Musnad Ahmad

It is narrated from Hazrat Usaid bin Hudair (may Allah be pleased with him) that he was the governor of Yamama. Once, Marwan wrote a letter to him stating that Hazrat Amir Muawiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) had written to him that if a person's belonging is stolen, then he is most entitled to its price, wherever it may be found. I wrote back to Marwan that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had decided that if someone buys something from a thief and that person himself is not accused, then the owner of the property will have the choice: if he wishes, he may buy his stolen item back by paying its price, or if he wishes, he may pursue the thief. And this is the same decision that the three rightly guided Caliphs (may Allah be pleased with them) had given. The previous hadith is also narrated through this second chain of transmission.