I'd like to nominate Lindsay Deutsch as Idiot of the week for this gem:

An 18th-century violin reported stolen from an aspiring performer's car was returned by a man who said he found it in a nearby alley while walking his dog, authorities said.

The man, whose name was not released, turned in the $850,000 instrument and bow to police Wednesday in good condition, authorities said Thursday. They were being checked for fingerprints and were expected to be returned Saturday to 20-year-old violinist Lindsay Deutsch.

"Just that it's over is so amazingly good," Deutsch said. "I'm at peace."

Deutsch said a thief pried open a car window and snatched it off the seat while she was grocery shopping Sunday.

OK, I'm no genius, or violin virtuoso, but if you borrow a $850,000 violin from someone else, don't leave it in your frickin' car ever.

That includes popping down to Ralph's to go get groceries.

Deutsch said she was prepared to work off the debt to Mandell if the instrument was not recovered.

How? By paying the owner off until the end of time? How much on a violinist salary would it take to pay off almost a million dollars? It's a nice thought to try, but how about just useing some reasonable care with a violin that only 30 of exist.

Sheesh, some people are just idiots. I can only pray that she learned a lesson from this.