I discovered my neighbor, Darlene, had been stealing my online deliveries—not just once, but repeatedly. Instead of calling the police right away, I decided to have a little fun and teach her a lesson.
I left a fake package on my porch with a note, “Smile, you’re on camera!” and a Bluetooth speaker that barked like a dog when moved. The next morning, I watched as Darlene tiptoed over, grabbed the box, and jumped in fright when the barking started. I couldn’t stop laughing.
Curious about her motives, I later set a real, signature-required package as bait and caught her on video returning my stolen items. Confronted, she confessed: her husband had left her, she was in debt, and she’d been returning my packages for cash.
Instead of pressing charges, I offered a deal: repay what she stole and volunteer at the local shelter. Over time, she made good, and we slowly became friends. We even helped each other with daily life, hosted a garage sale, and worked together in the community.
The experience taught me that mercy can be as powerful as justice. Sometimes, choosing compassion over punishment gives people—and ourselves—a chance to heal.