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.

Ah, yes - good call to claim off insurance- in which case yes you’ll need a crime reference number

@ButtonMoonLoon

Ah, yes - good call to claim off insurance- in which case yes you’ll need a crime reference number

Yes do this!!

Thread has been going since Saturday and you've not found it. I'm shocked you've not reported it to someone. Insurance or the police. It can't be that important otherwise?

How are you not more upset? I'd be going nuts without my laptop. I'm with HelloFrostyMorning at this point.

I keep on checking back to this thread to see what your ndn had to say for herself. This also does put me in mind of the recent matrix glitch thread.

Text her that you're having trouble downloading your security camera footage but once you do, you're sure you'll have your memory jogged about where you left it.

If she or her friend took it, then she'll shit herself.

I'm following with interest!!
Incase this helps, our neighbours were burgled a couple of months ago and the only items taken were their two laptops. They broke in through a sash window in the front room that wasn't locked properly, took the laptops from the two bedrooms and left.
They are very wealthy Italians and had a lot of designer clothes and watches out clearly visible but these weren't touched.

Lurking with interest.

So much good advice on here already. You need to tell her that you are reporting to the police to get a crime number and then claim insurance and they may want to ask her questions

All totally normal things to do if something has gone missing.

I would be totally freaked out if I had lost my laptop

@grapewine

How are you not more upset? I'd be going nuts without my laptop. I'm with HelloFrostyMorning at this point.

Me too, you’re so chilled about this OP 😂 If you ever want some sort of closure on this you’re going to have to move quick and report it as a crime so you can get your insurance number to claim before it’s null and void in your t&cs (I’m sure you have to report within a certain time) I’m assuming the laptop isn’t worth much though or you’d have done this already regardless of the situation.

Also I have people getting away with things do if your NDN or a light fingered friend of hers did take it it will at the least shit them up s but that you’ve reported to the police, at the most you may find out what happened/get it back.

I hate* I hate peoples getting away with things. Not have. I hate unfairness.

Maybe OP doesn't actually use her laptop that much (if you're not totally wedded to technology, you possibly would be quite chilled about it being missing), or she's in denial that it's not going to turn up?

If OP knows her neighbour reasonably well and they are 'upstanding citizens' (which you'd expect of a teacher and a DP working in a bank), it would seem surprising that they'd risk their livelihoods by stealing the laptop (which may only be worth a couple of hundred pounds depending on make, model and age), don't you think? I'm sure a criminal record for theft would be a sackable offence for both?

Maybe the neighbour outsourced cat-feeding to someone for a day or two who has borrowed it, or left the house unlocked (so it has been pinched by someone opportunistic)? That seems more likely?
And would the NDN necessarily know if that had happened?

@NewModelArmyMayhem18

Maybe OP doesn't actually use her laptop that much (if you're not totally wedded to technology, you possibly would be quite chilled about it being missing), or she's in denial that it's not going to turn up?

If OP knows her neighbour reasonably well and they are 'upstanding citizens' (which you'd expect of a teacher and a DP working in a bank), it would seem surprising that they'd risk their livelihoods by stealing the laptop (which may only be worth a couple of hundred pounds depending on make, model and age), don't you think? I'm sure a criminal record for theft would be a sackable offence for both?

Maybe the neighbour outsourced cat-feeding to someone for a day or two who has borrowed it, or left the house unlocked (so it has been pinched by someone opportunistic)? That seems more likely?
And would the NDN necessarily know if that had happened?

I’m not really bound to technology either but I’d still be pretty pissed off if something of mine was potentially stolen, the fact OP posted about it means she does care in some respect.

Anyway I agree NDN probably let someone else in and they may have taken it but that’s still a crime and NDN is still indirectly responsible … and without getting the police involved OP may never know.

Maybe I’m just a dick of a person but I’d just want NDN to know I’m taking it further, if she’s innocent she won’t have to worry but it’s too much of a coincidence that it’s gone when she had responsibility for OP’s house. Occam’s razor and all.

@ButtonMoonLoon

I’d let her know that you’re reporting it to the police because you’re worried someone may have broken in. So you’re giving her the heads up in case they contact her to ask if she saw anyone lurking around or anything. If she’s got anything to confess that should prompt her to do so

I would do this too.

Your laptop is missing. Regardless or whether it was neighbour or not you need to report

It is definitely true that thieves will take laptops, other new tech and nothing else, even valuable stuff. They're mostly addicts who 'need' something they can sell fast, for a reliable sum, to buy their next fix. They're not antique or luxury goods dealers.

Could anyone else have a key, or have borrowed or been lent one?

I cannot believe something has been stolen from you and days later you still haven't spoken to the person who was in your house. It could actually jeopardise your insurance claim that you have left it so long. There could be other things missing from your house that you just haven't noticed yet . Why on earth haven't you spoken to her? Sounds like she's leading you a right merry dance, all this bullshit about calling round then not turning up or calling you. She's taking the piss out of you and your letting her. Any decent person would be calling round to you immediately when they found out something had gone missing whilst they had been housesitting. Knock in her door and find out what the hell has been going on in your house while you've been away. Who knows who she has had in there.

Well, the neighbour, who has probably never seen the laptop, would feel no sense of urgency about meeting the OP.

The onus is all on OP to act.

So OP
I think you need to report this to the police as stolen and just be factual about who had a key and that there's no sign of a break in.

The police may choose to talk to NDN or may decide not to as without further evidence they'll probably not investigate. Ironic really as they expect you to provide evidence to them which you won't be able to access! You could ask other ndns if they have cctv that might have captured people walking to your house over the period you were away.

Either way, police report has to be done as your laptop has been stolen.

Then you can claim on house insurance. It may be they won't pay out as someone else had the key but you'll have a crime number at least.

I suspect There's a reason Ndn has not come round. A normal response would be to be worried and come straight round. To help you look and to say what she saw and when, and say when she went into your house. An innocent person would be all over this so sue makes it seem She's hiding something. You gave her a chance but she hasn't taken you up on it.
Was anything else stolen. Check your bank accounts cheque books and valuables

I'm afraid you'll need to change your locks & never give this NDN a key again. All joking aside I suspect she gave your key to someone else.

Tbh I'd find some way to let her know that you've reported it or will be reporting it stolen

"Dear ndn, can you pop round tonight. I need to ask you whether someone else had or could have had access to my house key? Did you see anyone else near or enter my house whilst we were away? There's no sign of break in. As my laptop has been stolen I have to report it to police. I'm going to ask also on local Fb if anyone saw anything, as it's worrying to have been burgled whilst we were away."

If that doesn't get her round, then she's not the friend you thought she was.

@lottiegarbanzo

It is definitely true that thieves will take laptops, other new tech and nothing else, even valuable stuff. They're mostly addicts who 'need' something they can sell fast, for a reliable sum, to buy their next fix. They're not antique or luxury goods dealers.

Could anyone else have a key, or have borrowed or been lent one?

We're in West London, and thieves target homes for gold as we've a large Asian population.

They head straight up for the bedroom drawers

There must be a reliable, quick market for gold there. That's the determining feature of what they'll take.

As an innocent NDN I would feel no motivation to rush around and 'deal with' this. There'd be nothing for me to deal with.

Has OP even been round with her thank you gift yet? I'd think OP was being a bit of an ungrateful CF if not!

@ButtonMoonLoon

I’d let her know that you’re reporting it to the police because you’re worried someone may have broken in. So you’re giving her the heads up in case they contact her to ask if she saw anyone lurking around or anything. If she’s got anything to confess that should prompt her to do so

I advocated this on PAGE ONE but the OP seems more concerned about upsetting her neighbour than the fact she believes she’s been robbed 🤷‍♀️

OP's already upset her neighbour, by failing to thank her properly - for three whole weeks of free pet care!!! Then 'accusing' her (by implication) of taking her laptop.

I'd be a pretty pissed off neighbour by now.

I'd be a pretty pissed off neighbour by now

Maybe that’s why she stole her laptop!

I also think it's quite possible that NDN 'sub-contracted' some cat care to someone else, who turned out not to be so trustworthy. NDN won't know what's happened though.

The 'accusing me of stealing' line is odd, as a first response. It makes me wonder if there's a history of OP being scatty and unreliable.

Maybe that’s why she stole her laptop!

What, after OP got home and pissed her off by not thanking her, just 'accusing' her instead?

That's quite the plot device! Do please explain the timeline

Interesting isn't it, that OP's behaviour, as self-reported on here, is of being rather spacey and disorganised.

That and the NDN's response does make wonder whether there's a history and a habit of behaviour here, on OP's part.