Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5

Original poster

To think the most likely explanation is that it's been stolen?

103 replies

Wberryg · 05/01/2019 22:49

For Christmas I got a small electrical item from my DC, something I'd specifically requested. Cost about £20.

Most of our presents were on an armchair in the living room...I normally put them away between Christmas and New Year but I didn't this year as I was working/ busy. Was planning to do it this weekend.

Today I realised the above item wasn't there. I checked the kitchen, not there either- I've looked in all the cupboards. Behind the armchair. There's nowhere else in the house it could be.

I am 99% sure I've not moved it. DP hasn't moved it and says that he remembers seeing it on Tuesday still on the armchair. DC1 hasn't moved it. DC2 is away tonight but I'm pretty certain hasn't moved it either - if they had they would only have moved it to kitcheb to use it but it's definitely not there.

The only other people who have been in our home since Christmas are tradesmen working on an existing building project. 2-3 were here yesterday. They have a key and let themselves in. The only conclusion I can come to is that one of them has taken it.

It's not about the value. It was a present and I feel bad for my DC. I also feel really fucking annoyed someone has come into my house and helped themselves. It leaves a really nasty taste.

OP posts:

BirdieInTheHand · 05/01/2019 22:50

Far likelier is that it's been swept up with detritus of Christmas and been put in the bin/recycling/random drawer

UnsungHero · 05/01/2019 22:52

That's right, blame the tradesmen!!

Nicknacky · 05/01/2019 22:53

It’s more likely to be lost.

Qcng · 05/01/2019 22:56

Well, actually I'd be suspicious since all of my dad's antique silver cutlery went missing at the exact same time his cleaner went back to Eastern Europe.

You can't trust anyone.

yummumto3girls · 05/01/2019 22:57

I think it’s harsh blaming the tradespeople, I would consider the kids or getting caught up in xmas decs!

HollowTalk · 05/01/2019 22:57

I doubt she threw away an electrical item with the wrapping paper!

aibutohavethisusername · 05/01/2019 23:00

I’d guess at gone with the wrapping paper too, if it was quite small.

Original poster

Wberryg · 05/01/2019 23:01

It's not a tiny item, the box is about the size of a shoebox...so it can't really be picked up or put away by accident. It's too big to fit in a drawer and too big also to be picked up by mistake.

Plus DP is sure he saw it on Tues last on the chair, and I've not moved anything from the living room since then.

OP posts:

CastleCrasher · 05/01/2019 23:02

I'd say far more likely to be lost. Most years there's a gift goes missing here, usually it turns up a few hours (or days) later, having been tidied away into the wrong place, or accidentally swept up with another gift.

We've permanently lost at least two gifts over the years though, and no-one in the house except us. Both times small items, I suspect both times they've been binned with wrapping paper etc.

Original poster

Wberryg · 05/01/2019 23:03

Wrapping paper was cleared away Christmas Day...DP definitely saw it New Years Day.

All our decorations are still up (taking them down tomorrow).

OP posts:

Qcng · 05/01/2019 23:04

Yep, probably nicked.
Sorry it happened to you.

AbelMancwitch · 05/01/2019 23:08

It's possible- when we had some building work done the builders stole something of ours (and then sodded off with the money and didn't finish the job but that's another thread!)

Sorry this happened, I hope it's not the case and that it does somehow turn up...

Gogreen · 05/01/2019 23:08

Sorry it’s gone missing or been stolen OP.

What I’m struggling with in your post....are you saying you put a item on the arm of your chair and it stayed there for days?

Original poster

Wberryg · 05/01/2019 23:18

I'd put all my presents on the armchair - actually on the seat part. DC alsp had several of their smaller presents on there. We don't use that particular armchair much for sitting on so over Christmas it tends to be where the presents live until I get around to moving them to where they will end up (kitchen, bathroom, bedroom etc), Normally I would have done that before New Year but I'm a bit behind with everything due to being away.

OP posts:

Dollymixture22 · 05/01/2019 23:18

You have a busy house with four people. I wouldn’t jump to blaming the builders. It also seems like a low value item for them to steal? Surley there are better things in your house.

You seem quite unpleasant.

ColdCottage · 05/01/2019 23:21

Have you had any animals or small children in the house who could have knocked it or picked it up?

Also the number of times I am 100% convinced I've done something/not moved something etc and then found it elsewhere is long.

I am sure it will turn up. Positive vibes.

I very much doubt anyone working in your home would take anything, let alone a gift like this - it would be too obvious. Most people don't steal things.

BrendasUmbrella · 05/01/2019 23:22

You seem quite unpleasant.

Funny, so do you...

ShadowHuntress · 05/01/2019 23:24

We had our bathroom and kitchen floor redone. They were only here for the day as it isn’t a huge area. They took 2 whole new bottles of lush shower gel and a pack of lush bath bombs. The only reason I know it was them is because I’d only unpacked the delivery the night before and put them in the cabinet. When they left I went to have a bath with my new bath bombs and they were all missing. Very weird

Dollymixture22 · 05/01/2019 23:25

Thanks!!!

While I have never accused someone of theft in regard to an item which could have easily been misplaced/moved, I am sure I have done other things which are unpleasant!!!

Bitchywaitress · 05/01/2019 23:26

Did one of the kids break it and hide it?

AnoukSpirit · 05/01/2019 23:26

What is this highly desirable but mysterious electrical item? Only costs £20 but so desirable a tradesperson would steal it?

Dollymixture22 · 05/01/2019 23:30

I thought echo dot - but it’s £30

Original poster

Wberryg · 05/01/2019 23:30

We have had no visitors at all since before Christmas, no small children live here and we don't have any pets. I have looked behind and under all the furniture in the living room and there's nothing there.

I have also checked every cupboard in the kitchen and it's not in there either.

There is a tiny possibility that DC2 might have put it somewhere but it's very unlikely.

If it was a tiny item I could see how it could be gathered up/ concealed but it's fairly big. Too big to move by accident anyway.

I hope it hasn't been stolen. But if DC2 hasn't moved it (and it seems unlikely he would have) it seems the most likely explanation. I'm not sure why thinking that it has probably been stolen makes me sound unpleasant but so be it!

OP posts:

WitsEnding · 05/01/2019 23:30

Many years ago this happened to me. We took the keys back from the builders. However, a few days later someone burgled the house (coming in through the front door) after they accidentally cut through the phone wire.

We had to tell the police that as far as we knew they didn't have a key. They did when they came back 6 months later and got caught.

Dollymixture22 · 05/01/2019 23:35

Sorry - I shouldn’t have said you were unpleasant. I would just check with your other child before you accuse the builders.

You are correct there is a possibility it was stolen, but it also might turn up in the house.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5

Swipe left for the next trending thread