In the heart of Teaneck, New Jersey — that charming Bergen County borough — something straight out of a holiday movie happened this past December. It wasn’t miracle on 34th Street… but it was close.
At Lark Street Music, the beloved vintage guitar and stringed-instrument shop that’s been part of the community’s soundtrack for decades, cameras caught a very unusual crime on the afternoon of December 22, 2025. A man sauntered in wearing what appeared to be the winter equivalent of Mary Poppins’ carpetbag — a huge coat with impossibly deep pockets. With the casual finesse of someone grabbing snacks at the movies, he slipped not one — but two vintage mandolins into his coat and walked out, apparently believing he could bluff his way into musical folklore.
Viral Video Fame (for the Wrong Reasons)
Footage of the theft — showing our mysterious mandolin-magician deftly stashing both instruments — was promptly posted on Lark Street’s Facebook page. The caption playfully shouted out the models he walked away with (a Gibson F-12 and a Weber Yellowstone worth thousands), along with a cheeky note about the suspect’s Montenegrin accent. The clip struck a chord online and went viral, generating millions of views as locals and string-enthusiasts alike watched in disbelief and amusement.
A Christmas Return… With a Twist
Just four days later — on December 26 — something stranger than fiction occurred. A quiet visitor slipped into the shop, left two shopping bags by the door… and disappeared as swiftly as they came. Inside the bags? The missing mandolins. And tucked between them? A handwritten note that read:
“Sorry, I’ve been drunk. Merry Christmas. You are good man.”
Yes, dear readers — our coat-clad kleptomaniac experienced a change of heart (or maybe just a strong dose of festive guilt), returning the instruments like a tipsy Santa with theft remorse. The owner of Lark Street, Buzzy Levine, said he was absolutely floored — describing it as something “like a weird movie with a happy ending.”
Teaneck: Where the Streets Are Lined With… Good Manners?
Whether this stranger’s motives were truly heartfelt or just holiday spirits talking, the episode wrapped up with everyone in a better mood than when it began — and a story that’ll likely play around Bergen County for years to come.
So next time you’re at Lark Street Music browsing vintage gear, remember: even in Teaneck, holiday miracles can come in the form of a returned mandolin… and a slightly embarrassed note.