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Cafe owner writes letter of forgiveness to thief

Posted at 4:52 PM, Aug 28, 2016
and last updated 2016-08-28 19:52:50-04

A cafe owner wrote and posted a large letter of forgiveness to a suspect who recently robbed a Brooklyn, New York cafe.

The entire cash register, with $3,000, was taken from Cocoa Grinder. Instead of calling police, owner Abdul Elenani posted the letter on the outside of the cafe, hoping the robber will see it.

The sign reads in part, "I didn't report this, and I didn't check the cameras to see who you are. I'd rather just not know. If the money you stole was to better you and your family's living, then I forgive you. If it was stolen for you to go out there and ruin yourself and health, I still forgive you and ask of you to fix yourself."

Elenani even said if the thief admits to the crime, he would offer that person a job.

"It's my religion. It's the way I was raised up. Is to always forgive and always to give," Elelani told ABC7New York, adding that he was born and raised Muslim in Brooklyn.