To think my neighbour stole my laptop?

[StarWa]

This is going to sound a bit ridiculous, but I promise it's true, unless I've lost my mind.

I went away for three weeks. During this time I asked my NDN to look after my cat - I left all the food, litter, poo bags etc.

I offered them £10 per day to do this, however, they refused and said I could repay the favour one day. We are quite friendly, she's a teacher and he works for a bank - both late thirties. Not that it matters, just so I'm not dripfeeding.

I take in a lot of Amazon deliveries for them and they would do the same for me.

I got home today and my laptop is gone - I always keep it in the same place on my desk. It was 100% there before I left. Thinking they might have moved it for whatever reason (fine) I text her to ask.

She told me I better not be accusing her of stealing it because she would never do that. I said I wasn't saying that at all, just a bit perplexed as I didn't take it with me.

Now she hasn't replied, but she's read my message.

[Enough4me]

Change locks, get cameras and seriously consider if anything else has been taken...it's that or you need your memory checked as may have issues.

[StrangerThanSpring]

I'm not a drama llama but yes I would change the locks. I knew someone who lost her house key and the neighbor picked it up and used to let herself in while they were at work and steal small things. It was all very bizarre, but I don't think your neighbor is trustworthy. Either that or get a door cam.

[MsAgnesDiPesto]

I don’t understand why you’re not more concerned that someone has been into your home and stolen your property, and you still don’t know if it was your neighbour or a stranger. I would have changed the locks right away and reported it to the police as a theft, and be worrying about what else had gone and what might happen next.

Have you checked very carefully to see that nothing else has been stolen? Personal documents, passport, birth certificate - the sorts of things people could profit from?

Your (lack of) reaction seems odd to me.

[Ficti]

I think you DEFINITELY need to change the locks. Even if your neighbour didn't take the laptop, then it's highly likely she knows who did, and that person is a thief who could have had a copy of your key made.
Don't trust your neighbour again.

[insatiableme]

Could a window of been left open for the cat? Quite possible if you were away for that long someone clicked on, and stole it!

[Enough4me]

Assuming it's not her, does anyone not like you at the moment, big falling out with another neighbour?

[Freecuthbert]

Yeah of course the police aren't going to be bothered, but that's besides the point, as you should be given a crime number which you can use when making a claim on your insurance if you go down that route.

[lottiegarbanzo]

She was right about the police not being bothered. Especially with no break-in. But even with. They know they're not going to find something like that.

I think you need to read the 'Glitch in the Matrix' thread OP!

[StarWa]

@Raindancer411

In future ask someone else to look after your place and take the key back, just in case. It seems strange to have most disappeared...

Out of interest, how does she know the state of it? Just from general chat?

I'm not sure. I must have mentioned at some point that I wanted to buy a new one.

[Nikkic2123]

Oh sorry. I must have missed that comment x

[StarWa]

@Runningincircles

Have you changed the locks? It would be so easy for someone to make a copy of the key before returning it to you.

I haven't changed the locks.. do you think I need to go that far? 😭

[Raindancer411]

In future ask someone else to look after your place and take the key back, just in case. It seems strange to have most disappeared...

Out of interest, how does she know the state of it? Just from general chat?

[KloppsTeeth]

I bet if you go away again and she did take it and later found out it was rubbish, it will mysteriously appear when you’re away for you to find when your come back.

[Staffy1]

Also, ask a friend or a more trustworthy person to feed the cat, or put it in a cattery, you get some very nice ones these days.

[Staffy1]

If you go away again it would be a good idea to get some internal surveillance equipment.

[Justheretoaskaquestion91]

Even if you are going to buy a new one, don’t you want to get to the bottom of this?! I don’t really see another option than your neighbour taking it, in which case don’t you want to know for sure?

[Runningincircles]

Have you changed the locks? It would be so easy for someone to make a copy of the key before returning it to you.

[StarWa]

@CustardySergeant

Has your laptop got anything sensitive on it like saved passwords?

Yes, I've changed all my passwords now though.

[StarWa]

She can be quite blunt and just say things how she sees them. It wasn't really a "gotcha!" moment if that makes sense? It's something I'd expect her to say.

[CustardySergeant]

Has your laptop got anything sensitive on it like saved passwords?

[BlaBlaSmthSmth]

I also think it sounds weird that she told you not to contact the police. But you're in more of a position to judge whether it sounded dodgy than me.. It's not something I can imagine saying to someone who's laptop has been stolen though!

[VexedofVirginiaWater]

@Nikkic2123

Did you track it?

The OP said she'd tried locate your laptop and it didn't work.

[MoveOnTheCards]

She told you not to contact the police?

She knows something about what happened to it.

[IntermittentParps]

I told her I was going to call the police and she told me not to because it would be a waste of time and the laptop wasn't that great anyway.

She's either stolen it or, at best, she's a bit of a weirdo who I would not trust again with my keys/pets.

[Nikkic2123]

Did you track it?