A professor received a surprise parcel in the post on Tuesday containing his wallet, 2,000 yuan (US$253.16) in cash, his identity card and other documents that had been stolen on a bus in Guangzhou three weeks ago.

The parcel included a letter from the thief saying the 100 yuan (US$12.66) he had stolen would be returned to Lu shortly.

Lu, a retired Chinese language professor, had his bag stolen on a bus late last month as he made his way home after a class.

Lu said the thief might have been touched by a poem he had written that he was carrying in his bag extolling the virtues of those who volunteer to help others.

By Sun Tzu on 15-11-2006