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Grandpa returns stolen handcuffs to police after 60 years due to this reason

“What a lovely man,” wrote a Twitter user while reacting to LAPD's post.

Published on: Feb 6, 2021, 19:10:18 IST
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A story of a grandpa who returned handcuffs he stole about 60 years ago has now won people over. Shared on the official Twitter account of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), the story shows that it is never too late to do the right thing.

The image shows the handcuffs returned after 60 years. (Twitter/@LAPDHQ)
The image shows the handcuffs returned after 60 years. (Twitter/@LAPDHQ)

Taking to Twitter, the police department shared two images. One of the images is of a handcuff and the other is an apology letter. The man sent those to the police station and also $100 as donation. In the note he explained what made him return the handcuffs after all these years.

He wrote that he is a 74-year-old grandpa from Vista, California and shared the story of how he came in the possession of the handcuffs. “More than 60 years ago I was at Bob’s Big Boy on Sherman Way when an altercation broke on between an LAPD Juvenile officer and a young ruffing. During the scuffle, the officer’s cuff came loose and slide across the floor. They stopped at my feet and I picked them up and kept them,” reads a part of the letter.

In the following lines he explained that every time he looked at the cuffs, he felt a little guilty. However, he was overwhelmed with guilt when he told the story to his two young grandsons who were “aghast” and asked him why he stole the cuffs from a policeman. That is when he decided to return the handcuffs.

In the concluding lines of the note he wrote, “This note is addressed to you, but is partially intended for my grandsons. I will make sure each of them gets a copy of this letter in the hope that they get a different perspective than the one I left with.”

“An envelope arrived at LAPD West Valley station. Inside a letter of apology, a $100 donation & a pair of handcuffs. This was no ordinary letter. It was a life lesson over 60 years in the making, from a grandfather to his grandkids—that it’s never too late to do the right thing,” LAPD shared in their post.

Take a look at the tweet:

Since being shared, the post has gathered more than 1,600 likes and tons of appreciative comments. A few also shared similar stories of how they returned items they stole years ago.

“I stole a piece of lava rock from Volcanoes National Park on the big island years ago. Then I read about the vengeful fire goddess Pele, and how she hates when that happens. When I got home to LA, I mailed the rock back to the park ranger with my apology,” shared a Twitter user. “What a lovely man,” shared another.

Here’s how others reacted:

What do you think of the tweet?

  • Trisha Sengupta
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Trisha Sengupta

    Trisha Sengupta works as Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over six years of experience in the digital newsroom. Known for her ability to decode the internet’s most talked-about moments, she specialises in high-engagement storytelling that bridges the gap between viral trends and traditional journalism. Throughout her tenure, Trisha has focused on the intersection of technology, finance, and human emotion. She frequently covers personal finance and real estate struggles in hubs like Gurgaon, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, while also documenting the unique challenges of the NRI experience. Her work often highlights the movements and philosophies of global newsmakers and personalities like Elon Musk, Mukesh Ambani, Nikhil Kamath, Dubai crown prince, and MrBeast. From reporting on Amazon or Meta layoffs and startup culture to the emergence of AI-driven platforms like Grok and xAI, she provides a grounded and empathetic perspective on the stories shaping our world. When not decoding the internet, Trisha is likely offline: lost in a book, exploring a historical ruin, or navigating the world as a solo traveler. She balances her fast-paced career with family time and a healthy dose of curiosity, currently trading her "human" sources for silicon ones as she masters AI to future-proof her storytelling.Read More

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