Burglar identifying as 'Hollywood' steals mannequin, returns it days later with peculiar letter

A mannequin was stolen from a Pleasanton store, but returned several days later with a strange note signed by "Hollywood." A mannequin was stolen from a Pleasanton store, but returned several days later with a strange note signed by "Hollywood." Photo: Courtesy Of Kim Gapol Photo: Courtesy Of Kim Gapol Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Burglar identifying as 'Hollywood' steals mannequin, returns it days later with peculiar letter 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

Upon arriving to work last Thursday morning, Kim Gapol, the owner of a Pleasanton shapewear and fashion store called KJCOUTURE, was at first puzzled to discover a purse lying in the middle of her store's floor. She looked up toward the mannequin that had been holding the purse and was surprised to see it was no longer in its display window.

However, what was most shocking wasn't the theft, but rather, the note that the burglar left behind, and the $200 in cash enclosed with it.

"Sorry for stealing your statue she needed a better home," it read. "You should consider better security."

The note was signed by "Love Hollywood" — likely a reference to a character in the 1987 film, "Mannequin."

"I thought it was a joke," Gapol tells SFGATE. "I called my employees and friends."

However, after no one copped to taking the mannequin, Gapol said she called the police, and then quickly made some changes to the store, including getting an alarm system and changing the store locks.

However, the shop wasn't without its mannequin for long. On Tuesday morning, Gapol realized "Hollywood" had made another visit — this time to the store's courtyard — to return the store's property. It was half naked and wearing a different shirt, she noted, from when it had first been taken, and strangely accompanying it was yet another note.

"Don't worry," the second note read. "Hollywood was a perfect gentleman."

Gapol says she didn't want to touch the returned mannequin, but after people started to visit the store, she moved it to the back. At this point, she's not sure they'll keep it.

"Maybe we'll welcome her back," she adds, "put her back in her window."

SFGATE has reached out to the Pleasanton Police Department for further details.

Alyssa Pereira is an SFGATE staff writer. Email her at apereira@sfchronicle.com or find her on Twitter at @alyspereira.

