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Brooklyn Café Owner Says He Forgives Robber For Stealing $3,000

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A Brooklyn café owner went a different route after he was robbed.

WLNY's Ali Bauman reported Abdul Elenani, the owner of Cocoa Grinder in Bay Ridge, didn't file a police report after someone broke the café's window and stole a cash register that had $3,000 in it.

Instead, Elenani spent $780 to print a letter to tell the one who broke into his business that he is forgiven.

"My first thought was maybe this guy was actually in need for him to come in and take the whole register and just walk out like no problem," he said.

He continued, "I tried to give him all the excuses possible. If you stole to support your family, I forgive you. If you stole to mess yourself up, you're on crack, I still forgive you, but I ask you fix yourself."

The café might make up for the stolen money sooner than expected as people passing by said they're touched by his statement and it makes them want to come in.

"It shows what this community is about and it shows this is a great place to have coffee on a day-to-day basis," said customer Joemmy Ramirez.

Abdul said there had been several other recent break-ins on the block and he hopes this will prevent future crime. As for his thief, Abdul said if he owns up to the crime, he's hired.

"If he wants to come and confront me and tell me, 'Hey, sir, I'm the one who stole from your store, the one who robbed you,' then I would hug him," Abdul explained.

Abdul's message has already started to ring out as he said last week someone tore the banner down on their way home from a bar, and then the next morning returned it and apologized.

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