The clock used to hang inside Michigan Central Station, but it had been missing for twenty years. Luckily, in light of Detroit’s efforts to restore the city to its former glory, the antique recently resurfaced in a most unusual way.

An anonymous caller told the museum staff that the clock had been carefully wrapped up and left at an abandoned building for pickup. Museum workers immediately called Ford Motor Land Development Corp, the company that bought the dilapidated station for renovation.

The thief texted Dave Dubensky, chairman and CEO of Ford Land saying that he only had the clock and nothing else. “I left it leaning against a burned out building on Lawton. Please send two men and a truck immediately. It has been missing for over 20 years and is ready to go home,” the text read.

The thief went on to explain that the paint was very delicate and to be sure to lay it face up in the truck. He told them that they could identify the front by looking at the exposed legs.

Two Ford workers immediately went to the described location, and just like the thief said, they found the clock lovingly wrapped up and ready for pick up. The clock was transported safely and Dubensky received another message, “Thank you so much. I loved that clock and I loved that station.”

Dubensky believes that the thief likely took the clock to protect the antique after the train depot closed in 1988. Since its closing the station has been vandalized and many fixtures stolen. Ford is grateful for the return of the clock.

Even though the anonymous person was likely afraid of being arrested for the incident, Dubensky hopes that more people will come forward with relics from the station without fear of judgement or legal actions.

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