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

[YonderRevoltingPeasantWhoIsHe]

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?

Take them back openly - if i had something taken, I'd be feeling very frightened, vulnerable and violated, however old the items were.
I might even be thinking of moving house.

You NEED to speak to them and owe these people a full honest explanation and an apology. And a bottle of wine. Or flowers.

Just knock on their door, with the chairs, and smile and say I feel very stupid and I am so sorry for any distress I have caused. If your neighbour backs you up, they will know not to be scared and will feel very relieved.

Yes excatly they will never think you intended to steal from them if you take them back openly.

If you return them at night they will think you're a spineless coward and a thief.! Because they won't have anything to suggest otherwise.

Take them back with a bottle of wine or something and explain. I would be too worried about being caught trying to sneak them back! And you might put them back on the wrong balcony, they will see them and accuse their neighbours of stealing them!

I think you should post a note of explanation through their front door which includes your address and telephone number. The note should ask them to contact you to arrange a convenient time to return the chairs. If they are elderly this may scare them and they may feel it is a scam of some sort and that you want to get in on the off chance to case the joint. They may phone you and say actually they were chucking the chairs out and were waiting for someone to collect them. They may not even have realised what has happened. You might also explain that your friend will be back on x date and she will be able to verify the story before you arrange to go back with the chairs and a very nice bottle of wine/bunch of flowers.

Honesty I think is the best policy.

married and others - I think honesty is best too - but doesn't that risk implicating my totally innocent colleague? That is why I thought a note of apology with no signature would be better. I don't want her to have reason to be angry with me too!

Implicating her in what though? It was a genuine mistake...we all believe you...it was dark, you got the wrong house.

Get your colleague to back you up too. Have you told her about it? You must - as if her neighbours mention it, and she denies all knowledge, it will look even weirder.

If I live near you I'll take them back for you!

Implicate her in what? wanting to lend you two chairs?

She has done nothing wrong, you technically have done nothing wrong. Only a crazy person would be overly bothered by what's happened if you're honest about it. Don't you think it would be a good idea to pop round without the chairs (initially) to explain what happened? They might find it quite amusing!

And an explanatory note will still implicate her if you're saying to them that you meant to go into their next door's house - seriously, there's no point in not knocking on their door. Asking them to phone you is even stranger, sorry - like you've kidnapped their chairs!

Is it possible they haven't even noticed?

Maybe they're away for christmas!

How about you tie the chairs to a radiator, take a picture of them and then post that through their door with a PAYG mobile number for them to ring if they want to see their chairs again. If they don't respond you could chop a leg off one of them and post it to them?

Scoundrel, behave

You could go back in the daytime and leave the chairs there with a note tied to them - sorry, taken in error! Wrong house! - but it will be a risk in case they are at home, also it looks suspiciously odd.

Just knock on the door.

I don't understand what the OP's friend would be implicated in? It's her flat, she's allowed to gibve her keys to whoever she chooses

Oh more just that it would be like, 'you gave your keys to this incompetent moron person who ended up nicking our stuff'. They are trying to sell, I don't want them to have some kind of neighbour dispute.

Hmm I think I will leave a note with my name and phone no on it - it's the only right thing to do, isn't it?

Balaclava at the ready?

Okay, I have just written a note explaining and giving my first name and mobile number - have been vague about which neighbour of theirs it is - will go round after dark (only time I can, actually) and leave note if they are not there... and if they are .... will knock.

x 10,000

Be careful Yonder. Seriously.

I'm not sure why you're embarrassed or worried tbh, it was a genuine mistake. Mistakes happen!

I don't get it either. If it ewas me I'd say "thanks for confessing - I was wondering" and accept the chairs back. I don't understand why people seem to think this is so sinister. TBH it sounds like they were being thrown out anyway, so I doubt they'll care about the chairs - more the implications as others ahve mentioned.

I don't think they were being thrown out - they were on a balcony, neatly lined up next to door. I will have DP with me. I really just hope we don't get into trouble!!!

Chill out for goodness sake. You accidentally took the wrong chairs. You are returning them. An apology or a note is nice just incase you have given them a fright - but blimey, there's an awful lot of over reaction on this thread!

You have a good alibi on here! Usually thieves don't return and take items back! I think honesty is best, it would spook me out if my chairs vanished and came back! Good luck

Can you film the returning of the chairs and put it on Youtube for us?

I'll just steal the CCTV next and post that instead

Gaaaaaaaah I hate confrontation/ tense situations. Really hope they are nice about it. chippingin hope they have the same attitude as you and don't think it's theft or get narky!!!

yonder why are you expecting confrontation? If you came round and explained it to me I'd believe you and think it was funny.

An anonymous note would freak me out. Scoundrel's idea would make me smile though.

i'd be fizzing if someone had pinched chairs from my balcony!

But it would be totally fine to get them back with an apology and a bottle of wine/box of chocs and an apology ...A Christmas Mystery!