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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Minor ethical dilemma- What should I do?

219 replies

FredaFrogspawn · 06/08/2020 19:55

I found some sunglasses where we were sitting while in a big busy London park with DGC - they played with them for a bit and we hung out in that spot for a while (maybe 45 minutes- 1 hour). I took them home as no one came back for them and I thought they were fairly cheap. I am not at all into fashion and am clueless about things like this, having never bought sunglasses for more then a tenner myself.

I have just googled them and they’re £185. I feel bad for whoever lost them.

What would you do in this situation?

OP posts:
TehBewilderness · 06/08/2020 21:58

Put an item in the local news paper lost and found.

Littlecaf · 06/08/2020 22:00

@tankflybos

Two different beaches, two different countries! Very odd. Next time I’ll seek out the dodgy police station miles away or the non existent beach ranger and hand them in. Today I’ve learnt that I’m a thief and a crook. Hmm

Thisismytimetoshine · 06/08/2020 22:00

Most of the London parks are massive, and op found them in the grass. Why the assumption that whoever dropped them knew the exact spot to return to but just didn't bother? Confused
If they knew precisely where they dropped them they'd have picked them up at the time!

VinylDetective · 06/08/2020 22:01

I wouldn't feel bad for someone who has £185 spare to spend on sunglasses

Really? Someone who might have saved up for them for months? OK. Unfortunately you’ll never find their owner OP. I bet they’re gutted though.

Thisismytimetoshine · 06/08/2020 22:02

[quote Littlecaf]@tankflybos

Two different beaches, two different countries! Very odd. Next time I’ll seek out the dodgy police station miles away or the non existent beach ranger and hand them in. Today I’ve learnt that I’m a thief and a crook. Hmm[/quote]
Maybe just bring your own and leave other people's alone? Always an option, even on completely deserted beaches (where the hell were you)?

Andthewinnerislucky · 06/08/2020 22:08

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie

Cba to argue, Lucky.

If I realised over an hour later that I'd probably left my sunglasses in the park, I'd likely assume that they'd no longer be there, and would be cross with myself but think it was my own fault for leaving them. I wouldn't think whoever picked them up was a thief, just an opportunist.

I agree. Same here.

Don't think I've actually called OP a thief as I don't know OP's true intentions. Maybe one/maybe not.

IncrediblySadToo · 06/08/2020 22:09

Oh Dear God. This place gets more batshit by the generation day.

@FredaFrogspawn look you thief, I hope you're deeply ashamed of your unforgivable behaviour!! Please hand yourself in & asked to be flogged.

I'm pretty sure your trip to the police station will be a wasted trip as I don't think they will consider them an expensive item, but if it's not too difficult for you to get to (be sure to check their opening hours before you go) then give it a go. Otherwise wear them if they suit you or find someone who will wear them.

If they were mine I'd be annoyed with myself for leaving them in the park if that's what happened.

However as they were in the long grass it sounds more like they were thrown there when someone was disposing of stolen items.

In either case, if they were mine & I had no chance of getting them back, I'd rather they were being enjoyed & looked after 🤷🏻‍♀️

Andthewinnerislucky · 06/08/2020 22:09

[quote Littlecaf]@tankflybos

Two different beaches, two different countries! Very odd. Next time I’ll seek out the dodgy police station miles away or the non existent beach ranger and hand them in. Today I’ve learnt that I’m a thief and a crook. Hmm[/quote]
Next time, another option is to leave it there, unless it's not an option for you.

Aridane · 06/08/2020 22:10

I wouldn't feel bad for someone who has £185 spare to spend on sunglasses.

And I wouldn’t feel bad if @rosiejaune lost her life savings

SirVixofVixHall · 06/08/2020 22:11

You could tweet , if the police won’t take them in. Twitter seems good for reuniting lost things.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 06/08/2020 22:12

Dear God. This place gets more batshit by the generation day.
Hell, yes.

Andthewinnerislucky · 06/08/2020 22:12

The double standards of some posters on MN can be infuriating. Anyway...

Aridane · 06/08/2020 22:14

They're more than probably fake.

Yes - because opticians are infamous for fitting (expensive) varifocal lenses in knock off designer frames 🙄

Andthewinnerislucky · 06/08/2020 22:18

Actually, depending on the item, my first step would be to retrace my steps and see if I can find them. If I can't find them or can't go back, I'd think either a thief or an opportunist or both (They can be one and the same) would've taken them.

Thisismytimetoshine · 06/08/2020 22:19

They're varifocals?! Was it when only when you noticed they were prescription glasses and therefore worthless to you that it became a "dilemma" for you, op?
You had no problem slipping them into your bag in the first place.

Aloethere · 06/08/2020 22:20

This thread is utterly bonkers! Mumsnet at it's finest.

Patsypie · 06/08/2020 22:21

The hysterical posts on here must be a wind up! Put an ad in the paper? Seriously?! Do you like them op? Then you've been lucky and enjoy your glasses. If you don't like them, take them to a charity shop. Are you sure you didn't take a fancy to them and now feel a bit guilty? Some people need to get a grip.

Hairthrowaway · 06/08/2020 22:22

played with them for a bit

Ew, in this current climate with an infectious disease that can live on (and therefore transmitted via) most surfaces, why are you touching and “playing” with random things in public?

You stole the sunglasses.

Ireolu · 06/08/2020 22:23

Well done OP for trying to reunite the owner with their sunglasses. Lots of infallible ppl here today.

oceanbreezy · 06/08/2020 22:25

It’s still stolen whether it is intentional or not. London is big and so are their parks. If I lost something I might not realise till later and it might take someone more than an hour to get back to the park depending on where they live or where they were going.

Dahlietta · 06/08/2020 22:39

Hope you can sleep at night.
😂

Original poster
FredaFrogspawn · 06/08/2020 22:48

Hope you can sleep at night
😂

It’ll be hard, but I’ll try. First time in my life I have ever been called a thief! Maybe if I hand myself in at the police station when I take them in, I will, one day, be able to sleep again.

Wish me luck in court.

OP posts:
AWryGiraffe · 06/08/2020 22:49

It's not theft by finding if you look at the actual legal definition. She would have had to intend to permanently deprive the owner - take reasonable steps to locate the owner and you will avoid a criminal record (and sleep better at night) 😂

Member869894 · 06/08/2020 22:51

you could sell them and give the proceeds to charity. In the real world I'd sell them and take the family for a slap up meal x

P999 · 06/08/2020 22:56

Taking them and doing what you are doing now is probably the surest way of reuniting them with owner. You are going to a lot of effort too. Ignore nasty posts.