Thief had larceny (and a song) in his heart

For the Star Tribune

Mark Neary

A Fargo man who left his SUV unlocked found his wallet had been rifled and a complimentary note left behind.

By VINCE TUSS, Star Tribune

Last update: July 16, 2009 - 9:54 PM

Mark Neary has a pen pal who likes his music and gives advice. Unfortunately, the writer delivered the note to the Fargo man while taking cash, debit cards and more from vehicles in Neary's driveway.

Neary, 50, went out to his Cadillac Escalade about 5:30 a.m. Wednesday and found a handwritten note atop a couple of B.B. King CDs. "You have amazing taste in music," said the note, which closed, "Seriously though, lock your car in the future."

It was punctuated with a smiley face sticking out its tongue.

Taken from his wallet were his driver's license, four debit cards and about $50 in cash ("But not the small bills," Neary said). Also gone: a flashlight from the SUV and a small GPS unit in his 17-year-old daughter's car, also unlocked in the driveway. Left behind: the six CDs in Neary's SUV, including ones by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and the Donnas.

Neary admits he usually leaves his keys in the SUV but doesn't often have his wallet or other items in view.

He even thought about making sure everything was put away the last time he was outside: at 2 a.m., consoling one of his sons after learning that the family's Alaskan husky had liver cancer and needed to be put down.

"I just had to get some sleep," he said.

And as of today, Neary is officially laid off from his job at a Case tractor plant. But he had one laugh: The four debit cards taken had a total of $20 between them.

"He probably didn't get to have too much fun," Neary said.

Vince Tuss • 612-673-7692