A Swiss luxury watch worth about $290,000 that was stolen from a Tokyo store last week has been returned with an apology note, according to local media.

The theft occurred when a man posing as a customer tried on the Audemars Piguet timepiece and then fled the shop in the Japanese capital while it was still on his wrist.

But the case took a twist when the store received a package containing the watch -- and a handwritten note saying sorry, the Asahi Shimbun newspaper and other media reported on Monday, citing unnamed investigative sources.

The watch's serial number reportedly identified it as the stolen item.

A name and address were also written on the package, but police believe the information is fake, the Japan Times reported.

The shop declined to comment when contacted by AFP.

Tokyo police are still searching for the man on suspicion of theft, according to the Asahi Shumbun.

In August, four luxury watches worth 200 million yen ($1.3 million) were stolen from another store in the same shopping complex. Two Chilean nationals were arrested on suspicion of theft in connection with the incident and subsequently indicted, the Japan Times reported.

After that robbery, police conducted a crime prevention session for watch store owners, advising that they only display replicas, the Asahi Simbun reported. They were also taught how to use a special lining on display cases to make them difficult to break.

In:

• Japan