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“They were surprised,” Sgt. Douglas Pflug said. “They didn’t know their home had been violated.”

Sgt. Pflug said police are still looking for the culprit, but he couldn’t comment on whether the suspect would face criminal charges without knowing the thief’s criminal history. According to the letter, it was the person’s first offence. “I can’t reveal myself since getting caught would ruin my life,” the note read.

“Even though they say this is the first time they’ve committed a crime, how do you know?” said Sgt. Pflug. “But everything was returned, and that in itself is exceptional.”

News of last week’s crime, and the thief’s subsequent apology, broke on Wednesday, starting debate among neighbours on the quiet suburban street that backs onto a park and ravine.

Guenther Koch was discussing with his wife on Wednesday about whether the thief had done the right thing. His theory is the burglar was a youth, judging from the items that were taken — a video game console and a camera worth over $1,000.

“If it was kids, and the parents were behind this, I feel the parents should have taken the kid to the house,” Mr. Koch said from his garage. “I would have marched by child next door and made him fess up, then said the 50 bucks is coming out of his allowance.”

The family declined to comment about the break-in.

The episode comes on the heels of a Statistics Canada study that ranked Guelph as the safest city in Canada.

It also falls near the anniversary of a 2011 incident, where Guelph police found a similar letter attached to stolen goods from a recent series of car thefts. The apology was signed by “Two stupid kids” and included a list of addresses the two had robbed, helping police to return the items to the owners.

National Post with files from the Canadian Press

jedmiston@nationalpost.com

THE FULL TEXT OF THE LETTER (all spelling as it appears) Dear Family I Have Wronged, I’m the one who committed the serious crime against your family, and I want to apologize from the bottom of my heart. I comprimised your feelings of safety in your own home and privacey and that is unforgivable. I want to promise you it was nothing person, and I didn’t go through any of your personal belongings. I’ve been having a very tough time financially and I made the worst mistake of my life. I regretted it immediatly afterwards… I can’t put into words how sorry I am. Please accept everything I took plus $50 for repairing the screen. I will also commit to at least 15 hours of community service to help partially atone for what I’ve done. This is the first and last time I will ever commit a crime. If I could do more for you I would but I can’t reveal myself since getting caught would ruin my life.. Just another reason I’m so ashamed of what I’ve done. I’ve jeopordized your peace of mind as well as my own. Please find it in your hearts to forgive the stranger who harmed you.

National Post

jedmiston@nationalpost.com

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