Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think this neighour should not have taken kid's ball

277 replies

junipertree2 · 03/05/2021 08:58

My sons were playing with a brand new football in our very small back garden yesterday when it bounced over the wall, down a path (our street is on a slope and we are the higher side) and came to rest on the opposite side of the street behind the back wheel of a neighbour's car. (The houses have no fences or gates.) Within about thirty seconds, he had raced out of his house and taken the ball.

Needless to say, my son who had just paid £17 for this ball was very upset and annoyed. AIBU to think that this man had no right to do this? He is a middle aged man who doesn't like children playing in front of his house, hates footballs and shouts a lot at boys in the street. But I am on my own and money is very tight.

OP posts:
SpringtimeSummertime · 03/05/2021 10:29

@waitingforthenextseason

I'd be calling the police if he didn't promptly return the ball when asked.
🤣 I’m going to guess that is a joke but you can never tell on MN!!
LittleOwl153 · 03/05/2021 10:30

Ask for it back, if he doesn't return it tell him.you will report to the police as stolen as you saw him take it.

FortunesFave · 03/05/2021 10:43

SpringtimeSummertime

Oh I'd do the same! If some dick stole my child's ball I would just report them for theft. Absolutely I would. I certainly would not risk my own safety knocking on the door...and I'd give the bully a lesson. You can't just steal kids' toys!

When is it something that's serious enough to call the police? A doll? A scooter? A bike? This child has paid for the ball himself!

OldEvilOwl · 03/05/2021 10:46

Did you get it back or just let him keep it?

SpringtimeSummertime · 03/05/2021 10:49

FortunesFave

I don’t know where the police have time to deal with the theft of footballs but it’s not here.
My neighbour had her house emptied in a burglary and tracked electrical items to a house not far from here.
She had clear cctv of their faces.
The police did nothing.

Imnothereforthedrama · 03/05/2021 10:51

If it was the first time this had gone over the fence then yanbu but I’ve had this myself NDn kid ball constantly bouncing over fence on drive way hitting cars so yes I’ve confiscated a ball until asked for it back . Go and ask for it back they may just be fed up of balls going in their garden .

Imnothereforthedrama · 03/05/2021 10:52

@LittleOwl153

Ask for it back, if he doesn't return it tell him.you will report to the police as stolen as you saw him take it.
I’m sorry theft of a football yes crime of the century .
slashlover · 03/05/2021 10:56

@FortunesFave

SpringtimeSummertime

Oh I'd do the same! If some dick stole my child's ball I would just report them for theft. Absolutely I would. I certainly would not risk my own safety knocking on the door...and I'd give the bully a lesson. You can't just steal kids' toys!

When is it something that's serious enough to call the police? A doll? A scooter? A bike? This child has paid for the ball himself!

Wonder if he could report possible damage to his car or how dangerous the ball rolling across a road is.
Carolduckingbaskin · 03/05/2021 10:59

@FortunesFave

SpringtimeSummertime

Oh I'd do the same! If some dick stole my child's ball I would just report them for theft. Absolutely I would. I certainly would not risk my own safety knocking on the door...and I'd give the bully a lesson. You can't just steal kids' toys!

When is it something that's serious enough to call the police? A doll? A scooter? A bike? This child has paid for the ball himself!

Bloody hell and we wonder why the police are stretched. Rather than knock on the door and ask for it back - you’d call the police? Seriously?
thinkIamdone · 03/05/2021 10:59

Ask for it back and if he refuses say you have it on CCTV that he's taken it. If he refuses report it to the police. Its still theft.

TheLastLotus · 03/05/2021 11:00

If he'd moved that fast he'd probably heard the ball. Meaning it hit something
OP didnt even talk to him lmao

SpringtimeSummertime · 03/05/2021 11:01

Wonder if he could report possible damage to his car or how dangerous the ball rolling across a road is.

If, in the extremely unlikely event any resemblance of a police officer knocks on his door enquiring about the stolen football, I’m sure he would tell them why he took it! 🤣

Carolduckingbaskin · 03/05/2021 11:03

I feel for call handlers - can you imagine the conversation “so have you asked for the ball back” ...

SpringtimeSummertime · 03/05/2021 11:03

Carolduckingbaskin

Your post makes it look like I think calling the police is a good idea.

For the record, I think it is a batshit idea. Totally ridiculous!

Nith · 03/05/2021 11:04

Wonder if he could report possible damage to his car or how dangerous the ball rolling across a road is.

By the time it's bounced over the fence, down a path and across the road it will have lost most of its momentum. The chances of it causing damage are pretty minimal. As for reporting on a dangerous ball in the road, I suspect you'd be in danger of getting done for wasting police time.

Carolduckingbaskin · 03/05/2021 11:05

@SpringtimeSummertime sorry quoted the wrong post really.

Funnyface1 · 03/05/2021 11:07

And of course the op disappears.

Original poster
junipertree2 · 03/05/2021 11:08

I did not ask for it back as he is unpleasant to children (not just mine) and I don't want to be yelled at or abused, thanks.

A very sad day when two kids can't play with a ball in their own garden without having it taken by a grouch.

When I was a child, the street was full of children playing - rounders, football, cribby. and coincidentally, half of all children weren't overweight, obese, or hooked on video games. But that's a price worth paying for a quiet street, eh.

OP posts:
slashlover · 03/05/2021 11:09

@Nith

Wonder if he could report possible damage to his car or how dangerous the ball rolling across a road is.

By the time it's bounced over the fence, down a path and across the road it will have lost most of its momentum. The chances of it causing damage are pretty minimal. As for reporting on a dangerous ball in the road, I suspect you'd be in danger of getting done for wasting police time.

So similar to calling about a neighbour taking a ball when you haven't even asked for it back because it's a "risk my own safety" to knock on a door?
SpringtimeSummertime · 03/05/2021 11:09

@Funnyface1

And of course the op disappears.
Gone to ask for the ball back? Is being interviewed by the serious crime squad? Gone to buy a new ball?
slashlover · 03/05/2021 11:12

A very sad day when two kids can't play with a ball in their own garden without having it taken by a grouch.

When I was a child, the street was full of children playing - rounders, football, cribby. and coincidentally, half of all children weren't overweight, obese, or hooked on video games. But that's a price worth paying for a quiet street, eh.

They can plain in their garden as long as they keep the ball in their own garden.

We used to play on the street and used to get shouted at if anything went near someone's car/window/property. Even then, we used the silly, light balls and not a proper football.

Tabasco007 · 03/05/2021 11:12

It doesn't make any sense not to ask for it back OP, I doubt he will say no, and he might have even taken in on so no one else took it. And if he doesn't give it back, then he is just a total c@&! and I'd just buy a new ball. Good luck.

BilboBercow · 03/05/2021 11:13

It's theft op, he can't do that. I remember a neighbour took my brother's ball in similar circumstances and refused to give it back. My mum knocked the door and neighbour claimed she had burst it, so my bolshy mum called the police :D.
Of course she hadn't actually burst it and police retrieved the ball and had a stern word with neighbour.

Imnothereforthedrama · 03/05/2021 11:13

@junipertree2

I did not ask for it back as he is unpleasant to children (not just mine) and I don't want to be yelled at or abused, thanks.

A very sad day when two kids can't play with a ball in their own garden without having it taken by a grouch.

When I was a child, the street was full of children playing - rounders, football, cribby. and coincidentally, half of all children weren't overweight, obese, or hooked on video games. But that's a price worth paying for a quiet street, eh.

Just make sure it doesn’t go in other peoples gardens problem solved Go and ask for it back and apologise . Drama over !!!
TomorrowsPrincess · 03/05/2021 11:14

@junipertree2
With all the best will in the world, your a bloody adult. Go knock on the door and politely ask for your child's ball back! It's not difficult! Who cares if this man is unpleasant to children. Don't let him be unpleasant to yours and show your son that nasty people don't get their own way! 🙄🙄🙄