Report this or leave it?

[TheWayTheLightFalls]

I live opposite a sort of hostel for formerly homeless people, with support services to get the residents on to independent living. You generally wouldn't know it was there, most people are just living their lives, and it's clearly a very worthwhile service.

Anyway - I'd left a parcel outside my door this morning, with a sign under the doorbell for the courier in case I was out. I wasn't out, and a few minutes ago found one of the hostel residents trying to nick it. Quite comically, because he's about a hundred years old and walks with a crutch, and the parcel was a Barbie house the size of Wales. I shouted at him to get out, he left... do I leave it or do I write to the charity running the hostel?

Attempted theft is still attempted theft. Doesn't matter if the person doing it is 16 or 96! I'd report him. However, it has nothing to do with the fact the residents of that house were formerly homeless and I'm not sure why you even bothered to mention that. Does somebody having been homeless make them a thief in your eyes?! That seems a very harsh attitude to have.

You’ll get a better response by going over and raising it with the staff on site: they’ll have relationships with the residents and can act immediately by speaking with them in a way head office can’t.

However, it has nothing to do with the fact the residents of that house were formerly homeless and I'm not sure why you even bothered to mention that

Because presumably they turf people out if they behave in a disorderly way, and I’m not sure I want that on my conscience.

It’s important the service knows about things like this because it impacts upon their decisions regarding a service user’s readiness to move on. If it isn’t addressed now then it’s behaviour that’s more likely to jeopardise an independent tenancy in the future, potentially putting them back to square one.

Absolutely this. Go and speak to the staff.

I would definitely go and speak to the staff about it.

I’d be very surprised if they kicked someone out for this, they’re trying to help these people. Unless the guy is a repeat offender. I’d possibly raise it with the staff, but this risk is always going to exist when you leave parcels unattended outside your house. Not sure I’d go with this type of service again to send stuff.

Because it will have consequences for the person concerned which will most likely involve them losing their hostel place and being back on the streets .

Let them know. We had a similar issue with a serialfood delivery pincher at a supported service. It gives the support workers a chance to address it before it becomes a massive problem/threatens their housing.

I would be telling them. They should be trying to maintain a good relationship with the neighbours, too many incidents of antisocial behaviour and there will be calls for the place to be shut down

You need to report it.

That’s an odd answer, irs very relevant, as the approach is very different to if it was someone in their own rented/owned home. And clearly she doesn’t think they are all thieves. She caught the bloke trying to steal . She didn’t imagine it.

Although op, why write , is there no staff on site?

I wouldn't report. I've lived in places like that and they can and do kick people out for less than this.

I’m not sure there are staff on site @Freakinfraser . I’m not sure but I think it’s a house turned into a number of bedsits with support workers visiting. That’s my guess.

Definitely report to the charity/service running the hostel. It might be that this gentleman needs more support than he is currently accessing. It could be that the charity/company are already aware of this, but need examples to back their application for further funding, or a different type of placement for him. Trying to steal a parcel half the size of his body in broad daylight strikes me as a cry for help.

@TheWayTheLightFalls - apologies - I thought you were being judgmental (which it now seems that I was!). I see what you mean about the risk of him getting turfed out. I guess, now you've shown him that you know what he was up to, you've given him a kind of 'warning'. Hopefully, he won't try to steal from you again, but, if he does, maybe then take stronger action?

Only on mumsnet are poster's expected to be sympathetic to thieving scrotes robbing their property 😉

I wouldn't ever leave am parcel outside.Its asking to be taken.

You may not @spanishviola but we do, quite regularly. Not in the front garden with a note saying "Burglars here!" but often tucked away somewhere with a digital note on the system telling the courier that it's under the flowerpot or whatever. Has always worked fine.

I rang the charity yesterday - no one rang back despite promises. They still haven't phoned back so I'm going to raise things with their chair of trustees. I feel like a phone conversation was a fair thing to ask of them.