Hi everyone,

Thanks for all the positive responses. I've been walking around all day with a huge smile on my face. I'm so thrilled to have Purple Rain back.

Hmm, maybe he gave it up so easily because he did in fact steal it? But I feel like a thief would have been willing to fight. Maybe he just knew that I was going to possibly kill him unless he got his arse off of it immediately. I had been listening to "I Would Die 4 U" since it got stolen so maybe he knew I might kill for Purple Rain!

Thanks again everyone and I'm so happy to be able to report the positive ending.

I should have taken his guitar and smashed him over the head with it Nah...I was just so thrilled to get it back!

Great news. Congratulations on the successful bicycle recovery!

You handled it perfectly. If you punched or kicked him, he would have a legitimate complaint against you to the police. If he indeed purchased it from a legitimate shop, there wouldn't have been a realistic way for him to recognize it as stolen property. For example: If I purchase a new cellular from BestBuy every couple of years, I don't verify with Motorola if they were missing a load of undelivered telephones...