What should one do who stole money from people he does not know, then repented and wants to return the rights to their owners?

Whoever repents from a sin must return what is due to its owner or seek their forgiveness. If one has taken money from people they do not know and cannot reach, they must give that money in charity on their behalf. If they later find them, they should give them the choice between approving the charity given on their behalf or taking their right. Ibn al-Qayyim mentioned that if someone seizes money unlawfully and it is impossible to return it, they should give it in charity on behalf of its owner. If the owner chooses its reward on the Day of Judgment, it will be theirs. But if they refuse except to take from the seized person's good deeds, they will take from them an equivalent amount to their money, and the reward of the charity will go to the one who gave it.