When I lived in Manhattan I would take off my sneakers and leave them outside my door before I entered my apartment as to not dirty up my floors. I always assumed they would be safe.

Late on the night of October 5, 2003 my sneakers were stolen.

I was determined to track down the perpetrator. I got the security tapes from my landlord and found the person who stole my sneakers. I was able to determine exactly what time it happened. I asked my upstairs neighbor what restaurant he ordered his food from. I was hot on the trail.

I went to the restaurant and brought them a photo I printed out from the video. The owner refused to take any responsibility for what happened and even denied that the man in the photo worked for them.  I couldn’t believe how he could so blatantly lie to me when I had such clear evidence in my hand, but at that point there was really nothing else I could do. My case went cold. I thought my sneakers would be gone forever, so I went and bought a new pair.

Two days later the delivery man from the video showed up at my door with my sneakers in his hands. I let him keep them.

He thanked me and then he cried.

View the video here.
Check out the delivery guy holding my shoes here.