.

Pan first thought of calling the police but she decided to try to persuade the young man to return her bag.

She called her lost phone with her colleague's cell phone but was disconnected. Then she began sending text messages.

"I'm Pan Aiying, a teacher from Wutou Middle School. You must be going through a difficult time. If so, I will not blame you," wrote Pan in her first text message which did not get a response.

"Keep the 4,900 yuan if you really need it, but please return the other things to me. You are still young. To err is human. Correcting your mistakes is more important than anything," Pan wrote.

She gave up hope of seeing her possessions again after sending 21 text messages without a reply.

But on her way out on Sunday morning, she stumbled over a package that had been left in her courtyard only to discover it was her stolen bag. Nothing had been taken.

"Dear Pan: I'm sorry. I made a mistake. Please forgive me," a letter inside said.

"You are so tolerant even though I stole from you. I'll correct my ways and be an upright person."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Give peace a chance. We're all human.

[TVRs4eva]

That's actually an awesome story. I'm glad I gave the purse back.

[johnnynumfiv]

I'm still depressed.

[blingbling]

Wow, personally I would have used violent measures... (feels primitive)

[baddabang]

Personally I would have thrown the phone in a river and kept all of it.

I guess Chinese purse snatchers are pansies

[Vindesh17]

Wow, some people in the world still have a conscience. Thats good to know.

[IBrake4Rainbows]

I think it's lovely. and because of the kindness this woman showed she got her stuff back. Karma in action people.

[Kooper]

Isn't SMS in Chinese short for "Super Mutilating Samurai" or something? Would explain the guy returning the purse after receiving 21 SMSes.

[carsnut]

I guess Chinese purse snatchers are pansies

Hey no need to be racist. BTW that would only apply to certain Chinese people, not all of them Anyways, wow, I guess she kind of got lucky that time. I would've at least asked for some ransom..................or taken the money (in this case, yuan. 800 Yuan = $100 USD, so its about $500 or so )

[IWantAnAudiRS6]

That was a really good read! Sounds like what all thieves should be like. A shame that whoever stole my bike last year couldn't take a leaf from this guy's book...

[NSXType-R]

Actually, crime is quite rampant in China and she's very lucky she got it back. Most thieves do worse than that.

[kingofthering]

Isn't SMS in Chinese short for "Super Mutilating Samurai" or something? Would explain the guy returning the purse after receiving 21 SMSes.

nope.

[blingbling]

Isn't SMS in Chinese short for "Super Mutilating Samurai" or something?

Except... it isn't.

[The_Canuck]

Except... it isn't.

Except...its funny

[Quiggs]

Chip Ganassi once talked a car thief who stole his S class with Chip's cell in it into returning the car for a $500 bottle of wine.