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).

I’m not “triggered” - I just notice an ongoing tendency on MN towards “Not everyone lives in London, you know” posts.

I’m not “triggered” - I just notice an ongoing tendency on MN towards “Not everyone lives in London, you know” posts.

I never even thought of, far less mentioned, London.

But you did suggest the poster had ‘never been North of the Watford Gap’.

And as far as I'm aware, there are other places below the Watford Gap other than London.

With regards to that particular poster, I wouldn't be surprised if they've never been out of their home town, left alone north of the WG.

I'm not aware of all these posts supposedly critiquing London. Will be keeping an eye out for #NotAllLondersAreLikeThat posts.

OP Thank you for posting it gave me a much needed laugh!

I mean...they do.

You’re welcome! I just thought the calamity might bring some joy.

Not sure why people are getting a bit riled up with each other though!!

All back to normal now, except it really was a lovely washing basket and now I think I might want one!!

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).

Yes they do. Then advertise it on Facebook.

Leaving stuff outside for people to take is pretty common in London.

Left a sofa outside once. That went

I always thought the Watford Gap was a made up place until I saw it.

It's not unreasonable to feel slightly embarrassed, but go round there, give it back and explain. I'm sure they'll laugh about it. You might end up making new friends through this mistake.

I would not leave it in the dead of night in case it gets stolen! Take it back with addition of chocolates or flowers, and apologise and explain.

When I worked at B&Q a chap ran in, grabbed a bath and came to me to pay. He said he was in a hurry then expained he was tiling his bathroom, put the bath in the front garden and was going to refit it and some bugge took it. They obviously thought the customer was throwing it out.

I think that's the right way to have dealt with this.

You'll all be laughing about it later.

Return it. It's an honest mistake. Your street sounds like mine - the kind of street where unwanted items are commonly left outside for other people to make use of - so I'm sure they'll understand, and respect your for bringing it back. Your embarrassment does not trump their inconvenience of not having a laundry bin and, as it's a Lloyd Loom, it may well have sentimental (not to mention monetary) value. Give it back!

Take it back with a bottle of wine .. sure that you’ll be laughing about it

It helpful but I’m roaring can you imagine if it had been full if dirty knickers😂😂😂 wait until it’s pitch black & send the other half back & leave it on the garden path 😂😂😂😂

That is hilarious. An anecdote for both parties in the future.

Not sure I believe this story anyway

That's where it went😂😂

So glad people don't take things left outside here as tons of our possessions would be stolen. My son left his lunchbox outside the other day and a kind delivery driver handed it back to us!

Your story made it to the papers:

www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/20786117/husband-found-washing-basket-house-realised-error/amp/

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣Thank the lord you didn’t leave your DH unsupervised for longer and he went back for a second helping!🤣

This!

I love this!! I've just read another post which made me feel sick so you just made me feel loads better!