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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think my neighbour stole my laptop?

568 replies

StarWa · 15/01/2022 19:35

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.

OP posts:
custardbear · 16/01/2022 07:00

Anyone else have a key? Could a family member have borrowed it whist you were away?

isthismylifenow · 16/01/2022 07:10

If I was going away, I would have packed my laptop away, not just leave it laying on a table in plain sight.

Did you leave in a hurry?

ApolloandDaphne · 16/01/2022 07:10

I suspect OP has found it and is too mortified to come back and let us know.

TurkeyRoastvBubbleandSqueek · 16/01/2022 07:42

Please update us OP, even if you are embarrassed. We don't know you, and you can always name change afterwards - but you needn't be embarrassed as there are probably a lot of us on here who know that we could easily do the same thing!

MrsLargeEmbodied · 16/01/2022 08:33
stuntbubbles · 16/01/2022 08:35

I think OP is reading this thread on her laptop…

Clawdy · 16/01/2022 08:49

stuntbubbles Grin

Emerald5hamrock · 16/01/2022 08:52

Oh I wouldn't have asked until I searched high and low.
Burglaries avoid traceable electronics plus there will be some other things missing.

PhilCornwall1 · 16/01/2022 08:56

@ApolloandDaphne

I suspect OP has found it and is too mortified to come back and let us know.
Or the neighbour has nipped in a nicked the OPs phone.
BertramLacey · 16/01/2022 09:02

My money is on either the OP having hidden it and forgotten or the neighbour asking a 3rd party to feed the cat and that person being a bit dishonest and opportunist. People are weird.

And yes, if you were in a hurry, you might just lift a laptop and then get out of there. Easiest thing to pick up and move - you don't really want to stagger down the street with a 50" flat screen telly. Worth enough money to make it worth doing.

Bitzandbobsbitzandbobs · 16/01/2022 09:03

The neighbour themselves didn't steal it. They wont have needed it, everyone has a laptop, and it would be obvious it was them.

Scenario 1 : Neighbour has kids who have taken keys and sneaked in with mates for a snoop , and one of them has swiped it.

Scenario 2 : Neighbour hasn't locked up properly and a chancing thief has taken it. Maybe another neighbour noticing the routine or overhearing the arrangement somehow?

Scenario 3 : OP , or member of OP's family noticed laptop was left out, and hid it away somewhere and hasn't remembered where.

I can't imagine ever going on holiday and leaving a laptop out on display in the house, even if no-one is coming to feed pets etc..Doesn't everyone just hide this kind of thing away in case of burglars? We even shut devices away every night!

stuntbubbles · 16/01/2022 09:19

Scenario 4: it was the CATS. “Think you can go on holiday and send a stranger into our midst, do you? Well we’ve got miaows for you.”

wildthingsinthenight · 16/01/2022 09:21

What happened OP??

DoctorManhattan · 16/01/2022 09:22

OP just realised she arrived back at the wrong house

UnsuitableHat · 16/01/2022 09:34

I'm going with the third party scenario, or OP's neighbour leaving the key where someone nefarious could sneakily get hold of it.

NYnewstart · 16/01/2022 09:38

Hope the op is busy looking where she could have hidden it.

spacecadets · 16/01/2022 09:39

Op has definitely found it where she had hidden it away and feels a bit silly for a making a fuss Blush

Tooshytoshine · 16/01/2022 09:42

Oh dear... The neighbour must be thinking no good deed goes unpunished.

If they were grasping opportunists they would have taken the £10 per day.

I hope you have found it in your house, otherwise you have been burgled and it is horrible to think your house is less secure than you hoped.

ithoughtisawapuddycat · 16/01/2022 09:48

Pretty sure the OP has found it.

beinglikedisoverrated · 16/01/2022 09:48

Any updates?

Scrabblecrabapple · 16/01/2022 09:49

I suspect OP has found it and is too mortified to come back and let us know

People were posting and expecting replies all night long. Op is likely sleeping if she is in the uk.

KatherineJaneway · 16/01/2022 09:52

It could be the same with me and my glasses on occasion. You look for them but are wearing them.

I suspect OP realised she's posted this thread from her laptop.

vivainsomnia · 16/01/2022 09:54

Her teenage kid found the key, went in, call his friends over, friend stole laptop. Mum has no idea what happened.

PhilCornwall1 · 16/01/2022 10:00

@beinglikedisoverrated

Any updates?
Windows updates for the laptop?

That's just a cruel thing to ask!!!

dizzydizzydizzy · 16/01/2022 10:01

Any news, OP?

I had a similar thing with one of my neighbours, except it was the other way round and I was the one under suspicion. The neighbour gave me a lift and lost her purse. She said the purse was on her dashboard. Obviously I didn't even touch her purse but she's not even talked to me since. She used to give me lifts all the time.