Page 17 | Viewer stole from my house?

Calcaata · 2025-10-18T19:29:31+00:00

I have a Diptique candle, 3 wick and cost £180. I’ve had two house viewings today, not done by myself but by the estate agent. I’ve come home and it’s missing. Aibu to expect the estate agent to reimburse me?? I won’t be able to contact them now until Monday.

Simonjt · 19/10/2025 08:32

Betty1625 · 19/10/2025 07:48

The estate agent took the vase?? That's even worse

Tbh my first thought here was that the agent took it not yhe viewer - how can you just nab such a large candle

Show quote history

It clearly wasn’t unusual as when I phoned to report it they just asked how much I needed to replace it yet ‘insisted’ they hadn’t seen it. It was worth a lot of money and had been inside a chest in the spare room rather than on show. I reported it to the police and funnily enough the vase appeared in their office the next day.

Chenecinquantecinq · 19/10/2025 08:32

Unless you have video evidence of it happening from a security camera no chance. Otherwise unscpulous sellers would be claiming for "missing" items.

IamtheDevilsAvocado · 19/10/2025 08:31

BashfulClam · 19/10/2025 00:34

It is sad when this happens as you have no proof. When my parents were selling their home a piece of jewellery went missing after the surveyors had come round (in Scotland the seller provides the survey so it’s done first), it wasn’t expensive but was sentimental to my mother. Absolutely no proof though but no one else had been in the rooms in the house at that point.

DH is also pretty sure he had £10 stolen by the guys who can to fix his sky dish in his first flat. It was a cottage style flat so no communal dish. The three at the beck of the property were disrupting his signal so it had to be moved from next to the kitchen windows to the roof and needed the ‘specialist height team’. Two wee neds turned up, the type of guy that if he fell onto his head there would be no real damage. My DH is 80% sure he had a £10 note in the dish in the living room where he kept all his ‘pocket gubbins’. There was no £10 note after they left. He’s not 100% sure but thinks it definitely happened.

Its horrible to think these people just walk in and do this!

Agree!

but there are sadly many light-fingered people about.... If opportunities present themselves, they'll pocket it.

I think in the thiefs' minds.... 'if they're daft enough to leave it, I'll have it'

DotAndCarryOne2 · 19/10/2025 08:31

CoffeeCantata · 19/10/2025 08:15

100% this. It IS the point and anyone who thinks it’s not worthy of remark is living in a very strange and rarefied world!

Show quote history

It’s the point of the thread in so far as it was an expensive item stolen from OP. And that’s all. OP didn’t ask for a discussion as to whether it was ok to spend her disposable income as she liked, whether it was morally wrong to buy the candle, or whether she should offset the purchase with a donation to charity. She asked what she should do about the theft.

More and more posters are being chased off their own threads by this kind of thing. I have no idea why anyone posts for advice here any more when they’ll inevitably face the usual barrage of keyboard warriors who have nothing constructive to say and are only here to search for something with which to insult or vilify, or to pry for more intimate details. If OP hadn’t said it was a candle she’d have had half the thread taken up with posters insisting they needed to know what item was stolen to judge whether it was worthy of reporting !!

Simonjt · 19/10/2025 08:29

Getamoveon2024 · 19/10/2025 05:29

FFS. Why on earth are people twatting on about the price of a candle? Is it really a revelation that a) people like different things to you and b) they can spend their money however they want? No law against either. There is however a law against bloody theft!
This is awful op, I am assuming you don’t have cameras? I would definitely report it to the EA. I told my EA when one particularly disgusting viewer left a giant unflushed shite in my en-suite! People can be vile.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the ones who think they get to choose how OPs spends their money, also cross over into the type of people who would happily steal from other people.

DancingNotDrowning · 19/10/2025 08:27

TeenLifeMum · 19/10/2025 00:10

Totally missing point of the post; do £180 candles burn differently to a Yankee candle or Asda own (which I find the same)? I just curious and will never own one to compare.

I have diptyque candles - they burn very evenly which I like but the main thing is the scent doesn’t give me a hideous headache. I cannot walk past a Yankee candle display without feeling nauseous. I think it’s to do with the synthetic nature of the fragrance.

Quackity · 19/10/2025 08:26

Honestly why are people criticising the candle purchase! I have some wealthier friends and they have this kind of stuff. I have friends with expensive perfumes! Its the principle, its not there to be nicked.

CoffeeCantata · 19/10/2025 08:26

SevenYellowHammers · 19/10/2025 08:23

I hate when people kind of don’t pick up on the point that you’re trying to make and veer the conversation elsewhere. But I am going to do it anyway. A £150 candle? Honestly, have what you want in your homes , I’m sure it’s all hard earned. But you bury candles and they they are gone . Well they say every days a school day. I never knew! I mean do they smell amazing? Do they chase out evil spirits? Is it a thing to have very expensive candles?

180 quid.

CoffeeCantata · 19/10/2025 08:25

DotAndCarryOne2 · 19/10/2025 08:19

Why ?

Show quote history

They’d be sniggering behind their hands!

This is genuinely interesting. In my world (and I know some wealthy people, though I wouldn’t put myself in that category) this would be shocking.

Seriously - I’m learning a lot about how others live! I really have never met anyone who would do that or who wouldn’t judge it.

SevenYellowHammers · 19/10/2025 08:23

I hate when people kind of don’t pick up on the point that you’re trying to make and veer the conversation elsewhere. But I am going to do it anyway. A £150 candle? Honestly, have what you want in your homes , I’m sure it’s all hard earned. But you bury candles and they they are gone . Well they say every days a school day. I never knew! I mean do they smell amazing? Do they chase out evil spirits? Is it a thing to have very expensive candles?

Westfacing · 19/10/2025 08:22

I don't think the high value of the candle is the main issue - the fact that something has been stolen from the house either by the EA or one of viewers is the important issue. I'm surprised at those who feel the need to comment on the price of the candle!

I would be asking the EA is they at any time left the viewers alone in a room and see what they say.

People can do the most extraordinary things when in someone else's property. My sons have recently sold their late father's house - I had to visit just before completion to discover that someone had left the most terrible mess in the loo!

I doubt if it was the EA, having met her, so it must have been one of the viewers, cleaners, furniture removers, etc, who knows!

aLFIESMA · 19/10/2025 08:21

40 odd years ago, my fellow 'show home' lady and I would be expected to confront smiley couples aka thieves as part of the shift ! A real eye opener, generally 'Bonnie & Clyde' seemed the most friendly/chatty sort

DotAndCarryOne2 · 19/10/2025 08:19

CoffeeCantata · 19/10/2025 08:08

To be clear: I’m not condoning theft and I’m sorry for OP, but…

…I would be too embarrassed to tell anyone, let alone the overstretched police force, that I’d spent 180 quid on a ruddy candle.

Show quote history

Why ?

Quackity · 19/10/2025 08:18

@Calcaata a few years back, an acquaintance of a friend was jailed for stealing items from homes. He was the estate agent and they did exactly this. Im really not sure how they proved it but he went away for several years. I guess im saying dont assume its not them. This was in London in a very expensive area.

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 19/10/2025 08:18

CoffeeCantata · 19/10/2025 08:13

Yeah but, no but, yeah but - please allow for the shock factor!

I read MN to find out about the modern world and how other people live, so please have mercy. This has shaken my universe. There are people who will pay nearly £200 for a candle.

I have a few of those nice St Eval ones at 12 quid and I think that’s a shocking frivolity?😲🤣. Seriously.

Do lots of people really buy these things? I thought it would just be celebs and footballers’ wives?

Show quote history

But why should everybody live the way you live?

I don't like scented candles and I don't have a single one in my house. but I won't judge OP for having one because it would be ridiculous to impose my way of life on her.

PortSalutSherryHello · 19/10/2025 08:17

MrsSkylerWhite · 19/10/2025 00:28

It’s not a stupid question. No candle is worth that. Anyone who thinks it is is daft. No need to read the whole thread.

Show quote history

Literally who do you think you are to decide what is worth something to someone?

CoffeeCantata · 19/10/2025 08:15

Unacceptableinthe80s · 19/10/2025 08:12

Whilst I agree with that sentiment in general, in this case the expense of the candle is sort of the point of the thread. I doubt we'd have the same thread or any thread if it was a £2 candle from Tesco.

Show quote history

100% this. It IS the point and anyone who thinks it’s not worthy of remark is living in a very strange and rarefied world!

CoffeeCantata · 19/10/2025 08:13

DotAndCarryOne2 · 19/10/2025 07:54

This is MN. Any minute, ridiculous and irrelevant detail will immediately be leapt on and used to derail.

Show quote history

Yeah but, no but, yeah but - please allow for the shock factor!

I read MN to find out about the modern world and how other people live, so please have mercy. This has shaken my universe. There are people who will pay nearly £200 for a candle.

I have a few of those nice St Eval ones at 12 quid and I think that’s a shocking frivolity?😲🤣. Seriously.

Do lots of people really buy these things? I thought it would just be celebs and footballers’ wives?

Unacceptableinthe80s · 19/10/2025 08:12

DotAndCarryOne2 · 19/10/2025 07:54

This is MN. Any minute, ridiculous and irrelevant detail will immediately be leapt on and used to derail.

Show quote history

Whilst I agree with that sentiment in general, in this case the expense of the candle is sort of the point of the thread. I doubt we'd have the same thread or any thread if it was a £2 candle from Tesco.

CoffeeCantata · 19/10/2025 08:08

hmnj · 18/10/2025 21:39

If you've only had 2 viewings, you could report it to police - they've only go two people to go and visit - might be pretty easy to see if they have your candle. I just googled diptique candles and it seems they are quite noticeable with the lettering style.

I feel a bit sorry for the EA. I don't have any love for EAs and many are slimy liars, but it's very unlikely they personally did the theft and also they can't be expected to watch grown adults like hawks. The person who nicked the candle is clearly a habitual thief, so could easily have done it whilst EA in same room - just slip into a shoulder bag.

To be clear: I’m not condoning theft and I’m sorry for OP, but…

…I would be too embarrassed to tell anyone, let alone the overstretched police force, that I’d spent 180 quid on a ruddy candle.

DotAndCarryOne2 · 19/10/2025 08:06

Ophy83 · 19/10/2025 07:52

The point is the viewer clearly knew the value because they whipped it! Ask your estate agent to tell both viewers what happened and that if it isn't returned they will have to give you names/details of both couples for you to pass to the police (I know the police may not do anything but the prospect may produce results)

My money would be on the estate agent whipping it. The viewer wouldn’t be able to hide something like that, but the EA would stay behind to lock up, giving them the opportunity.

DotAndCarryOne2 · 19/10/2025 08:03

Emonade · 18/10/2025 22:41

It is a waste and I don’t know how people can live with themselves unless I am being totally unreasonable and they are also giving significant amounts to charity

So you have never, ever bought yourself something just because it’s beautiful and you wanted it ? What a miserable way to live. And yes, you are being totally unreasonable to think that you should offset treating yourself with ‘significant amounts to charity’.

DemonsRocks · 19/10/2025 07:58

estrogone · 19/10/2025 01:50

This thread is about the theft of a valuable item In a situation that should not allow for that to happen.

Keep focussed people. The OP didn't ask for unsolicited comments about what they spend their very own money on. If they wanted to spend £1000 on a candle that's their choice and doesn't make theft ok because you don't see the value in a candle.

Sorry OP that this happened. Hope you get it replaced.

I agree. Why do people always go off tangent and totally ignore the actual question? It's irrelevant.
And why does the OP always feel the need to justify themselves? I'd just ignore anything that had naff all to do with my original question.

OP do you have a ring doorbell, mightn't show much but you don't turn up to a viewing with a carrier bag so possibly visible.

AsMyGranWouldSay · 19/10/2025 07:58

SalmonOnFinnCrisp · 18/10/2025 20:45

I dont ageee with the above...

I'd report to the police and get a crime number, I'd concurrently phone or go into branch and advise the EA that one of the 2 viewers has stolen from you and that the police have been contacted (crime number pending).
They should make all EAs aware so other sellers aren't also victims of theft.
Separately id say something like
"I am angry and disappointed. I entrusted my property to X Estate Agents and expected the EAs to do their job and supervise viewers.
In my view you are clearly in breech so there's two choices;either agree to release us from the contract so we can sell with your competitor or you can assure me this wont happen again and agree to deduct the equivalent £180 value from final selling fee.
How would you like to proceed?"

Then be very silent.

This

DotAndCarryOne2 · 19/10/2025 07:54

MiniCoopers · 19/10/2025 07:51

Why are people focussing on the price of the candle and not the theft of it? What a person spends their own money on is their business, even if it makes no sense to you. But they have the right to assume it’s safe in their own home.

This is MN. Any minute, ridiculous and irrelevant detail will immediately be leapt on and used to derail.