To feel too embarrassed to give back something we accidentally stole…

[NickD87]

You know how people leave things outside their houses sometimes for people to take?

Today, my husband came home with a Lloyd Looms washing basket. It’s quite nice and we need a new one. I asked him where he had got it and he said there was a house with lots of good things outside it. He brought this but said there were a few other bits we might want to look at.

I went back out and round the corner to this house, to realise that people were actually moving in to the property and the stuff was their ACTUAL stuff.

I find this hilarious and embarrassing in equal measure.

How do I go about returning this item without being weird? Or do I even? Should this be a lesson in leaving things in the street? (Jokes obvs, I should definitely return it).

It’s very common for people to leave things outside here.

Most people would spot a ruddy great removal van though, and put 2 and 2 together.

I hope you are merciless in taking the piss out of your DH.

Only problem with leaving it after dark is the weather. It's pretty windy where I am, the linen basket might well end up down the street.
Knock and explain. Either they'll laugh or they'll be a bit cross, but at least if it's the later you find out early!

That's so funny OP. I had a good chuckle then.

My kids have all shop lifted as tots/babies. Each one of them, once.

I always realised once outside the shop and went straight back in and they found it funny. I was mortified on each occasion.

If you take back and explain as many others have said. I can't see why they would not find it funny.

Best return in person. If you sneak it back , someone else may have the same great idea as your husband....

Did another woman take your husband because you left him outside?

I'd just put it in their garden and let them think they forgot to bring it in

Nah I tried but he’s got a key unfortunately, now he is cooking dinner, the twat.

This is hilarious

We left our old oven outside and the scrap metal men stopped traffic to get out and take it 😄

What a ridiculous reach

I'm sorry but people DO NOT leave stuff outside their house for you to take... well not in the UK anyway (although if your American I heard it may be different in some areas).

In the UK its litrally illegal to dump unwanted stuff off your property (flytipping) and if you leave something in your yard/garden/drive of COURSE people shouldn't be taking it thats just straight up theft unless the owner has specifically offered it to you.

I mean how could he not tell there where moving vans and people coming and going?

I honestly couldn't imagin just seeing something I like and helping myself to someone elses belongings and convincing myself its just free to take.

Also I have a basket like that in my yard, I use to to gather and compost leaves, just because its outside doesnt mean I don't want/use it.

Christ, there’s always one.

They do but they put a sign up saying ‘Free to take’ or similar. We left our oven outside on our own property for someone to take. I doubt anyone wants your scabby compost basket 🤣🤣🤣

Do I not live in the UK then? Well blow me down, 30 years and I haven’t been living in the UK this whole time.

Yes people do, maybe not where you live but where I and many others on this thread live they do. It’s not fly tipping ffs. I do wonder what planet some people are on sometimes.

Can't we have an update please

@mam0918 I live in the U.K. and this is very much a thing in nearly every home I've lived in. Maybe different for different areas but I've always known it.

In my area (midlands) it’s actually really common. Very rare to see a sign too.

Confidently incorrect.

I picked something up outside someone's house today - although it had a sign saying "FREE" on it and there was no moving van around.

We do around here 🤔

Someone up the lane left out some shelving which is now in my garage. I had loads of wood which disappeared, as well as a chicken coop.

My apples always end up out there in the autumn and kids toys - sit on cars and swing sets regularly appear and disappear very quickly!

Don't sneak around in the dark to do it, what if they have a ring camera and you'll forever be known as the thief who returned their stolen washing basket?

How on earth does this happen? In my experience it's very obvious when someone is moving into a property, there are people around, lots of boxes, sometimes the door is open, a removal van or another vehicle outside with a load of stuff in.

I’m going for the first option!!!

Oh ladies! I’ve just come back to check this and some of these responses are making me crack up! Let me catch up!

The trolley one in Aldi is the best 😂😂

Now it’s been sat in the hallway, I am becoming attached. Might be worth moving with it!!