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Original poster

To think my neighbour should have said something when my pushchair was being stolen?

41 replies

LostShepherdsPie · 29/04/2025 22:27

I work part-time, and today was my day off. I had a lot to get done, and by the time I got back from the supermarket, I had shopping to unpack and a very hungry, tired 16-month-old son. I quickly put the shopping away and left the pushchair just outside the front door. It was a sunny day, and I intended to bring it in once my son had fallen asleep. Yes, I know it's not wise to leave a pushchair outside but it was so sunny and I thought it'd be fine.

Unfortunately, everything took longer than expected, and I ended up falling asleep with him, completely exhausted.

Our nap was cut short by the doorbell ringing. I checked my phone and saw that my next-door neighbour’s two young daughters were at their doo and a man ringing my doorbell, who I assumed was their dad. I came downstairs and answered the door within a few minutes, but no one was there. A few moments later, I realised the pushchair was missing.

I went next door to ask my neighbour if she knew what they had wanted or if she knew anything about the pushchair. To my surprise, she said the man who had knocked wasn’t her partner but someone who had asked if he could take the pushchair. Rather than tell him that it belonged to me, that I use it regularly, or even suggest that he check with me first, she just said she didn’t live there.

She even admitted she’s seen me using it often and thought it was a nice pushchair— and she said she thought I might have been giving it away for free. Why would I give something I use every day away?

Am I wrong to think that she could have said something? Even a simple, “That belongs to my neighbour,” or “You should wait till she answers the door or come back later " would have made a difference. I don’t understand why she didn’t speak up or try to stop it from being taken.

Its an ickle bubba pushchair, it's not cheap and I've only really used it for a year, in the grand scheme of things it may not be a big deal but as a non-driver that pushchair is what I rely on to get out and about with my son.

OP posts:
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HeddaGarbled · 22/11/2025 20:12

It depends on what you’re used to: where I live now, people are always leaving stuff on the pavement to be taken for free, which seemed strange to me initially as it wasn’t common where I used to live.

Arlanymor · 22/11/2025 20:06

Childanddogmama · 22/11/2025 19:55

I do wonder how a thread from April gets new comments, did the poster search for it?

Me too - I posted because I thought it was new and then I saw the date afterwards. I don't understand zombie posts - people bookmarking and then just catching up on stuff much, much later?

Arlanymor · 22/11/2025 20:06

I don't understand why her two children came to your door with this random man? This is all a misunderstanding, but you can't direct your anger/frustration at your neighbour. I think you did the right thing posting online - fingers crossed.

Lilacblu · 22/11/2025 19:58

??? It's obviously an expensive thing to just go of with.

Lilacblu · 22/11/2025 19:55

NEIBOUR could have said well she does have a small child....who would take a pushchair outside front door not on the pavement

Childanddogmama · 22/11/2025 19:55

I do wonder how a thread from April gets new comments, did the poster search for it?

FuzzyWolf · 22/11/2025 19:50

I appreciate it’s annoying that it’s been taken but the blame doesn’t lie with your neighbour but the person who took it.

Yes it wasn’t ideal to leave it outside but someone still shouldn’t have just helped themself. I hope you can get it back.

Lilacblu · 22/11/2025 19:46

I think surely mosr people would say you need to ask them first.. neighbor must know about your young child? so sorry this is so out of order.. crowd fund??

JMSA · 01/05/2025 02:41

YANBU.

Original poster
LostShepherdsPie · 30/04/2025 17:51

Thank you for all the responses. Just a few clarifications, there is a small front of yard in front of my house, a tiny tiny porch which is a bit of a hassle to try and get pushchair into and then collapse all while toddler is keen to walk past me and go outside. DH also can't stand when I bring in pushchair and don't fold it up and pack it away - easier said than done, it's a heavy thing and needs to be lifted and hoisted into a bracket / shelf.

Yes, I do sometimes give things away by leaving then on the wall but the pushchair was right by the door. I can accept it may have been someone hoping it was something being left to give away rather than outright stealing.

I see the lady next door almost everyday, I know both her and her daughters names after having first introduced myself with cupcakes in hand when I first moved in. She said herself she always thought I had a nice pushchair, so yes, she did know it belonged to me - her partner works unsociable hours so I rarely see him and on the camera on my phone I couldn't barely see a face anyway - not sure how that has anything to do with it.

Thank you to the suggestions about social media posts, have put it up on nextdoor app but I'm not too hopeful.

OP posts:
AlmostSummer25 · 30/04/2025 02:00

WhySoManySocks · 29/04/2025 23:21

“Yes, I know it's not wise to leave a pushchair outside but it was so sunny and I thought it'd be fine.”

This sentence makes absolutely no sense. What has the weather to do with it??? Are all crimes in your area committed by vampires?

🤣🤣

yes, that seemed weird to me too.

@LostShepherdsPie

did you ask why her children were with the strange man? That seems very odd to me.
Does she have one 'buggy' aged?

Yes, it was daft to leave it outside sunny or not. It would only have taken you a minute to bring it in even with a grizzly toddler.

Definitely post all over the socials!!

Someone might have a buggy you can have or borrow until yours gets returned.

Fingers crossed, it gets returned.

WouldYouEverCOMEON · 30/04/2025 01:45

Same as other posters - it's completely normal for people where I live to give away anything that's unwanted by leaving it at the end of the driveway!

Tbh its usually children's furniture/toys/bikes and so on, clothes go into the charity bags that get picked up by the van.

I don't think the person who took it is a thief, nor do I think your neighbour is in the wrong. Sorry it happened though, OP.

Tbrh · 30/04/2025 01:02

Skirtless · 29/04/2025 23:42

No, intention matters in theft, as a pp said. He appears to have genuinely thought it had been left out for passersby to take. I’m assuming it was actually out on the footpath, rather than in the OP’s front garden…

Show quote history

Yeah I agree, I'm actually impressed he tried OP and the neighbour to check.

Tbrh · 30/04/2025 01:00

Oh dear, this is what happens when people leave stuff out for free (ithappens all the time where I live, people are always giving stuff away). Obviously they did try to check with you and the neighbour. This sux, but I don't think you can blame the neighbour for not knowing

Eenameenadeeka · 30/04/2025 00:29

I think you're blaming the wrong person, she didn't say "yeah sure take it". I agree about posting the picture of him online and hopefully someone recognizes him.

Yodelohoo · 29/04/2025 23:58

I agree with others, you should post it on a local facebook group or something and explain there was a misunderstanding and urge the man to return it.

The neighbour isn’t the problem here although ideally she’d have advised the man not to move it.

Rklap · 29/04/2025 23:48

Feverdream02 · 29/04/2025 22:32

Yes she could have intervened but a lot of people just can’t be bothered getting involved in other people’s business and she thought you were maybe giving it away.

We aren’t living in a cohesive society and that’s leading to more people just sticking to their own life and their own issues.

I agree with this. Society is fragmented now. You can't trust people so you stick to your own. This is definitely how I feel.

That said, you could post on a local facebook group or nextdoor or something like that with a photo of the pushchair and a photo of the man with his face blurred, saying what happened - that the neighbour was unsure whether you were giving it away, but in fact, it was just left outside whilst you were exhausted and you need it for your 16mo.

Skirtless · 29/04/2025 23:42

Cardinalita90 · 29/04/2025 23:35

He didn't have the owner's permission to take it but knowingly did so. Dopey or not, it's stealing.

Show quote history

No, intention matters in theft, as a pp said. He appears to have genuinely thought it had been left out for passersby to take. I’m assuming it was actually out on the footpath, rather than in the OP’s front garden…

ChimneyPot · 29/04/2025 23:40

Cardinalita90 · 29/04/2025 23:35

He didn't have the owner's permission to take it but knowingly did so. Dopey or not, it's stealing.

Show quote history

Actually I think you have to have a dishonest intention to permanently deprive for it to be theft.
A genuine belief that you have the right to take something means it is not theft!

ChimneyPot · 29/04/2025 23:36

Did you go inside, close your door and leave your pushchair on the footpath/street? For quite a long time?
Near me it would probably get stolen anyway, a bike definitely would.

Definitely not your neighbours fault and it sounds like the person who took it may genuinely have believed it was being left out as it was no longer wanted.

Cardinalita90 · 29/04/2025 23:35

Skirtless · 29/04/2025 23:31

He clearly didn’t think he was stealing it, though, if he actually rang the OP’s doorbell to ask if he could take it, and spoke to her neighbour when she didn’t answer! I mean, he made a dopey, unwarranted assumption, but he doesn’t seem to have been an intentional thief?

Show quote history

He didn't have the owner's permission to take it but knowingly did so. Dopey or not, it's stealing.

Skirtless · 29/04/2025 23:31

Cardinalita90 · 29/04/2025 23:27

It seems like you're directing your anger at the wrong person here (to the extent of starting a thread about her). Rather than focusing on what she did or didnt say, it's the cheeky fucker who stole it you should be putting your energy into. As others have said report the theft to police and on local forums and hopefully you'll get it back.

He clearly didn’t think he was stealing it, though, if he actually rang the OP’s doorbell to ask if he could take it, and spoke to her neighbour when she didn’t answer! I mean, he made a dopey, unwarranted assumption, but he doesn’t seem to have been an intentional thief?

Cardinalita90 · 29/04/2025 23:27

It seems like you're directing your anger at the wrong person here (to the extent of starting a thread about her). Rather than focusing on what she did or didnt say, it's the cheeky fucker who stole it you should be putting your energy into. As others have said report the theft to police and on local forums and hopefully you'll get it back.

Skirtless · 29/04/2025 23:27

WhySoManySocks · 29/04/2025 23:21

“Yes, I know it's not wise to leave a pushchair outside but it was so sunny and I thought it'd be fine.”

This sentence makes absolutely no sense. What has the weather to do with it??? Are all crimes in your area committed by vampires?

Rain-loving vampires? Makes no sense to me either.

Scrapsy · 29/04/2025 23:24

Surely ppl would know they can't take it so know they are stealing it. As for the neighbour some ppl stay out of anything not to do with them

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