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AIBU?

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Original poster

MIL has stolen my shoes!

469 replies

ratherbeshowjumping · 26/09/2018 11:43

This is not a joke...!

Historically I've had a very difficult relationship with Satan my MIL. DH pops his head in once a week on his way home from work but we otherwise have little to do with the witch. We get on OK when we do see her.

Last week I had to work away and she did massively help us out by popping in and checking on the puppy.... and since then I cannot find my very, very naice pair of wellies that my lovely DM treated me to.

Anyway, to cut a long story short, DH went in to say hi yesterday eve and my wellies were there, neat by my backdoor. He immediately said "are they showjumpers wellies?", she laughed and said "no, of course they're not." DH then said "oh showjumper has lost hers, exactly the same."
She then laughed and commented how absentminded I am!!

(I am but that's not the point!)

With risk of sounding awful, I do not think she would be familiar with the brand and even if she was, she would have the money to spend £300+ on a pair of wellies.

WWYD? All suggestions appreciated Grin

OP posts:
Racecardriver · 26/09/2018 12:02

Are you even the same shoe size?

alphajuliet123 · 26/09/2018 12:03

Get your DH to ask her where she bought them and how much she paid. I'm sure if he tells her how ridiculously expensive they were she might suddenly remember something.

Thesnobbymiddleclassone · 26/09/2018 12:03

Take them back! The cheeky thief!'

BasicUsername · 26/09/2018 12:04

Guessing they are Dubarry?

I'd be furious. I don't really know what I would do about it though, if she had the bare faced cheek to steal them and then lie about it. I guess your plan of DH marking them and then pointing it out to her is a good one, but he will need to be sneaky and do it somewhere she hadn't already looked.

SirVixofVixHall · 26/09/2018 12:07

I’m thinking Le Chameau , and I’m jealous.
How could your MIL possibly imagine she could get away with swiping those ? Not the sort of thing anyone has unless they are very involved with horses , shooting or other country pursuits that mean endless hours in cold mud.
I agree with getting your DH to mark them, with the special pen thing that glows, then telling his mother he is going to double check that she hasn’t “gone home with the wrong pair by accident “ as yours are missing. When your name glows brightly what on earth will she say ?

slippyshoesshuffle · 26/09/2018 12:11

MIL thinks she deserves them so expect a fight. There's an unpleasant undercurrent of dislike on both sides IMO and you should not be letting her in your house for very obvious reasons, however convenient it might seem.

Mummyoflittledragon · 26/09/2018 12:12

She probably has no idea of how much they cost. Get your dh to ask her where she bought them and if she got them for a bargain ie how much she paid for them as you’re looking to get another pair and maybe she can point you in the right direction. Then call her out on it and demand them back. Otherwise yes, just swipe them. How rude!

AnnieAnoniMouse · 26/09/2018 12:14

I’m not actually sure who is more batsit - HIS welly stealing Mum OR YOUR £300+ for a pair of wellies buying Mum! 😳🤣

Get the wellies back and change the locks, I wouldn’t put it past her to have got a key cut (if you didn’t give her one to keep). I’d be seriously worried about what else she had stolen that I hadn’t yet noticed.

Disquieted1 · 26/09/2018 12:14

Call the police - are you guys for real? Talk about creating strife in the family!
It's been raining a lot. She probably put them on and took your puppy outside then went home in them. Just nick 'em back, case closed.

bunintheoven88 · 26/09/2018 12:15

@Aprilshowersnowastorm

Bloody hell bit harsh, what's the DH done wrong!?

I agree with other PP's, regardless of price she wouldn't have taken them.
Definitely swipe them back!

Original poster
ratherbeshowjumping · 26/09/2018 12:16

@SirVixofVixHall yes, Le Chameau
This is what I mean - she would have no idea of the brand and certainly does not have a "country lifestyle" by any means. She has a dog that is walked around the local park. As I said, I think it is to spite me rather than because she actually likes them! She knew they were a very generous present from my DM.

It's all well confronting her but she's exactly the type to blow up when things don't go her way (hence the NC!).

She does no longer have a key.

Yes we are the same size.

I'm not particularly peeved as I'm confident I will get them back - I'm more taken aback at how much of a CF she can possibly be!! DH and I are literally like wtf at this one.

OP posts:
Skittlesandbeer · 26/09/2018 12:16

Ok, she’s definitely going to have searched the boots thoroughly for markings before she nicked them. And given them a scrub at her place.

You need to wait until you can source one of those UV light pens from eBay/Amazon. DH only needs enough time to scribble your initials inside. Then, one a seperate visit he tells her your DM marked them, since they were so costly. Tells her he’ll borrow them back to get them checked at the local cop shop, cos it’s just such a strange coincidence and has to be certain for family harmony. Make sure he takes them, or she’ll chuck em.

But be very very very sure you’re right.

It’s actually a blessing for you if you are. Sorts out her character 100% in DH’s eyes forever. Solves a lot of trust issues down the track. No doubt she can’t be trusted or respected.

OliviaStabler · 26/09/2018 12:16

Bet she also had a good rifle through your things too

steppemum · 26/09/2018 12:16

I think he needs to take them back.
next time he is there, pick them up and walk out. When she questions him, he just says, they cost £300. If you want a pair, buy them yourself.

If she continues to protest that they are hers, then just give her The Look and say something along the lines of - the jokes over, I'm not going to fight with you about it, we all know where they came from.

BUT you do really have to be certain they are your first!

UrsulaPandress · 26/09/2018 12:19

That is outrageous. And you are not in the least unreasonable for having expensive wellies.

You could play with her - pop round and ask her where she bought them from as you need to replace yours.

EndeavourVoyage · 26/09/2018 12:19

She is a thief, call the police, but then whoever charged you £300 for a pair of wellies is just as much a thief, I thought my daughters Hunters were extortionate, at £140Grin

Aprilshowersnowastorm · 26/09/2018 12:20

Dh needs to get back pronto-he should have rang you there +then . They won't be in such an accessible place now she knows you are on to her!
What's dh plan if she denies having them?

IWannaSeeHowItEnds · 26/09/2018 12:21

I wouldn't be arseing around with uv pens. I'd be full on confrontational. Also check the rest of your house (jewellery etc).

Original poster
ratherbeshowjumping · 26/09/2018 12:21

They are 100% mine. I left them in the porch when I went to London and when I returned, they'd gone.

I'm sure she did have a good rifle through.

It's bloody ridiculous. I may take DPuppy over as a distraction and whilst she's fussing over him, swipe them and put them in the car...!

OP posts:
MiggledyHiggins · 26/09/2018 12:24

Next time get a dog sitter.

And change your locks. If I were your DH I'd not be popping in for a while after this.

mimibunz · 26/09/2018 12:26

My MIL used to pinch my stuff when was first diagnosed with dementia. Is that a possibility?

HeckyPeck · 26/09/2018 12:27

Update us after the re-stealing!

Mummyoflittledragon · 26/09/2018 12:28

Are you sure she hasn’t taken anything else?

BestestBrownies · 26/09/2018 12:28

Have you checked your house thoroughly? I'd be worrying that if she can be this brazen with the wellies then what else is missing?

steppemum · 26/09/2018 12:28

I really really don't want OP to quietly re-steal, I do think MIL needs calling out on this, but maybe in real life I would be less confrontational!