Two thousand people filed into the Loews Philadelphia Saturday evening for the 19^th annual Hair O’ the Dog black tie charity gala.

Dramatic tulle gowns, sequined dresses, bow ties, tuxes, strong cocktails, live music, and an impressive collection of silent auction items filled the corridors and adjacent ballrooms of the second floor of the hotel.

But the evening would not have been complete without some real life drama.

A thief swiped a pair of shoes signed by the late Michael Jackson, along with its certificate of authenticity - items donated to the charity gala as part of the auction - shortly after the event had commenced Sunday morning. The starting bid for the pair of shoes were marked at $24,000. The shoes are actually valued at $50,000. Jackson's jacket was also up for auction.

Hotel security was assigned to watch the shoes, and the Loews found itself embroiled in a contentious situation. "I said to the girl (security guard) 'You're going to watch this with your life, right?'" Martino Cartier shared Monday afternoon with the Daily News' Stefanie Farr. "She said yes, I slapped her a high five and said thank you." Fortunately for those affected by the crime, the stolen items were eventually returned to its rightful owner. 6ABC reported Sunday evening that three drunk men took the shoes, then walked outside and hopped into a limo with a group of women. The men, however, were so inebriated that they forgot to take the shoes with them. Upon discovering that the late King of Pop's kicks had been stolen, the women recovered the pair and returned them Sunday evening.

Cartier, a local hairstylist, is also the founder of Friends are by Your Side, an organization that provides wigs to cancer patients and helps support women who are battling the disease. The silent auction, which featured various sports and entertainment-related autographed items, was intended to benefit his organization.

Photos from the glitzy evening are below.