To be ashamed?

[ILoveAndrew]

I booked and paid for my grandparents to visit a beloved hotel of mine. It's a small place (around 8 bedrooms) run by a couple and this was their first time visiting.

For breakfast, you can choose a continental in the room or to dine in the dining room. My grandparents chose the continental in the room, which is delivered on a tray and includes a selection of juices in small individual glass bottles. My grandmother told me today that she had brought two of the bottles home as she liked them. I stay at this hotel a lot and the fact she stole something that isn't there to be taken makes me pissed off TBH. She wouldn't steal a plate or a cup, but she thought these bottles were fair game.

AIBU?

Seriously?

I'd be mortified. I know someone like this. They think everything is fair game if they've paid for a meal, the room, etc. It's thievery, plain and simple.

Yes

Wouldn't bother me tbh. It's a glass bottle.

Call 101.

It's just awful. I wouldn't mind but she could've bought them on eBay for a couple of quid.

What's the difference between taking a glass bottle or the bedside lamp? If it doesn't belong to you it's stealing, end of.

Could she have assumed the juice was packaged in the bottles, like some of those you buy in supermarkets.

Were the bottles obviously reusable or might she have thought they were single use and would have just gone into the recycling?

You didnt commit the crime (which in tbe grand scheme of things is minor and quite common, although wrong) and you're not directly affected by it, so I think I'd try to let it go...

She didn't. She thought it was hilarious she had taken them so she knew it was wrong.

Is it possible, OP, that your grandmother simply didn't realise that the bottles weren't there for the taking? I have guests who steal stuff all the time, but I'd give her the benefit of the doubt if she doesn't have previous form as a criminal.

Police, now!

Can you call them, blame ‘confusion’ and offer to pay?

Some people struggle with the idea that some things belong to other people.

Phone them, explain, say u will pay for the replacements and apologise profusely. They won't hold it against u cos it wasn't u, and U can go back with ur head up

Sorry, OP - you must have been posting at the same time as me. I'd let it go, really. I have had guests who have kindly decanted an entire bottle of L'occitane bath foam and replaced it with goodness knows what. I've also had guests who have taken four bath sheets. I don't know who they think is going to pay to replace them. Speaking as a person who provides holiday accommodation, a couple of glass bottles would generate a raised eyebrow but are nothing in the grand scheme of things

I'm confused.

Weren't they part of the breakfast? I would assume so, therefore it wouldn't bother me at all.

Don't be ashamed. You didn't nick the bottles.

Hardly your fault your granny is a thieving old git.

Pissed off, really? Wouldn’t you be mildly surprised and then move on with your day?

Some people steal stuff because it's just what they do.

I bet if the plate or whatever level of thing you think they wouldn't nick was nice enough then they probably would because they don't see honesty in the same way as normal non thief type people

PS. It's not that big a deal. You're not responsible for other people's actions.

What kind of glass bottles? Are you talking about something like a Fentimans lemonade bottle?

If you’re certain there’s no mix up - really playing Devil’s advocate here, like if she was laughing about it now to cover embarrassment at not realising they weren’t “packaging” - I would:

• call the hotel, pretend it was a mix up and pay


• tell my grandmother I was unimpressed with her stealing


• not pay for anything like that again

You're being a bit precious here OP

My parents engage in petty thievery and are also high handed and awful to waiting staff and tip at most a shiny pound coin. I have spent the last twenty years feeling mortified whenever I go out with them.