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).

Any wait to hear how it goes!

So…are the OP and DH now in the laundry basket in the new neighbours basement..or have they been invited in to share the bubbly?

This reminds me of a time when I came home from work & there was a new salt & pepper set on the dining table. I commented about it & DH said where did I order it from- I didn't order it.

Readers on checking the packaging it was addressed to our Neighbour 😂 we did give it to them

Your husband has excellent taste. Congrats

OK!!

I forgot to post about how it went.

So husband and I tried to sneak down our street with this bloody washing basket. We got caught by our neighbour who is coming for dinner tomorrow and stopped for a quick chat. She found it all very hilarious.

Anyway, we made it to the street around the corner but we couldn’t remember which house it was. So there was hushed bickering in the street.

Eventually we figured it out which one it was. We got to the door and their dog spooked us so we left it there with the card and fizz and legged it.

Luckily the card did explain, but now I’m worried they might think it’s weirder we just sort of left a washing basket on their doorstep and ran away.

We didn’t look back so have no idea if they saw us….

I think this is one situation that’ll be giving me awkward giggles for a long long time!

Op you know what would be even funnier if the owner was a MNer and reading where her washing basket went

Eventually we figured it out which one it was. We got to the door and their dog spooked us so we left it there with the card and fizz and legged it.

Well this is all very hilarious, but what do you mean - the dog came ravening at you, Mr Burns "release the hounds" style?
It doesn't seem likely. Were you spooked by the fact that a dog barked at you from behind a front door? Boo!

Mainly, I'm carping 'cos I wanted a more satisfying denoument. I never said I was reasonable.

I wonder what the neighbours will think tomorrow morning, if their posh basket survives without being stolen again. Here it is, mysteriously reappearing, brimful of fizz ... what strange alchemy is this?

😂😂😂

Yes! The dog started barking and we weren’t mentally prepared so we just thought we’d leave it and peg it! 😂
I do wish we would have knocked.
Maybe they’ll start putting it out every night in the hope it’s some sort of fizz magic!

@mam0918
I'm sorry but people DO NOT leave stuff outside their house for you to take... well not in the UK anyway

S London must have become an independent republic, then. Because in 4 different postcodes I have lived in, in normal residential roads, it has been the absolute norm.

Only useable stuff. Small items of furniture, household goods, toys.

But scrap metal goes very fast.

When I had a sofa and a fridge I put them behind my wall so as not to block the pavement with a notice saying ‘please help yourself’, but if stuff is on the pavement it is assumed it is there to be given away.

Hey, and lots of streets have a little covered shelf where people leave and take books.

It’s a nice approach to community. And anti-waste.

If something is there more than a day you dispose of it. It’s not fly tipping.

I left a really good juicer outside my house with a note saying ‘it works’. It was gone in minutes.

I did the same with a bread maker too, many years ago.

If you put a note on your car saying ‘it works’, someone might take that too.

The barking dog scared you? 🙄

I can't imagine assuming that the stuff was free to take. I'm cringing.
It definitely has to be returned.

@Lovageandrose yes, because cars just sitting around in the street are obviously just there for people to take!

People absolutely leave stuff outside for others to take, my neighbour has an office chair out front as we speak if anyone needs one .

This is the oddest thing, a neighbour is moving house, your husband goes and takes their washing basket and then when you go to return it you’re both so scared by rhe sound of a dog barking you run away? Because dog barks are something you both need to mentally prepare for?

@mam0918

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).

They absolutely do.

I don't buy it. So there was no 'sold' sign still up, and no removal van of any sort in sight. No people milling around. And we're in the dead of winter and people are leaving their stuff lying about.

@NickD87 - this thread has made me giggle! Thanks for sharing🙂

Ha! A rod for your own back, you OWE these new neighbours now ...

@DreamingOfAGreenChristmas To be fair it may well be regional. I’ve lived in four different counties and have never come across this; although it does seem to be fair game elsewhere!

My current council would fine you immediately if you left anything outside 😅

Fine you for leaving something outside on your own property 🤣

Well I live in London and it definitely happens here too - so no need to turn it into another Southerner-bashing session.

The sold sign was already gone when I moved into mine, and perhaps the van was away on a second run? Or the move was finished

I wasn't bashing Southerns in general, just the particular poster I was responding to. So no need to get all triggered.