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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I accidentally stole something: AIBU not to fess up???

68 replies

YonderRevoltingPeasantWhoIsHe · 27/12/2011 12:11

Had a really excellent, glitch-free Christmas except for one thing!!

We were having all the family over and didn't have enough chairs. So a colleague said we could borrow two from her flat - we've been over for dinner a few times so know where it is. She was going to be away so she left us a key to the balcony door. The balcony is not the way we normally get to her flat - normally she buzzes us in through the main door, which is on another street, if that makes sense - balconies to flats let out into a smaller alley type place.

So we went to pick the chairs up after dark a couple of nights ago. I got to the alley where the balconies are and found her flat. It was two away from the lamp-post, just like she said. I tried the key in the lock and it fit in but then wouldn't budge - but she'd said it was very stiff and really needed to be hauled on. Then I noticed that in fact she had left two chairs right outside the balcony door. How thoughtful! I thought. I took them.....

So of course it turns out they weren't hers. I somehow got the wrong flat and the fact that there were two chairs outside was total coincidence. Do I put them back tonight sneakily and hope no one notices? Do I put them back with an apologetic note, a bottle of something nice, but no signature/ contact details? Or do I write a full confession and/or bang boldly on the door and tell them what happened?

If I go by and it's dark AIBU to just put them back without saying anything?? Or is that really terrible?

OP posts:
Sparklingbaubles · 27/12/2011 12:13

I would go back after dark and put them back without saying anything.

ZillionChocolate · 27/12/2011 12:14

You didn't steal them, but it would be wrong not to return them. I would try to let them person know, ideally by speaking to them. They might be a bit freaked out otherwise by you going onto their balcony and taking their furniture.

Moominsarescary · 27/12/2011 12:14

I think I'd probably take a bottle round knock on the door, explain and appologise

lubeybaublely · 27/12/2011 12:14

I would knock and explain, and apologise

Someone might be really worried that someone tried to get in and then took the chairs. They might be fretting about being a target - you could save the anguish!

Or they might not give a stuff but it's still the right thing to do

catsareevil · 27/12/2011 12:14

I would just knock on the door and tell them. I dont think that you have done anything especially bad!

goldbow · 27/12/2011 12:14

Its a ll a bit cloak and dagger no help Grin

ThreeNine · 27/12/2011 12:15

I don't think it's unreasonable to put them back with an unsigned apology.

Original poster
YonderRevoltingPeasantWhoIsHe · 27/12/2011 12:16

Thanks! Was just going to leave a note. I am a bit worried about implicating colleague and/ or creating neighbour probs for her - she was incredibly generous to give us free run of her flat and feel massively incompetent for screwing this up.

OP posts:
goldbow · 27/12/2011 12:17

What if you try and return them and they see you? Shock Are you a borrower? Grin

Original poster
YonderRevoltingPeasantWhoIsHe · 27/12/2011 12:19

Goldbow that is what I am worried about!!!! I think I will go round with an unsigned apology in pocket and if they are in, knock, and if not not.....

Argh!!! Could they ring the police on me?

OP posts:
5ofus · 27/12/2011 12:19

I would knock, explain and apologise. Otherwise the people living in the flat will think they've been the victim of a very cruel prank.

Haziedoll · 27/12/2011 12:20

I would put them back with a note explaining what had happened and a bottle if bubbly.

goldbow · 27/12/2011 12:22

The thing is, not trying to worry you but it is technically theft and what if they are not nice people? Keep the chairs? This could turn into a comedy sketch....

goldbow · 27/12/2011 12:23

You are a silly billy OP. Grin

Sparklingbaubles · 27/12/2011 12:23

Are they particuarly nice chairs?

Scoundrel · 27/12/2011 12:25

I think I would go round without the chairs at first so that you can explain without them jumping to conclusions when they see you with their chairs in your hands Xmas Grin

goldbow · 27/12/2011 12:26

My DH used to use a garden chair to climb in the bin and squash it down, he left it outside for one night and it got borrowed. I wasn't happy at the time but can laugh now. Grin

Original poster
YonderRevoltingPeasantWhoIsHe · 27/12/2011 12:30

Sparkling no they are fairly old knackeredish chairs with the straw/ rushes on the bottom coming a bit loose. Perfectly serviceable but not Sunday best.

That was also why I took them, as I thought perhaps colleague had thought better of me taking her nice indoor wooden chairs and had left these out instead.

OP posts:
EdithWeston · 27/12/2011 12:33

I really think you need to take them back openly and with a profuse apology.

For all you know, there is a terrified neighbour in there, concerned about an intruder on her balcony who will become doubly concerned if her stuff is moved again.

Sparklingbaubles · 27/12/2011 12:35

If I was the neighbour and my chairs had been 'nicked', then returned during the night, I would just be glad/astounded they had come back.

goldbow · 27/12/2011 12:38

Prehaps they were going to chuck them anyway then?

BalloonSlayer · 27/12/2011 12:39

It's not "technically theft." Theft is taking something without the owner's consent with the intention to permanently deprive the owner of the object.

This is nothing of the sort. Even if the other neighbour turned nasty and called the police the OP would have her colleague's word to back her up in establishing this as a misunderstanding. And the police would not waste time prosecuting someone who was only identified because they were returning the missing items, and particularly if they were clutching a bottle of wine and a letter of apology.

You do need to take them back, though, OP.

Scoundrel · 27/12/2011 12:40

If the chairs were being chucked out whoever owns them might be pissed off if you returned them! Xmas Grin

sitandnatter · 27/12/2011 12:42

Id take them back with an anonymous note and bottle of wine in the dark.

Sparklingbaubles · 27/12/2011 12:43

Watch out for the CCTV. You could be on the 'crims' line up on Crimewatch. Shock