Elderly man repays Sears for cash he stole in 1940s

(CBS/AP) SEATTLE - A man who stole money from a Sears cash register in the late 1940's has repaid the downtown Seattle store - with interest.

NBC affiliate KING-TV reports that a man hand-delivered an envelope Monday addressed to "Sears Manager" with a note and a $100 bill inside.

The note read: "During the late [forties] I stole some money from the cash register in the amount of $20-$30. I want to pay you back this money in the amount of $100 to put in your theft account."

Store security cameras caught the man on video, but Sears will not release the tape and and doesn't know who the man is.

Manager Gary Lorenston says he thinks the man's conscience "has been bothering him for the past 60 years."

Customers thought the gesture was "awesome."

"That is heartwarming," said one patron.

"It must have made him feel good inside to do that," said another.

The store says it plans to use the money to help families in need during the holiday season.