The owner of Mr. Seafood posed with the man who robbed his restaurant to send a message about forgiveness. (Photo: Mr.Seafood#1 via Facebook)

The owner of a Columbia, S.C., seafood restaurant sent a powerful message about forgiveness this week when he decided not to press charges against the man who broke into his restaurant.

A Facebook post explained that the Mr. Seafood restaurant “got hit” over the weekend and had to close on Sunday. But after neighbors helped identify the man seen stealing from the business in a surveillance video, the owner, Kevin Scott, decided to talk to him before calling the police.

“God inspired me,” Scott told Birmingham, Ala.’s WBRC Fox 6 News. “I talked to the guy, and he said he did it to feed his family, and his story didn’t seem dishonest to me. He apologized and offered to work to pay off what he stole, but I don’t want that. I just don’t want him committing crimes.”

A few days after the break-in, Scott met the man at the restaurant and later posted a photo of them on Facebook. “Forgiveness is better,” he wrote.

Locals praised Scott’s decision not to press charges.

“This speaks volumes. Praying for this young man that he finds a better way. Blessings to you for forgiveness,” one person commented.

“This is how we should really treat one another, love and sympathy,” another person said. “This could very well be, and I pray it is the turning point in this young mans life to do right and help his fellow human beings. We’ve got to all do our parts individually to make this planet a better place to live.”

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