Thief returns stolen tip jar with a 2-page apology, double the cash, and one heartfelt request
'It’s definitely bizarre. It’s definitely not the normal sequence of events you see.'
A stolen tip jar at a Michigan restaurant took an unexpected turn days after surveillance video showed it being taken from the front counter earlier this month. What started as a straightforward theft at Mr. Miguel’s Mexican Grill and Cantina in Warren ended with the jar returned, redecorated, and accompanied by a lengthy handwritten apology. According to WXYZ-TV Detroit, the jar belonged to 17-year-old hostess Avery Shook, who discovered it missing at the end of her shift. “I’m cleaning up at the end of the night, and I realized my tip jar is gone,” Shook said. Security footage showed a woman pulling the clear container off the counter as she picked up her food order.
“You could see the lady grabbing it and just walking out. I was just disappointed that there are people in the world who feel so low to go ahead and steal from little, like, teenagers,” Shook added. Shook, who has worked at the restaurant for three years, relies on those tips as her main source of income while saving for college. Restaurant supervisor Mariah Donaldson told WEAU 13 News that the theft happened when the hostess stepped into the kitchen. “That’s when she picked up the tip jar as well as her bags of food,” Donaldson said. The restaurant’s owner had indicated they would not press charges if the jar and money were returned.
Days later, staff members found a brown bag labeled "for Mr. Miguel" outside the restaurant’s door. Inside was the missing jar, but stunningly altered. According to the Detroit Free Press, the container had been decorated with sparkly paper, a black felt lid, skull stickers, and even a small LED light with a remote control. More notably, it contained double the cash it had before, accompanied by a two-page apology letter. “In good faith, I have deposited twice as much as was falsely claimed,” the note read.
The note continued, “I also installed a brand new LED light that comes with a remote control. Please don’t ban me. The food was really, really good. Sincerely, Swiper.” Research has shown that when someone apologizes and offers restitution after doing something wrong, people are more likely to respond with empathy and forgiveness. A study published in the Journal of Psychology and Theology found that participants who received both a sincere apology and financial restitution reported lower anger and a greater willingness to forgive compared to situations where no apology or repayment was offered. The findings suggest that taking responsibility and making things right can meaningfully change how harm is perceived.
Police Lt. John Gajewski described the situation as unusual. “It’s definitely bizarre. It’s definitely not the normal sequence of events you see,” he said, while reminding the public that returning stolen property does not erase potential criminal consequences. Ultimately, restaurant management chose not to pursue charges. Shook said the return wasn’t the only gesture of support. After news coverage of the incident aired, a community member stopped by and handed her additional cash. “Yes, I did have someone come in, and they gave me a bag of money. It was about like $40 and a bunch of change, which actually ended up being about like $40 too,” she said.
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