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‘Say no to theft' -- Anti-drug sign stolen from New Smyrna Beach returned 30 years later

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — The city of New Smyrna Beach got a large, peculiar, and completely unexpected package in the mail recently.

Inside was a blue metal sign bearing the slogan, “New Smyrna Beach Says No to Drugs,” in large white letters.

Taped to the sign was a hand-written note:

"Fathers of (New Smyrna Beach),
Please accept this sign and funds to reinstall it, as well as my apologies. Sometime in the late 80s, I stole this sign in a fit of youthful exuberance.
Forgive me!”

Attached was a money order for $50.

The New Smyrna Beach Police Department applauded the anonymous sign thief on its Facebook page.

“Apparently the youthful culprit of this mischief learned a valuable lesson and set themselves on a mission to make a wrong they committed right again,” the Facebook post said. “I don’t know about you, but seeing such an act of contrition should give us all hope that people can change, and can do the right thing, even if it’s nearly 30 years later.

“It just goes to show you there is no statute of limitations on a guilty conscience.”

The Facebook post did not say if, or where, the sign would be installed.

The person who returned the sign did not include his or her name.

NO STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS ON A GUILTY CONSCIENCETalk about a story of redemption and forgiveness…The City of New...

Posted by New Smyrna Beach Police Department on Wednesday, April 6, 2016