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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to challenge my paper-stealing neighbour?

202 replies

Thingaling · 28/04/2021 15:24

I have a newspaper subscription I pay a fair bit of money for, which gives me digital access during the week and then the actual weekend papers delivered.

But for months now, I have only been receiving Saturday papers maybe twice a month and Sunday papers only once a month. The rest of the time they “disappear” before I can collect them from the entrance hall to our mansion block.

Two weeks ago, I saw my Saturday paper there (which has a label with my name and address on it) in the morning on my way out to the corner shop. When I came back ten minutes later, it was gone.

Armed with this intel, I asked the building security people to look at the CCTV for that ten minute window to see who had taken the paper.

It turns out that the thief lives in the flat above me - a normal looking woman, AFAICT from a non chaotic household. I don’t know her to speak to although I’ve talked to her husband before about water pouring into my flat from their broken loo and he seemed perfectly pleasant.

The security people (somewhat reluctantly) agreed to speak to her - basically saying we’ve seen you on camera doing it, just please stop. She apparently denied it then went mental “Are you accusing me of being a thief?” etc and then claimed she also had a subscription and thought it was hers (although we’ve never seen another paper delivered to our block, ever).

Security are now saying there’s nothing more they can do. AIBU to be really really cross about this? The brazen cheek of her!

Short of getting up at 5am to grab the paper as soon as it’s delivered, what else can I do? ?

OP posts:
GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 28/04/2021 15:28

Why on earth have you not knocked on the door and asked her directly to stop stealing your paper? You've seen the evidence yourself.

shouldistop · 28/04/2021 15:41

Has she taken another one since she was spoken to?

stackemhigh · 28/04/2021 15:43

Knock on her door, at the moment you are a faceless victim. She needs to know you know it's her.

MrsTerryPratchett · 28/04/2021 15:45

Won't she stop know they've said that?

Thingaling · 28/04/2021 15:55

@GreenFingersWouldBeHandy Sorry should have added that. My first reaction was to go round there myself and say this needs to stop. But the security people wouldn’t let me see the CCTV and didn’t want to tell me who it was (something about data protection). I only found out today because another neighbour found out somehow (possibly overheard shouting) and let it slip. I am not supposed to know though.

OP posts:
OldEvilOwl · 28/04/2021 15:55

Is it still happening after they spoke to her? what a cheeky fucker

suggestionsplease1 · 28/04/2021 16:13

Wait and see if it still happens after they've spoken to her. Her outburst was a face-saving attempt at the time but it may well have been enough to put a stop this.

BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 28/04/2021 16:13

Get down there early, fill your Sunday paper with glitter, then leave it there.

Or put a note through her door saying sorry for the misunderstanding about the paper as you didn't realise she also has a subscription. You are putting in a police report about your missing paper. Has she had any stolen too because, if so, you will mention her to the police.

2bazookas · 28/04/2021 16:16

You knock on her door at the weekend and introduce yourself, give her a piece of paper with your name, address, and the titles of the papers you have delivered, and you say

This is for you and your husband, it's  a note of  my subscriptions and the name and address that appears on my mail.  Please  be  careful  to avoid any  more mixups.
StoneofDestiny · 28/04/2021 16:20

It's a serious offence to intercept people's mail!
I'd tell her any further thefts will be reported to the police as you are paying money for newspapers you never get to read.

StoneofDestiny · 28/04/2021 16:22

I'd also get I touch with the subscription people and tell them your papers are not getting to you and ask if anybody else in your apartment block had an identical subscription.

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 28/04/2021 16:26

📰

VettiyaIruken · 28/04/2021 16:47

So if she has an identical subscription - where is it? If she takes yours then hers would still be there
She's so full of shit.

Shane you can't make a fake page saying stop stealing my paper you fucking cunt, keep trying to catch the paper before it vanishes and add it in.

BlankTimes · 28/04/2021 16:53

Send her a nicely printed invoice for the cost of the papers you never received plus a hefty amount in hourly fees for you having to chase it up.

DogsSausages · 28/04/2021 16:53

If it's got your name and address on it then it's clearly not hers, she is bluffing, if she had the same sub then there would be 2 papers. What time are they delivered, you might just have to bet up early to being jt in or leave it there smothered in something sticky.

Flowers500 · 28/04/2021 16:55

Honestly the glitter idea is great, I would do that. An absolute fucktonne of really small glitter will never be removable. Could you also put wet ink on the underside, so when she picks it up her hands get stained too?

DaphneDuBois · 28/04/2021 21:20

She’s a liar because if she genuinely thought she was taking her subscription there would still be one left for you! I’d just go digital but why the hell should you.

StoneofDestiny · 28/04/2021 21:22

Check her bins!

DeadGood · 28/04/2021 21:26

@suggestionsplease1

Wait and see if it still happens after they've spoken to her. Her outburst was a face-saving attempt at the time but it may well have been enough to put a stop this.
Exactly this OP.
HopeHappy · 28/04/2021 21:27

@suggestionsplease1

Wait and see if it still happens after they've spoken to her. Her outburst was a face-saving attempt at the time but it may well have been enough to put a stop this.
Definitely this, but if it continues the glitter idea is genius!
SpongeCakeAddict · 28/04/2021 21:34

Intercept paper, replace with old paper, booby trap the paper with something very sticky and glitter, and a large note inside saying STOP STEALING MY FUCKING MAIL YOU FUCKING TEALEAF!!!!!

freecuthbert · 28/04/2021 21:44

OP if you live in the UK, please don't boobytrap the newspaper with glitter as it's actually illegal here. I remember reading about it when people were boobytrapping parcels to catch thieves. Ridiculous but true. Obviously leaving a stern note is a different matter, but something tells me she won't care. I would definitely confront her!

Jillybons · 28/04/2021 21:58

@Thingaling what’s a mansion block?

And no, you’re not being unreasonable

MrsSprogett · 28/04/2021 22:08

[quote Jillybons]@Thingaling what’s a mansion block?

And no, you’re not being unreasonable[/quote]
It’s a rather splendid building of apartments
Do the glitter thing OP

pineapplejuiceisyuck · 28/04/2021 22:10

I would try catch her in the act! Cheeky F she is!