In the quiet hours of an early Dickson, Tennessee Sunday, an American flag was swiped from its perch outside Ragan's Friendly Neighbor Store on Main Street, a theft caught sharply by the watchful eyes of surveillance cameras. Authorities, puzzling over the man responsible, have turned their questions to the public, hoping that someone might shine a light on the identity of the patriotic pilferer. According to footage divulged by the Dickson Police Department and obtained by WKRN, the suspect is seen inquiring of an off-camera companion, "Take it with me?" only to receive the baiting response, "Do you want it?” to which he confessed, "Kind of," before liberating the flag and disappearing into the night.

There's a twist in the tail of this all too American crime saga, the Dickson Police Department now report that the beloved stars and stripes has been returned to its rightful roost, with the owner of the Friendly Neighbor Store having forgiven the audacious act and asked for the removal of the department's social media spotlight on the incident according to WKRN, the flag was returned and the victim omitted to press charges.

Despite the seeming resolution, the quest to pin a name to the face has not been wholly abandoned. Capt. Chad Fussell of the Dickson Police is the point of contact for any tips that might tumble forth from the tight-lipped community, any individual with notions as to who might parade under the banner of a midnight marauder is asked to dial 615-441-9577, this plea echoes in the halls of the internet, as reported by NewsNationNow.

The video, which FOX17 describes as featuring a smiling suspect, bedecks the police department's public call for information, marking a small but curious chapter in Dickson's ledger for all who trawl the digital streets of social media and beyond, in search of eyefuls of local lore or perhaps to answer the call of civic duty.