Virginia Beach, Va. - Last Friday afternoon a man was caught on camera stealing a $300 samurai sword from Oriental Décor, located at Lynnhaven Crossing Shopping Center in Virginia Beach.
In the surveillance footage, the man is seen stuffing the sword down his pant leg, concealing it with a black trench coat.
The store's owner, John, who did not want to show his face or give his last name, says he was upset when he first saw the video, but says he forgave the thief.
"He really didn't mean to steal it from my store," John says. "I can tell from their eyes or their face. I think everyone makes mistakes."
After 12 years, his shop is going out of business and that $300 sword would have brought in some much needed profit.
John called police, he says, so the man would learn a lesson.
And it appears he did.
Less than an hour after NewsChannel 3 reported the theft, the same man who was in those surveillance pictures came back.
In the surveillance video, you can see him walking back through the doors and returning the sword.
John didn't bother to get the man’s name; he just took his sword back and called police to tell them what happened. John says he is not pressing charges.
