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 need to know what thread this is 🤣

Take it back snd leave on doorstep. They wont have missed it yet

It's the one about grim and sexual. Like I'm probably being dramatic but not going to lie, I kinda wanted to vomit after reading it 🤣🤣🤣🤣 sorry I clicked on it what was I thinking!

Years ago I was moving house and two dining chairs were taken from outside my fla.I was gutted that someone would do that and I couldn’t afford to replace them. This was before people started putting stuff outside their homes to give away. You should definitely take it back and apologise,maybe with a gift for the stress caused

Glad it’s not just me. 🤢

😂😂😂😂😂

There is usually a notice saying please take.

It does certainly sound like it’s straight out of a sit com. 😁

No defo not 😆

@Nymeria6 I want to read this thread now, do you have a link?

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).

Yes, they do.

I live in a large village. People often put unwanted items of furniture, equipment, toys, books, bric-a-brac, plants etc outside their houses - usually with a sign saying "Free". We've often done this, ourselves.. No longer wanted stuff that has found a grateful home includes a stool, computer chairs, an exercise bike, stacking cassette storage boxes (the recipient was thrilled to bits to have these) and house plants.

I would take it back and explain. If it were me I’d find it funny

I live in Norfolk UK and its very much a thing. I've left a Playhouse, Wardrobe, TV and TV unit in my drive which have all gone to new homes. I've also left other random bits like a toddler trike, a tumble drier and a mirror which also went pretty quick, in a rural village.

In the city I always see Sofas, kids toys, furniture etc with a note saying it's for free and to help yourself, it's been a thing for a while, same as things advertised on the local given in kindness sites on Facebook, sometimes the post also says XYZ has been left out the front free to take to save people knocking on the door etc.

Tell your husband to take it back

I've just tried to find it and MN have removed it xxxx

Slightly off piste but I have a Lloyd Loom laundry basket. Is it valuable? I didn't think it was.
Very funny story OP.

I wonder if they’ve got cameras up or a Ring doorbell and will catch you sneaking

@Quveas this reminds me of the time my husband went to the post office which was inside the Co op where he picked up a birthday card, wrote it, took it to the counter for a stamp, posted it, then when he got outside, realised he'd not paid for the card 😂

Not just London, people put stuff out in two villages I have lived in too (not even in the same counties). Often with a quick message on the village WhatsApp or Facebook to tell people to come and help themselves.

Take it back I’m sure they will find it hysterical.

Yeah people leave stuff here all the time, it's a great way to get rid. Sometimes with a post on the local fb page to tell people/scrap collectors.
A few occasions people have taken things not meant to be taken but then even I knew as a kid 30 years ago not to leave my bike at the front.

I love how people can be so sure something is correct even with people telling them it's not.
It is NORMAL to leave stuff for other people as evidenced by this thread.

Hang on? Did this make the papers?!?! Oh my god I am dying.

Say your husband found it in the street and you wondered if it was theirs as you saw them moving in. No lies, no embarrassment. Intimate that it might have been in the actual road or blown down the street...

🤣