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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:
StoneofDestiny · 30/04/2021 21:33

Thank you @Sylhellais

LookItsMeAgain · 01/05/2021 12:18

Was your weekend paper waiting for you @Thingaling? I hope it was.

Thingaling · 01/05/2021 13:28

TOMORROW BROUGHT A PAPER

went to look at 7.30am and it was there.

HOWEVER last week the theft occurred at about 10am so am now wondering if I should have left it a bit longer....

Sunday is the big test though - have only
received one in my last eight Sundays....

OP posts:
insomniaisaballbag · 01/05/2021 13:55

What's the deal with the coal shed? What does she do with it?

Ariela · 01/05/2021 14:03

What you could do, if you have the time, is check the paper has arrived OK, then go back to your flat and hang about till she goes down for the paper,. Then depending on what the lift/stairs arrangement is you nip out of your flat and go lie in wait outside hers and say 'ah my paper, thank you '

Or if she's used the lift call the lift as soon as she's got out, go down but do not get out of the lift and you can say 'Ah I see you have my paper there, thank you'

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 01/05/2021 14:04

What's the deal with the coal shed? What does she do with it?

Uses it to store the bodies of all of her previous neighbours who've exposed and objected to her life of petty crime....

BrightYellowDaffodil · 01/05/2021 14:26

What's the deal with the coal shed? What does she do with it?

Stores all the stolen newspapers in it?

Thingaling · 01/05/2021 15:05

what’s the deal with the coal shed? What does she do with it?

No idea. My kitchen window looks out onto the coal shed they eventually found for her and I have never ever seen her go anywhere near it. Either she takes my old Sunday Timeses to the coal shed under cover of darkness, or she made a huge fuss just for the hell of it, or there’s a body in there.

OP posts:
insomniaisaballbag · 01/05/2021 15:08

@BrightYellowDaffodil

What's the deal with the coal shed? What does she do with it?

Stores all the stolen newspapers in it?

Grin
3scape · 01/05/2021 15:25

How sturdy is this coal shed? Could you, say, move it a little bit?

Or start putting signs on it?
Maybe add a lock to it?

Noshowlomo · 01/05/2021 15:39

God I can’t wait until tomorrow 🧐😳

Thingaling · 01/05/2021 16:12

@3scape

How sturdy is this coal shed? Could you, say, move it a little bit? Or start putting signs on it? Maybe add a lock to it?
I have been pondering coal shed sabotage.

I can’t move it because it’s part of the building
I could put a sign on it but I am the main (poss only) person who would see it because she never visits it (in daylight at least). She already has a lock on it.... I could put another one on it, however I don’t want to waste good money on a lock that the custodians will be made to saw off (and they will totally blame me).

There is a four inch gap under the door though. Any suggestions for creative suggestions on what to do with that?

OP posts:
MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 01/05/2021 16:14

Paper?🤣

UCOinanOCG · 01/05/2021 16:21

Stuff all your old newspapers under the door.

toffeebutterpopcorn · 01/05/2021 16:46

4 inch gap 🤔

A snake?

Jumpingintosummer · 01/05/2021 16:51

Set off a confetti cannon under the gap GrinGlitterball

Jaxhog · 01/05/2021 22:43

I'd put up a notice that tells people that stealing mail (including newspapers) is against the law. Although I do like the glitter idea.

Thingaling · 02/05/2021 10:28

Well.
I hovered by my front door listening from
about 8.30am...and sure as eggs as eggs at around 10am i heard the perp’s door slam, some footsteps and then the doors to the street opening.

So my DS and I opened our front door and sprinted to the hall in our pyjamas dressing gowns and - there was the paper.

BUT

There is a small round hole in the packaging- consistent maybe with that made by a Calpol syringe. Do we think it’s safe to open????

to challenge my paper-stealing neighbour?
to challenge my paper-stealing neighbour?
OP posts:
toffeebutterpopcorn · 02/05/2021 10:33

So they didn’t take the paper?

SpringtimeSummertime · 02/05/2021 11:01

Why a cal pop syringe? You mean just the size? Has it been injected with something? 🤔😳😅

SpringtimeSummertime · 02/05/2021 11:01

Calpol obv!

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 02/05/2021 11:10

There is a four inch gap under the door though. Any suggestions for creative suggestions on what to do with that?

You need 387 cans of No More Big Gaps. If you can't run to that, do you have a cash and carry near you that sells triple-concentrate custard powder?

LaurieFairyCake · 02/05/2021 11:17

That will just be a hole from the delivery person

The 'plastic' is VERY thin (biodegradable I think)

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 02/05/2021 11:27

Hmmmm - a 4" gap under the door, you say? Well I would consider it worth poking your phone under there and videoing inside, to see what's in there! Or, if you're worried you'd drop your phone, get a flexible endoscope style camera thingy that will plug into a USB so you can see what's what more easily and it's impossible to drop!

It could be stolen goods or drugs or who knows what!

Having 2 addresses AND a coal shed does seem most peculiar!

SpiderinaWingMirror · 02/05/2021 11:33

Well they weren't going to take it were they?after being told by security there was CCTV, no one is that stupid.

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