TL;DR: My Majora’s Mask 3DS was stolen in a 2018 home invasion, recovered 8 years later via Facebook Marketplace thanks to the serial number, and still had my Nintendo ID and saves intact.

THE BACKGROUND

My Majora’s Mask 3DS was my second-favorite piece in my collection from day one. I had to work to get one on launch day. After waiting outside Target for over an hour, the cashier sold the last unit to a retro game store owner who arrived after me (the pre-arranged it.) I was furious, but undeterred, which made finally finding one later that day even sweeter.

It eventually became my main console. My son was born not long after, so I spent a lot of late nights awake with him, 3DS in hand.

THE THEFT

Then, one Saturday afternoon in 2018, a man broke into my home and stole a lot of stuff. I’m skipping details here- it was traumatic and permanently changed my wife and me.

Among what he took was the MM 3DS. He was arrested later that night after attempting to rob a police officer’s home while high. The case went through the system, and the items were long gone.

I’m a complete-in-box collector, especially for Zelda consoles, so thankfully, I had photos of the box, the console, and the serial number documented in the police report. For about a year afterward, I scoured eBay, Facebook, Craigslist, and pawn shops- no luck.

THE RECOVERY

A few days ago, I saw a Majora’s Mask 3DS on Facebook Marketplace. One photo clearly showed the back and the serial number.

I’m a hobby mnemonist (basically, I train to remember numbers and information), and something about that serial number felt instantly familiar. I checked my old records and, sure enough, it was mine.

NOW WHAT?

I researched the law and contacted the detective who worked the case. Ultimately, I reached out to the seller directly and explained the situation. He was understandably skeptical, but professional. He had only purchased it a month earlier.

Once he saw the police report, we agreed to meet at the police station. After signing paperwork, they returned the console to me. It was unexpectedly emotional. I know it’s “just a 3DS,” but it symbolized reclaiming something intangible that was taken from me years earlier in the home invasion.

TODAY’S STATUS

It hasn’t been treated the way I would have treated it, there are scratches and scuffs, but it’s back with me.

When I powered it on, the first thing I noticed was that my Nintendo ID was still on the system. Even more surprising, my save files were still there. (Sadly, without my original Majora’s Mask cartridge, I’ll never finish that save.)

There are even photos on the system that helped me trace its journey over the years.

I’m sad I got it back after the eShop shut down. But because of everything it represents now, this is officially my second-favorite piece in my collection again.