Ok, here it is. I was working in Maryland for a painting contractor painting some interior rooms in a residential home. One day I was left alone for a few hours and for some reason completely unknown to me, decided that stealing the ladies jewelry was a fine idea. I had no plans for what to do with the items. I had no financial problems, drug habits to support or any prior acts of this nature. I truly have no idea why I did it.
During the few weeks we had worked in the home, before I had taken the jewelry, I had come to know the sixty-ish lady whose personal belongings I had taken quite well. She was (is) one of the nicest people I have ever met. The kind of person who would do anything for anyone. The kind of person you just want to hug. We had long, pleasant talks about all sorts of things. She made me breakfast if I was hungry and worried that I may be.
You get the idea. (As I write this, I begin to wonder if I should be posting this in a psychology forum...)
Anyway, as soon as I got home and realized what I had done, of course, I became completly overcome with guilt. Gut wrenching, soul burning guilt that I just could not shake.
A few days later, she noticed that her jewelry was gone. She told me the history of some of the items and how sentimentally attached she was to them. It wasn't the money, they were quite well off. Some of the pieces had been gifts from her parents when she was much younger, some from her husband throughout the years. I felt like I was having a nightmare and just wanted to wake up.
A police investigation turned up no solid evidence. Of course I was a suspect, but they could not be positive as there were others who had opportunity as well.
A couple of weeks went by and the guilt became so overwhelming that I knew I had to somehow return the stuff to her. HAD to. Somehow.
So I just put them in a box addressed to her (no return address), and simply mailed it. I felt much better.
Unfortunatly, the police found my fingerprints on the box. I am now awaiting to be served a summons to appear in court to face charges of theft over $500. (I looked it up on-line)
My question is this: will the fact that I returned all of the items to her help me at all in court? I know I am in serious trouble, and I accept that. The idea of owning up to my actions is, in all honesty, quite stressful, but still better than the guilt. My remorse could not be more genuine and I know beyond any doubt that I will never, ever do anything like this again. Ever.
I wonder all of the time why I did this. I doubt I'll ever really know what caused such a total lack of impulse control that day. I definatly need a check-up from the neck-up. That's all I'm sure of at this point.
Thank you all in advance for any opinions you may offer.
Sincerely,
Stoopidpainter

