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July 7th, 2013 · 40 comments

Here’s something we rarely see around here: a happy ending!

Explains Amanda in Fort Collins, Colorado: “Last week, the trailer that lives outside the Food Co-op had its wheel stolen, and they weren’t able to do the food drop-off. Disgruntled, Karen put this sign on the sad, one-wheeled trailer.”

Then, Amanda says, “Three days ago, a man came into the co-op. He walked up to the register and, without saying anything, put a BRAND NEW trailer wheel on the counter. ‘I saw your sign,’ he said. ‘I used to eat at the Mission, but now I don’t need to. I wanted to bring you this.’” Then he walked out.

related: The Good Samaritan

FILED UNDER: Colorado · guilt trip · heart · most popular notes of 2013 · stealing

40 responses so far ↓

#1 NonnyMus

I love this story so much. Thanks for posting it!

Jul 7, 2013 at 4:35 pm rating: 62

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#2 The Elf

Wow. I guess once in a while a PAN actually does solve a problem!

But I do think that trailer wheel thief isn’t likely to feel one whit of remorse over harming those in great need. I mean, he stole a wheel off a trailer. What’s the resale value of that? What are the odds he needed a wheel for his own trailer? I think odds are good he’s just an ass. Knowing others are suffering because of his action is just going to make him grin a little wider.

Jul 7, 2013 at 5:06 pm rating: 45

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- #2.1 NoAdditives
  
  Way to see the worst in people.
  
  Jul 7, 2013 at 6:23 pm rating: 10
- #2.2 Red Delicious
  
  And way to be naive, NoAdditives.
  
  Jul 7, 2013 at 6:46 pm rating: 36
- #2.3 FeRD
  
  Meh. I dunno. I mean, it’s enough work to steal a wheel right off a trailer (presumably), and a food co-op’s two-wheeled delivery trailer seems unlikely enough of a choice for prank-targeting, that I’ve gotta think it’s at least possible the thief had some actual use for the stolen wheel.
  
  Or, at least, thought he/she did — like, it looked like the right size to fit their what-have-you with the tire that got run over by an SUV a couple of months ago, or something. (Whether or not it’s actually suitable for the purpose it was stolen, well… most thieves of opportunity have a pretty disappointing track record with that sort of thing, alas.)
  
  When it comes right down to it, I think I’d prefer to believe that the person who bothered to take the thing at least had some sort of actual purpose in mind for it. Makes the whole thing seem a little bit less “random spontaneous douchery”, though of course it doesn’t make it any less of a shitty thing to do.
  
  Mind you, if the thing was stolen for a reason, that raises an uncomfortable possibility of its own: Will the thief just strike again, the next time he/she needs another replacement wheel?
  
  Oh, and @NoAdditivesNoPreservativesButMaybeSomeArtificialSweetener:
  T’Elf wasn’t really seeing the worst in “people”, really, so much as — at most — seeing the worst in food co-op trailer-wheel pilferers. That’s a group that’s pretty hard (or foolish) to see in a much better light, really, considering the only thing we know about them so far.
  
  Jul 7, 2013 at 9:10 pm rating: 23
- #2.4 Lil'
  
  The person already stole the tire and proved his character. Elf is just being real.
  
  Jul 8, 2013 at 7:17 am rating: 6
- #2.5 The Elf
  
  It’s what I do, NoAdditives.
  
  But I am seeing the best in FeRD, who gave me a Vulcan name with “T’Elf”. The trekkie in me got all giddy. But then the cynic in me stomped her back into her place and returned to frowning at the world.
  
  Jul 8, 2013 at 7:38 am rating: 19
- #2.6 Beatus Mongous
  
  Quick release wheels are standard on those trailers, and they take seconds to remove. The only use I can think of for a random trailer wheel is either a replacement wheel for the same size trailer (there are so many different sizes), or the sale of the wheel for a quick fix of meth.
  
  Jul 8, 2013 at 2:04 pm rating: 2
- #2.7 Raichu
  
  It’s not seeing the worst in people to be realistic about what’s probably going on. Why else would you steal a thing like that? What value does it have to a thief? I guess maybe if they were working on their own project in their workshop and had no qualms with stealing parts…that seems less likely.
  
  Jul 8, 2013 at 3:04 pm rating: 0
- #2.8 Tardo
  
  It’s shameful that we don’t assume the best of trailer wheel thieves. This could be a Jean Valjean who was so starving he ate the wheel. Perhaps he’s a Robin Hood, stealing wheels from the rich to give to the poor.
  
  Jul 8, 2013 at 3:58 pm rating: 18
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#3 Nunavut Guy

I hate happy endings.Please immediately return to the world of selfishness and woe that we all so revel in.

Jul 7, 2013 at 5:58 pm rating: 25

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- #3.1 Tard
  
  I was just about to say the same thing.
  Happy endings are just stories that aren’t really over.
  
  Jul 7, 2013 at 6:56 pm rating: 14
- #3.2 H for Toy
  
  Aw, c’mon Nunavut. It takes your mind off the daily grind of expensive soda and whale fat casserole.
  
  Jul 7, 2013 at 9:34 pm rating: 9
- #3.3 Kristy
  
  As I sit in my office, well north of the 60th parallel, I am wondering when I will get some of the aforemetioned while fat casserole… I think I may be missing out here
  
  Jul 8, 2013 at 10:04 am rating: 4
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#4 Elbie

*sniffle*

Damn onion-cutting ninjas invaded my living room again.

Jul 7, 2013 at 6:27 pm rating: 49

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- #4.1 H for Toy
  
  That’s the excuse I’m going to give my husband next time he hears me sniffling on the couch. Better than the “shut up” he usually gets when he gives me that look.
  
  Jul 7, 2013 at 9:36 pm rating: 8
- #4.2 redheadwglasses
  
  I shed tears at the drop of a hat. Boyfriend often says, “you’re crying over THAT?” (I am not thin skinned about it at all, thank goodness.)
  
  I am SO using this ninja line at the next opportunity.
  
  Jul 8, 2013 at 11:53 am rating: 2
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#5 sunshynegrll

A bit miffed that there was no handjob in this happy ending.

No but really, people who have suffered are the most generous.

Jul 7, 2013 at 7:09 pm rating: 28

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- #5.1 redheadwglasses
  
  ” people who have suffered are the most generous.”
  
  The broker I am, the more food I buy for the food shelf donation bin. I figure, “I may be broke, but at least I can buy groceries.”
  
  Jul 8, 2013 at 11:54 am rating: 10
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#6 SeeYouInTea

What is this thing called “generosity”? Is it a food? I’ve never seen anything like it here.

Jul 7, 2013 at 9:04 pm rating: 10

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#7 e

Those disliking the heart-warmingness of this tale may wish to adopt the plausible hypothesis that the “brand new” wheel was really the old one, and the thief stole it only to return it for a moment of glory.

Jul 7, 2013 at 9:18 pm rating: 4

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- #7.1 H for Toy
  
  He must have at least cleaned it up then, cuz it looks pretty sparkly to me.
  
  Jul 7, 2013 at 9:31 pm rating: 7
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#8 sockpuppet

Were they not going to find another way to deliver the food out of spite? Surely someone had a car…I’ve seen co-ops and they are full of bike trailers.

Jul 7, 2013 at 11:19 pm rating: 6

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- #8.1 The Elf
  
  Maybe they haven’t had the chance to arrange something new, maybe there were logistical/legal problems with using a private vehicle, who knows.
  
  Jul 8, 2013 at 11:10 am rating: 1
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#9 Brobalt

Without saying a word, he said

Jul 8, 2013 at 12:49 am rating: 19

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- #9.1 My name is Princess!
  
  The man did not say anything until after he put the wheel on the counter. That’s how I had to read it.
  
  Jul 9, 2013 at 12:18 pm rating: 0
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#10 Rachel

How to get a new trailer tyre for free
1. Pretend the old one was stolen.
2. Wait.

OR

1. Steal someone else’s trailer tyre.
2. Wait for them to replace it.
3. Steal that one too.

Jul 8, 2013 at 1:39 am rating: 2

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#11 TRT

Wheely nice of him. Good news! A spokes person for the PAN

Jul 8, 2013 at 4:24 am rating: 14

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- #11.1 The Elf
  
  *groan*
  
  Jul 8, 2013 at 8:25 am rating: 4
- #11.2 TRT
  
  So long as you’re not tyred of it…
  
  Jul 9, 2013 at 4:17 am rating: 5
- #11.3 K
  
  You’re really on a roll with these jokes, it seems.
  
  Jul 9, 2013 at 11:05 pm rating: 3
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#12 Becky

If you’d see this happen anywhere, it would be in FoCo. Love living here!

Jul 8, 2013 at 6:48 am rating: 1

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#13 Dane Zeller

This is pure corporate greed. It’s out of Principles of Marketing 101, the chapter on stealing from yourself, a non-profit tactic. It’s proven to raise revenue by 93%.

Ducking for cover, I remain,

O.M. Typing

Jul 8, 2013 at 7:55 am rating: 2

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#14 Frank Chickens

Aw, it’s very rare to see a happy ending on here!

C’mon folks let’s enjoy this brief moment of happiness before returning to our usual cynicism and hate.

And..back to normal.

Jul 8, 2013 at 8:32 am rating: 3

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- #14.1 The Elf
  
  That’s the ticket! Always look on the bright side of life!
  
  Worse things happen at sea, you know.
  
  Jul 8, 2013 at 7:29 pm rating: 2
- #14.2 FeRD
  
  Like drowning!
  
  Jul 9, 2013 at 3:20 am rating: 2
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#15 Poltergeist

This is just begging for a joke involving Jesus taking the wheel, but I’m not going to make that joke. I’d like to think that I, and my sense of humor, have matured. I refuse to give in to childish impulses.

Now can somebody please help me identify the type of cleavage in this picture I found on Google image search? I can’t tell if it’s booby or tushy.

Jul 8, 2013 at 2:01 pm rating: 3

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#16 Raichu

That’s awesome! I don’t have an interesting or witty comment…this just made me smile.

Jul 8, 2013 at 3:06 pm rating: 2

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#17 itsjaungleoutthere

Ah, I like stories like this. I volunteered at a community cafe a few years back, and our coffee machine – which was our main source of income – broke. Trying to fund raise to get it fixed was hard work, and we were serving relatively shit filter coffee while it was broken. We had a big hourglass measure on the wall saying how far off we were – about £200.

One day, a guy came in, had a coffee, walked up to the counter and said, “That coffee was terrible, you’d better not be serving that next time I come in.” He put £200 into my hand and walked off. Never saw him again, and we quickly got back to making some quality coffee.

Jul 16, 2013 at 8:22 am rating: 4

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#18 Sherry

Maybe a bear did it…

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504784_162-57596836-10391705/bear-steals-restaurants-dumpster-twice-in-a-row/

Aug 4, 2013 at 6:36 pm rating: 0

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