To be pissed off that someone stole my towel?

[TinselAndKnickers]

I went swimming this evening - came to the pool, put my towel on the hooks, had a shower and then I got in. Lots of men are normally in the hot tub and watch you (gross in itself) get in and out of the pool, so I didn't think anything of it.

One particular man, waited for me to get into the far end of the pool and then got up, stole my bright pink towel and then dashed into the changing rooms! I obviously can't go in to the men's so had to locate a member of staff which took around 10 minutes, by which point the man had gone. So I'm pissed off about my nice fluffy towel being stolen, but this next bit is what really wound me up.

The member of staff (a lad in his 20s) checked the changing room and then came back with a soaking wet, faded red towel with stains and holes in it. And said it must be this, I said no it isn't, he said oh well do you want this one then as there's no pink ones in there. I said "I don't really want to use a used, dirty towel that's not mine but I just thought I'd let you know people are stealing and you should probably have someone on duty in the pool area. He said oh well, and shrugged his shoulders!! Another lady overheard and said her towel was also gone, and he said "the only option is to share this one I'm afraid, we don't have spares" and handed it to the other lady then left. Manager at the desk did not care when I then told them.

How disgusting - not only for some random man to steal a towel, but also for the member of staff to offer me a minging old soaking wet towel?! AIBU to be feeling like a stroppy madam?

Disclaimer: I was not stroppy and rude to the staff member. I am just sulking privately here. Also was not expecting a bright white new towel. Just for him to not be an arse!!

Their customer service is lacking.... but I wouldn't leave anything unattended at a pool. My son had some diving toys stolen- he'd just put them on the side while he did something else, they had his name scrawled over them in Sharpie.. someone nicked them.
It's a shame but you just can't leave things unattended any more. If you see the suspect again, point him out to staff or your friends. Make him feel uncomfortable.

It's normally fine - they tell you off if you don't have a towel on the hooks and then you soak the changing room I will definitely be doing that though - that's a shame about your son's toys. Although they are more enticing than a bloody towel!

I'm cringing imagining what he's doing with that towel now. There's a reason he took it.

Can you switch pools? I'd leave your towel in the change room in the future to avoid this.

surely they could see who was in the gym at the time if you have to swipe in, they could have found out who it was. I'd complain formally.

🤮

You being offered his wank towel and him taking yours to use as his next one!!!

It's the fact he specially waited for the right towel to take.. yuck. I wouldn't have wanted it back anyway but the fact the guy who 'helped' was like oh well and the manager didn't give a rats arse.. I think I will need to complain to head office.

I'd complain - the man was a fucker but the staff were out of order & definitely should have been more helpful.

I’d have followed him in and demanded it back

I'd be more pissed off about the staff's reaction than my towel being stolen. But then again I don't take the nice ones swimming.

Not only would I have complained loudly I'd also be raising this on their twitter/other social media.
If they want you to have a towel at hand then they should be more helpful when there is blatant theft. If they don't want theft then they need to ensure people know to use the lockers.

Surely they would be able to find him on camera doing that. Then the least they can do is see if hes a member (write him a letter about it) or talk to him when he comes back. That's gross.

I also would have marched into the men’s changing room, apologising, but demanding my towel. Wait for a member of staff? Not likely

Sarcasm - yeah that's exactly it, I'm more annoyed about the arsey attitude of the staff member. My towel wasn't particularly nice but compared to their gross substitute it was soft and nice and lovely! bloody morons.

Very annoying I agree but an ex boss had all his clothes, car keys and car stolen from a swimming pool changing room locker. Still it was nice to picture him having to use the pool phone to phone his wife to rescue him

Sorry but I found this hilarious! Sorry that you had to experience this but its something that can be replaced.

Cheeky bastard. I am a myopic little barrel (swimming would mean no specs) but I would absolutely have followed him in like PP above. Bet their attendant would have done a better job then! (tho probably not for me - chances are I would have got thrown out in my swimsuit, swearing and generally causing a loud and obnoxious commotion).

Sod him - if it means that much let him keep it. I will keep my fingers crossed for you that he puts it in with a white wash and dyes his shirts and underwear pink........

RIP to my towel. I am also hoping he dyes all his y-fronts pink.

Dreamz I would find it funny if it was an accident but the fact he watched and waited for a chance to steal MY towel makes me feel so gross!! And also the staff member was an arsehole so I'm sulking for now 😋

See, I would have marched straight away into the men's changing room and ripped it out of his greedy hands. But then, I am a gobby moo

I would ask if they have security footage and take this further. Not due to the loss of a towel but due to the fact that there's a pervert intent on stealing women's towels!

Speak to management and demand to see the footage AND call the police about it...on the non emergency number.

Henny

What makes you think the police would even care about a lost towel?

How did you get dry in the end

There are many reasons I loathe public swimming pools (brought up
Swimming all the time by a swimming/scuba dad). You’ve given me at least three more !! Shudder. Good luck next time op. I too would have been upset at general non understanding but he was only young lad I guess.

Sorry but I found this hilarious

You’re very easily amused..

Dreams I said clearly that it's not about the towel but about a man who is getting a kick out of women's clothing or accessories. It's like men who take underwear from washing lines.

I'd inform the police simply so if the man comes back and repeats this, then they have a record and the footage.

We’re there other people in or around the pool?

I’d have stood up and shouted ‘Oi Theif give my towel back’ and asked any bloke there to go and get it for me if I didn’t feel brave enough to go in myself. Or to come with me.

I would also have hit the emergency button to get a member of staff there ASAP. And stood outside the exit to the men’s if I was feeling brave/warm...

I am shocked that they don’t have cctv covering the area - they should as a minimum identify who it is, they will see you hang it up and him take it, then they should ban him from the gym. If they say they can’t they need to at least put a sign up to clearly say that if they catch anyone stealing going forward from now, they will be banned.

Definitely exploit the power of social media to make them realise how bad it is!