Stolen Money Returned to Owner After 36 Years

Frieda Folsoms had pretty much forgotten about the $500 she lost when her purse was stolen in 1963.

At least until last week, when an envelope apparently sent by the thief arrived at her door.

“I’m just happy to get the money back,” said Folsoms, 78. “Now, I’m going shopping.”

The money was sent in a Pacific Gas & Electric payment envelope addressed to Folsoms, but because it was imprinted with a mailing bar code, it was automatically routed to the company’s payment office in West Sacramento. It was postmarked in Stockton.

PG&E; employee Chris Sidhu opened the envelope and found five $100 bills and a note scrawled in shaky handwriting on the envelope’s flap that read, “Sorry we took your money. We need it at the time.”

Sidhu brought the money to the attention of his supervisor, Alice Henry. Fellow employee Tim Kenyon volunteered to deliver the money and drove to Folsoms’ house in Lodi.

“A lot of people would have pocketed the money and thrown the envelope in the trash,” said Sandi Dietz, her daughter. “This is a real rarity.”

Kenyon said he’s happy to see Folsoms get her money back and that driving the 45 minutes from West Sacramento to Lodi “wasn’t a big deal.”

“Honestly, I didn’t think much of it,” he said. “I did it once and I would do it again.”