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Original poster

Think plumber has stolen knickers

146 replies

Washingbasketchair · 06/08/2025 07:13

WWYD in this situation.

I am having my boiler replaced. A three day job. I have used the plumber before and he seems lovely, is recommended by others too.
He was here yesterday whilst I was at work for most of the day and he was alone in the house. He is coming back today.

I have just come out of the shower to get dressed, and can’t find the knickers I planned to wear today. They are a specific pair that I wear with the dress I will wear today.
The matching bra is there. And the knickers were there the other day. I wore them last week, and remember putting them back when I put the washing away. I have checked the dirty and clean laundry and the washing machine and they are not there.

I know it’s ridiculous but my mind has now moved to the possibility that someone has taken them, and the plumber is the obvious suspect. I have zero evidence apart from the missing knickers. But the thought is obviously sickening as is the thought of him rifling through the drawer (which doesn’t just have underwear in it 😬).

WWYD? Am I being mad? I can’t lock the door to the room or put a camera in there in the 45 mins between now and when he is arriving. I can’t confront him with no evidence. I can’t stop him from coming. Argh! They are nowhere to be seen and a man has had access to my house alone.

OP posts:
TokyoSushi · 06/08/2025 07:20

Grim, really grim, but I’m not sure that there’s anything that you can do… 😬

Iftheressomethingstrange · 06/08/2025 07:20

I think you just get through the 3 days. Chances are they turn up inside a pillow case and you'll look crazy if you challenge him.

If he did take them then thats gross but challenging him probably also isn't a good idea. Just never use him again and make sure no spare keys were hanging around. If so go to screwfix, buy and install some new locks.

FloraBotticelli · 06/08/2025 07:23

3 days to replace a boiler? It only jumps out at me because why does he need to be in your house 3 days when he might be dodgy. Are you having the boiler moved to a completely different place or something?

Bananachimp · 06/08/2025 07:25

Bet they're just tangled up with a sheet or static clinging to another piece of laundry.

verycloakanddaggers · 06/08/2025 07:25

This is difficult. I don't think you can do anything but if you had any evidence it could have been reported as it is a sexual crime.

Agree don't use him again and also don't recommend him, although you can't make unsubstantiated allegations.

Original poster
Washingbasketchair · 06/08/2025 07:27

FloraBotticelli · 06/08/2025 07:23

3 days to replace a boiler? It only jumps out at me because why does he need to be in your house 3 days when he might be dodgy. Are you having the boiler moved to a completely different place or something?

No. Yesterday he took the old boiler off. Today he is putting the new on in. Tomorrow he is testing it. That’s what he said anyway.

OP posts:
Original poster
Washingbasketchair · 06/08/2025 07:28

Bananachimp · 06/08/2025 07:25

Bet they're just tangled up with a sheet or static clinging to another piece of laundry.

I’m sure I saw them the other day though, back in the drawer… 🤷♀️

OP posts:
Sassybooklover · 06/08/2025 07:28

You could place your first 3 pairs of knickers in a particular order. If they then aren't in that order upon your return, you'll know he's been riffling where he shouldn't. I agree with others, you most definitely can't confront him. He's half way through a job for a start, would get the hump (especially if he's not done anything wrong) and leave you with half a job finished. You have no proof, at this stage.

RaininSummer · 06/08/2025 07:28

I feel a bit sorry for the possibly innocent plumber here.

Original poster
Washingbasketchair · 06/08/2025 07:29

RaininSummer · 06/08/2025 07:28

I feel a bit sorry for the possibly innocent plumber here.

This is my concern. I have jumped to a conclusion with zero evidence. It could be him, but there could be a totally innocent explanation. That’s the problem.

OP posts:
Theyreeatingthedogs · 06/08/2025 07:32

Washingbasketchair · 06/08/2025 07:27

No. Yesterday he took the old boiler off. Today he is putting the new on in. Tomorrow he is testing it. That’s what he said anyway.

Show quote history

That's very slow. When we had ours done it was in and out in a day. That included changing from a system boiler to a combi, with tank removal and repiping. There were two plumbers though!

Nibletmum · 06/08/2025 07:33

My mum had old immersion system removed, new combi boiler fitted in a new location with new piping run through the floors and loft. Took 1 day. Hope he's not scamming you op!

MaJoady · 06/08/2025 07:33

Do you have an old baby monitor or something? I'd set it up in my bedroom, prominently placed facing the door. Shut the door when you leave.

If he opens the door, then the camera will spot him and you know he's up to no good. And he knows that you know. If he doesn't open the door, no harm no foul

Onelifeonly · 06/08/2025 07:35

I presume you live alone? You can't accuse him so I don't think you can do anything. And memories can be faulty, especially if the task is one you do regularly. Maybe you're remembering the second to last time you washed them? Is the drawer anywhere near where he's working on the boiler?

isolate34 · 06/08/2025 07:37

It doesn't take 3 days to change a boiler if its not moving place /you don't need loads of additional pipework etc. I had mine done this week and from scratch (ie removing the old one) to being finished with the installation and testing of the new boiler it was 5 hours. 3 days is taking the piss

Mix56 · 06/08/2025 07:37

Leave a note in the drawer, “please put my knickers back.”

plinkityplink · 06/08/2025 07:40

Washingbasketchair · 06/08/2025 07:27

No. Yesterday he took the old boiler off. Today he is putting the new on in. Tomorrow he is testing it. That’s what he said anyway.

Show quote history

That’s bizarre - it’s a maximum of a days work (shortish day too) to replace a boiler, are you paying him by the hour?

FastGreenGoblin · 06/08/2025 07:41

Take a photo of the drawer before you leave so you know of anything has been moved

dogcatkitten · 06/08/2025 07:44

Put something on top in the drawer so you know if it gets moved (a small piece of paper or a tiny piece of ribbon or something). Or do what the spies do and put a hair across the draw so if it is opened it will be moved.

Theunamedcat · 06/08/2025 07:49

Time wise he is taking the pee in my experience I had a boiler replacement and a couple of gas leaks sorted in a day and a half

But maybe yours is more complex 🤔

BeardofHagrid · 06/08/2025 07:49

Mix56 · 06/08/2025 07:37

Leave a note in the drawer, “please put my knickers back.”

Edited

I think this is the best suggestion! He will only see it if he’s up to no good!

I assume he is Gas Safe registered if he’s doing boiler work? They have a full register you can search by name with photo IDs, could be useful if you need to report him.

80smonster · 06/08/2025 07:49

You’ll have to lay a knicker trap today. Take an iphone pic of where they are, if they are removed, tell him him you’ll be debiting the cost of the knickers (were they designer?) from his invoice.

Theunamedcat · 06/08/2025 07:50

I had a tradesman steal some 5ps from a jar literally some off the top I heard him do it i could see the gap in the bottle probably 50p worth at best utterly pointless but a bit of a thrill for him I suppose

MyDeftHedgehog · 06/08/2025 07:51

Agree with PPs. Don't jump in. I insinuated once that someone had taken something of mine and it turned out I had moved it's location and forgotten about it. I apologised profusely but I still feel shitty every time I think about it

Lurleenlumpkin79 · 06/08/2025 07:58

As other posters are saying, its only a 1 day job, not 3 days? If you live alone though you need to be careful how you deal with this. If you report him he could want revenge. You don't know for certain anyway. As previous poster said, arrange your knickers in a certain way in the drawer, take a photo on your phone then check later to see if he's been rifling through them while you weren't in.