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Original poster

To be gutted and quite shocked that anyone would do this? Possible theft

166 replies

Pyjamaramadrama · 28/12/2014 20:58

Was in PC World today, we were sat at the sale desks with a salesman. We were going to buy something but didn't, another story but was told one price on entering the store then another.

In all the confusion I put ds (6) character wallet on the desk which contained his £20 Christmas money and was going to buy a toy in the sales. It also contained some pretend play money so quite clearly a child's wallet.

We left the store then realised an hour later and went straight back. I was really convinced that somebody would have handed it in, especially being a child's. But nobody has, the lady had a good look around the area where it was left and the salesman said that he left the desk straight away and didn't see anything.

I'm obviously very trusting and naive, gutted to think anyone would steal from a lid for £20.

OP posts:
Original poster
Pyjamaramadrama · 28/12/2014 22:47

Haven't checked/reported to police. I won't waste their time in looking for it but guess it wouldn't hurt to ask regarding it being handed in, there's always a chance.

Ds dropped his teddy in a shop once, it was sentimental and from abroad so not really replaceable. I asked on the off chance two weeks later and they'd kept it, so kind.

I sound really clumsy but I've never lost money before, I did have my bag snatched once years ago and blame myself for walking alone in the dark, but really it still shouldn't have happened, that's why I rarely carry any cash anymore and wear a cross body bag so it's close to me. Really think it's ultimately the thief at fault whether it's a found item or outright nicked.

OP posts:
Floggingmolly · 28/12/2014 22:52

thecatfromjapan. Your friend escaped an arrest for shoplifting by arguing that the shop owner shouldn't have left the stock lying around within their reach????? In a sane world; that should not be possible... Please tell me you're joking?

Original poster
Pyjamaramadrama · 28/12/2014 22:53

Anyway I suppose shocked was the wrong word, angry and annoyed moreso. I know there are people out there who will take it if it's not nailed down. I must be getting too trusting in my old age.

OP posts:
BigChocFrenzy · 28/12/2014 22:55

Sorry to hear about that, OP.
When someone finds and keeps cash or valuables, then that is THEFT, legally and morally.
No justification to claim that "everyone does it". Anyway, most people do not steal. I'm amazed any posters could try to blame the victim.

FunkyBoldRibena · 28/12/2014 22:58

What a horrible mindset.

Most people lock their doors at night for that reason. To try and prevent thieves from taking all their stuff. Are you saying you leave yours unlocked all the time?

FunkyBoldRibena · 28/12/2014 23:01

es, then that is THEFT, legally and morally. No justification to claim that "everyone does it". Anyway, most people do not steal. I'm amazed any posters could try to blame the victim.

Nobody said that everyone does it. Most people indeed do not steal. But not taking responsibility for leaving it there when it was the OP's actions that caused the wallet to be left on its own in a shop, is what triggered it going missing. As i said, if i lose something i take responsibility for it. Like a grown up.

PhaedraIsMyName · 28/12/2014 23:02

Keep digging Funky

Fortunately most posters don't think being absent-minded means one is fair game.

Frogme · 28/12/2014 23:03

Small ds had his child's wallet taken out of the zipped pocket of his dad's rucksack once, at Disney World. Fortunately there was no money in it but someone must have been watching him and deliberately stole from a child.

I've seen the honesty of a lot of people over the years. Most people have integrity and most things are handed in. You were unlucky.

FunkyBoldRibena · 28/12/2014 23:05

Being absent minded may result in stolen money, when you leave the money on someones desk with full public access!

Also, the water from a kettle is hot and may result in burns.

Original poster
Pyjamaramadrama · 28/12/2014 23:07

FBR, no, but if something happened and someone accidentally forgot to lock their doors one night, then got burgled or worse. I certainly wouldn't think it their fault. I'd still blame the burglar.

Where would it stop otherwise? My gran goes to the shops everyday on a mobility scooter alone, I think she's very vulnerable, but if someone takes advantage of that it is them to blame.

Yes I realise that is not the same as me leaving a wallet on a shop desk. But point is I don't think a moment of stupidity/vulnerability/distraction means it's a free for all.

OP posts:
PhaedraIsMyName · 28/12/2014 23:09

Being absent minded may result in stolen money, when you leave the money on someones desk with full public access

If you are unfortunate enough to do so in the presence of scumbags with no morals. I'm shocked that you are trying to pin the blame on OP.

naughtylist · 28/12/2014 23:09

Oh that's awful. I don't know how people can sleep at night after stealing from a child. My 6 year old would be heartbroken to lose his christmas money.

Sadly not surprised though. I can still remember getting new trainers for my 8th birthday and we went swimming not long after. I forgot to put trainers in locker and some arse stole them leaving me to walk home crying with no shoes on my feet. Really hope karma exists.

Original poster
Pyjamaramadrama · 28/12/2014 23:10

Well I have taken responsibility as the money has gone and I have had no choice but to. I will still direct my anger at the person who decided they would steal something from us because I got distracted for a moment.

OP posts:
Original poster
Pyjamaramadrama · 28/12/2014 23:13

I just wonder at what point does my stuff become fair game when the attitude is that it's my fault. Forgetting something and returning in one hour, going to the exit and running back, putting it on the counter and turning my back?

OP posts:
FunkyBoldRibena · 28/12/2014 23:16

Of course it is a free for all..there are some quote nasty people out there, who will steal a wallet if left lying around. You dont know if they work there, or were just walking by. Nobody knows.

If you leave your house unlocked, and get burgled, then the insurance wont pay out...because they will say it is your own fault for not locking your house.

Come on people. Do you not live in the real world?

exmoormare · 28/12/2014 23:17

Pyjama I think you are being a bit of a drama queen now.

FunkyBoldRibena · 28/12/2014 23:18

Forgetting something and returning in one hour, going to the exit and running back, putting it on the counter and turning my back?

What are you expecting to have happened exactly? If nobody noticed it was there?

unlucky83 · 28/12/2014 23:18

I know how you feel - it is your fault for being careless but you would hand it in without hesitation and it is hard to understand the mindset of someone who wouldn't...
I lost £80 cash in the local village -fell out of my pocket near the cash machine distracted by a DC being difficult - someone (I know and they are lovely anyway) handed it into the police station...

On the other hand I bought a £5+ cat brush (told it was miraculous else I wouldn't have spent that much on one). It was in the shape of a cat so small DC had been playing with it - I left it on the side in the family toilet of a shopping centre in the local town. Went back less than 5 min later and it had gone...and I did check that it hadn't been handed in later. It was still in the packaging, price sticker still on - so who took it knew it wasn't worthless...but... it was a cat brush - why would someone take that? Unless maybe they had a cat too? or thought they could sell it on? Confused

PhaedraIsMyName · 28/12/2014 23:22

I don't think anything OP has said is drama queenish.

I'm a little surprised that a few posters' moral compasses swing round to blaming the OP rather than the person who pocketed the purse.

exmoormare · 28/12/2014 23:27

I'm certainly not blaming her but I do think the posts wailing about the terrible people who would steal £20 from a child are a bit nausea inducing.

People do horrendous things to children: worse than stealing £20 from them, and while this is horrendous you'd have to be living under a rock to know that people steal stuff!

FunkyBoldRibena · 28/12/2014 23:28

Only person mentioning morals is you - this is about reality not morals.

The reason she doesnt have the purse is because she left it in the shop. Nobody knows what happened after that, do they?

FunkyBoldRibena · 28/12/2014 23:29

And if anyone stole it, it was stolen off a desk, not off a child!

QuickSilverFairy · 28/12/2014 23:32

Awww, I'm so sorry for your little boy :( whomever took his wallet is an AssHat! It is stealing when you abscond with something you know damn well isn't yours.

Original poster
Pyjamaramadrama · 28/12/2014 23:33

I don't really see what other potential horrendous things people may do to children has to do with the fact that somebody might have pocketed ds £20. Sure there's far worse things going on in the world, but I'm allowed to have a moan about this all the same. I do think it's particularly nasty to pocket a lost wallet and it seems somehow a bit worse to pocket a child's wallet full of pretend money.

OP posts:
GimliMinge · 28/12/2014 23:33

You need to be a lot more careful about leaving things behind.

So, GermanHouseCat, how is work at the Department of Redundancy Department?

And funky, hot water is a substance without intelligence or conscience. Not the same as deliberate theft at all. The responsability lies with the thief.

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