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AIBU?

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Original poster

To be furious that my neighbour ‘borrowed’ my garden furniture for her BBQ?

238 replies

2coolec · 05/08/2025 17:37

Went away for the weekend, came back Monday afternoon to find our patio table, four chairs, and parasol in next door’s garden.

Turns out she’d had a BBQ on Sunday and “thought we wouldn’t mind” if she borrowed them. Was “going to return it”. Only I found out because by Monday evening it was still all sat there and I saw her teenage son and his mates hanging out on my furniture.

No note. No text. Just helped herself. I wouldn’t even have known if I hadn’t looked over the fence.

I’m honestly livid. It’s not a small thing to borrow and she didn’t even ask. What if it had got damaged? Or gone missing?

AIBU to think this is beyond cheeky and actually borderline theft?

OP posts:
LindorDoubleChoc · 05/08/2025 20:42

When we were away on holiday our neighbours had a problem with their hot water. They had a key (for emergencies only) and admitted that they'd all come over (4 of them) and had baths and showers for a couple of days. I was Shock literally speechless.

Vitrolinsanity · 05/08/2025 20:40

It’s the not asking, and then the getting caught red-handed. I’d hit the roof over.

Nachoinseachthu · 05/08/2025 20:34

This reminds me of the time my next door neighbour thought I was going to be away and I slipped home unexpectedly to find she’d told her AirBnB flat guests it was okay to use my washing line. Found a strangers damp clothes in my garden. Some people beyond the pale!

JudgeJ · 05/08/2025 20:32

MC846 · 05/08/2025 19:39

Well she's just stolen your garden furniture hasn't she, I'd report her to the police tbh 🤷♀️

If she intends to return it, ie not permanently deprive you of it, is it stealing? My Year 10/11 joy riders were usually charged with 'taking without the owner's consent' and not theft, how often did I hear the words 'Won't be in tomorrow, in court for my twocky' !

When we were away over Christmas our next door neighbour borrowed some extra dining chairs, plates, cutlery and a small table as they were hosting a very large family group but it had all been arranged beforehand! Everything was back in place along with wine and chocolates when we returned. No way would they ever do that without our consent though.

viques · 05/08/2025 20:27

the80sweregreat · 05/08/2025 19:45

Dh has some chairs in the shed which are pretty light , but you’d still struggle to get them over a fence of any height! It must have taken a few of them to get it over to their garden.

I expect that is why the teenage sons mates were invited to the bbq.

OldWomanInACardigan · 05/08/2025 20:27

She's a VERY cheeky fucker.

CautiousLurker01 · 05/08/2025 20:27

Growlybear83 · 05/08/2025 18:32

I would be furious if anyone, regardless of how well I knew them or how much I liked them, took it upon themselves to trespass onto my property and take my belongings without asking.

Agree… and would report to the police. It’s theft.

Treesandsheepeverywhere · 05/08/2025 20:25

They have your number but chose not to ask, very disrespectful.

Surprised no one has told OP to gift it to them.

TheSaltedCaramelPath · 05/08/2025 20:21

I would make them squirm - I would say we have a crime reference number, as Imhad to report to the police that our garden furniture had been stolen and “other neighbours are checking their Ring doorbells for any footage” …

Americano75 · 05/08/2025 20:12

Bloody hell, that's some cheek!

AngryBookworm · 05/08/2025 20:09

This is incredible. I hope you turfed them off and made them carry it back to yours. Can you 'borrow' something from their garden and see how they like it?

AlexisP90 · 05/08/2025 19:57

Thats theft? She stole it. Simple as that really. She took it without your permission.
Totally weird... and totally out of order

nosleepforme · 05/08/2025 19:54

Nooooo! I’d be mad enough to call the police for theft

MarieAndTwinette · 05/08/2025 19:52

It is a shame that you discovered what she did before reporting the theft of your missing garden furniture to the police.

Kangarude · 05/08/2025 19:46

MrsEndeavourMorse · 05/08/2025 18:51

Are you quite alright?

Show quote history

I am now. I don’t know why it amused me so much but it did!
Shame the OP hasn’t returned with an update

the80sweregreat · 05/08/2025 19:45

Dh has some chairs in the shed which are pretty light , but you’d still struggle to get them over a fence of any height! It must have taken a few of them to get it over to their garden.

FOJN · 05/08/2025 19:42

It wouldn't matter how friendly and generous my neighbours were there is no way I would ever do this.

I'd take photos of the furniture in their garden and tell them they have ten minutes to put it back, undamaged, where they found it or you are calling the police.

Weapons grade cheeky fuckers.

Awaywiththegnomes · 05/08/2025 19:41

Shocking! Presumably very lightweight to be able to haul over? Looking at my kettler garden furniture and I think we’d need a rugby team to move it next door!

MC846 · 05/08/2025 19:39

Well she's just stolen your garden furniture hasn't she, I'd report her to the police tbh 🤷♀️

Mistyglade · 05/08/2025 19:38

Livid? It’s garden furniture not your best jewellery. I wouldn’t mind at all. Unless we hated each other and were in some sort of a feud!

OnePerkyReader · 05/08/2025 19:37

AlphaApple · 05/08/2025 17:39

For a good neighbour/friend it wouldn’t bother me. For a neighbour on nodding acquaintance it’s CF territory and she owes you an enormous thank you, a bottle of wine and some chocolates.

Genuinely if this happened it wouldn’t bother me at all, but I get on with all my neighbours, so it wouldn’t be a big deal really. I think if you have a difficult relationship then I appreciate someone not feeling that way.

the80sweregreat · 05/08/2025 19:36

I’d never think of doing this in a month of Sundays!
Makes you wonder what else they have got up to.

LittlleMy · 05/08/2025 19:30

Given how livid you are, I’m making an educated guess that you’re not besties in which case this is S tier CFuckery! You’ll have to get those iron cast ones that are utterly immovable!

the80sweregreat · 05/08/2025 19:29

Yeah, I thought of Catherine Tate too, it was a liberty ! A big one

Bodypumpmum · 05/08/2025 19:26

"WHAT A FAKIN LIBERTY"

catherine Tate

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