Kind Gesture After Smash-and-Grab Theft

A Los Angeles woman is turning to TikTok in hopes of finding a homeless man who returned her stolen driver’s license after her car was broken into during a hike near the Hollywood Reservoir.

Sydney Sagehorn said the incident happened on April 24 while she was hiking to the Wisdom Tree with her boyfriend and roommate. When the group returned to their car on Lake Hollywood Drive about an hour later, they discovered a rear window had been smashed and her purse had been stolen.

The bag contained several important items, including her wallet, driver’s license, credit card, health insurance cards, library card and personal belongings.

In the days after the burglary, Sagehorn focused on the usual aftermath — filing a police report, canceling cards, repairing her car window and requesting a replacement license from the DMV. Then, about a week later, she received an unexpected surprise in the mail.

Inside an envelope was her original driver’s license along with a handwritten note from a man named David Manning, who identified himself as homeless. According to the note, he found the license while panhandling near a Universal City freeway offramp and decided to mail it back to the address listed on the ID.

The mailing receipt included in the envelope showed that Manning had spent more than $20 on stamps to return the license.

Sagehorn said the gesture deeply affected her during an already stressful time.

She explained that receiving the license not only relieved fears about identity theft, but also challenged some of her assumptions about unhoused people in Los Angeles. The experience, she said, reminded her that acts of kindness can come from anyone, regardless of their circumstances.

Wanting to thank Manning personally, Sagehorn posted a TikTok video asking for help locating him. Since then, viewers and local organizations have offered tips and suggestions, though she has not yet found him.

She has revisited the intersection mentioned in the note several times, spoken with people in the area and contacted mutual aid groups recommended by commenters. She also mailed a letter to the return address on the envelope, which appeared to be connected to a motel, though she is unsure whether Manning still receives mail there.

Beyond finding the man who helped her, Sagehorn hopes the story encourages others to rethink how they view homeless communities.

She said public conversations about homelessness in Los Angeles are often negative and overlook the humanity of people living unhoused. By sharing Manning’s kindness, she hopes people will remember that homeless residents are still members of the community.

The experience has also inspired Sagehorn to become more involved in local outreach efforts. She said she has already connected with mutual aid organizations and donated to groups supporting unhoused residents in the San Fernando Valley.

Although she still hopes to thank Manning in person, Sagehorn said the experience has already changed her perspective and motivated her to give back in other ways.