to challenge my paper-stealing neighbour?

[Thingaling]

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? ?

Doesnt matter if you are supposed to know, you do know. Go and tell her you know and if it haopens again youll report it to the police. You have video evidence.

My sister has a newspaper subscription and gets vouchers - so she collects the paper form newsagent/supermarket, rather than it being delivered.

I take back the glitter suggestion, I'd temporarily forgotten it's so bad for the environment. Maybe slime instead?

@StoneofDestiny

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.

It's not mail. It's a paper delivery. 🙄

You can get biodegradable glitter these days.

What's this about it being illegal to stick glitter in your paper?!

Cos I think requesting that the newsagents stick some loose glitter between the pages to surprise your DH is a great idea

OP. Who's delivering the newspaper?

@TaraR2020 I know it sounds so ridiculous! But I saw it crop up multiple times on the r/legaladviceuk subreddit about glitter bombs, and basically it seems that if the glitter got caught in someone's eye or they were allergic or their pet swallowed it or caused damage or even just causing them a plain nuisance, then technically it's a crime and you could get done for it. Unlikely something the CPS would see worth pursuing but still a possibility. It's the same principle as boobytrapping food in the office you suspect is being stolen etc.

So its not illegal to put glitter into your own newspaper, its just illegal if someone gets it in their eye? How do schools cope with using it?

So now you know who it is, you just need to go down early for your paper.

Bonus points if you read it where it’s delivered and wait for her to come down to swipe it...“oh hi Gladys, just reading a great article here” or the next time you see her ‘Gladys, I was thinking about you the other day while reading my Sunday paper, there was an article about loo flooding, and I remembered that awful time you had with yours”

@freecuthbert that's nuts!

I think I'm not explaining it very well. The act of boobytrapping shows you have intent to cause harm or nuisance, how would you explain to a jury you were sticking an abundance of glitter into your own newspaper for yourself? Newspapers you knew were being stolen by the way. Of course, whether CPS would pursue it or it actually goes to court is a whole other matter

If using glitter in arts and crafts in school, it's clearly not a boobytrap and no intent to cause harm. But do they still use glitter at school? Was wondering from an environmental standpoint.

I've seen this talked about extensively on r/legaladviceuk, I promise I'm not actually a legal expert in glitter boobytraps

All its doing is mame me want to create glitterbombs tbh

But at least I can tell my friend to stop putting celebration confetti in every card she sends me

*make

Just report it to the police. Seeing as though the block has cctv they might actually follow up with an investigation.
She won't stop stealing just because you ask nicely.

Report it to the police, it’s theft. They can probably override any data protection rules the security have and could just have a word with her.

Although I don’t understand why security can’t just hold on to it for you.

Do people honestly think the police are going to do fuck all about a newspaper theft, when they wouldn't do anything for a house buglary?

@youshallnotpass9

Do people honestly think the police are going to do fuck all about a newspaper theft, when they wouldn't do anything for a house buglary?

Mansion block.

@Tavannach

You have misunderstood me, I am saying the police don't do anything for house burglaries nothing to do with where the OP lives

@youshallnotpass9

I think it’s a bit weird that the OP’s service charges will include security who know who it is but won’t take any action. Going to the police and letting security know that the police have been contacted might help them to focus.
The police can be a bit random I find. They’ve attended a neighbour having problems with anti-social behaviour three times in the past month, but more serious problems seem to be ignored.

@BlackAmericanoNoSugar

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.

Glitter bombs are not illegal, FFS!

The suggestion of letting her know you are filing a police report and want to know if she has had anything stolen is excellent.

I would put money on the problem stopping after that.

Is security also meant to be a concierge type roll? If so, perhaps how they undertake their duties needs reviewing if they don’t want to be forthcoming with help...

Just a word about newspaper subscriptions - even if the neighbour did have a paper delivered, it wouldn't necessarily come from the same company that the OP uses. And I agree with pps that trying to involve police is very unlikely to work! Most likely the woman will stop now she's been seen, she'd be very silly to do it again.

Im in favour of the direct approach because she does not KNOW that you havnt seen the security footage. Visit her with big male mates in tow and frighten the sh**s out of her. Threaten her with police and courts and bailiffs.

My NDN signed for a courier parcel and kept it. She made no attempt to notify me it was there or bring it round. I only found out when I got the tracking, traced the overdue package and spoke with courier. Went to her door with big relative in tow and told her Id come for my parcel "which was misdelivered here almost 2 weeks ago. I know its here because I just spoke to the courier.He described your house and your son who signed for it. Im not leaving without it."

First she tries to deny all knowledge of parcel. I advise her to recheck with family members as the courier is willing to make a statement and I will be calling the police to investigate. Returns with unwrapped parcel and some rubbish about it being a "misunderstanding". "I didnt know it was for you" (parcel has my company name on it). "Well you bloody well know it wasnt for YOU!" Relative gets out phone to call police. Both relative and I then start in on her and she dissolves into tears.

I tell her I will let it pass "on this occasion" but that I am going to inform every postie and every courier firm of her dishonesty and make sure every one on the block knows as well."

I kept my word and warned the other neighbours. Every time Im expecting a package I put a notice on my door. "Please bang loudly. Do not leave at no X - not honest".

@Flowers500

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?

I would definitely do this. Once would cure her.