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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

CF Stole my hedge

492 replies

12FreeRangeEggs · 06/12/2024 18:09

We live in a naice part of London which thinks it’s the countryside but is actually just a green suburb. To the side and front of my property is our hedge. It’s a mix hedge; Holly, Ivy and other trees. Our Holly has been very good this autumn and we have lots of red berries. I make a door wreath for my front door each Christmas, and I usually forage from my own hedge to make my wreath. So far this year I haven’t gotten around to it but was hoping to make my wreath this weekend.

Well, I returned this afternoon and there was a lady stood on my driveway with a large blue IKEA bag in one hand and a pair of pruners in the other, helping herself to my holly.

I politely challenged her, but she didn’t seem to think that she was doing anything wrong helping herself to my Holly in my hedge. Infact when I protested that I was going to make my own wreath with my own Holly she told me she had a business making Christmas wreaths and usually only made 10 a season despite huge demand because she simply doesn’t have the time but was willing to make a professional wreath for me using my own Holly and charge me £85. I, less politely this time, declined her offer for a professional wreath and asked for my Holly back. She refused and accused me of being bitter and uncharitable.

OP posts:
ChristmasFox · 06/12/2024 21:07

OP, you missed the chance to entitle this thread: ‘Woman trimmed my bush’

MaisieMacabe · 06/12/2024 21:08

ChristmasFox · 06/12/2024 21:07

OP, you missed the chance to entitle this thread: ‘Woman trimmed my bush’

😂love it!

Tootytoot78 · 06/12/2024 21:13

ClairDeLaLune · 06/12/2024 19:35

@Tooty78 ooh link please!

@Clair, I am trying to find to find the link but unfortunately I googled Mumsnet Classics and have fallen down a massive rabbit hole, which I don't want to leave.
I'm the interest of research, I will keep on reading (and thoroughly enjoying) these threads and if I find the link, I will send it you.

WiddlinDiddlin · 06/12/2024 21:14

Ohhhhhh I'd be round hers in a flash, dig up her front lawn then offer to pop it in a fancy pot and flog it back to her for £300.

The absolute brass fucking neck of it... if you're 100% certain you've found her, out the bitch on SM, take screen shots before she blocks you and out her as a theiving fucker.

tolerable · 06/12/2024 21:14

I make (christmas graveside) wreaths, It is actually illegal to cut holly without the owners permission- 999 extreme-call/email 101. channel your inner Nancy Drew- business/knockin out ten-gonna be local?
Shes absolutely worth the chase up- Apart from help self,im guessing enough for one less inlined to argue..dismiss and continue as arrognt as can be-the sheer audacity suggest you PURCHASE at (is that taxable?declared. £850 easy money-you best no hng your washing out-she be off like a shot if no rules

Strictlymad · 06/12/2024 21:16

I thought you were going to say she offered you a free wreath as payment not that you could buy it back! Oh please go to her class! The brass neck of the woman

WearyAuldWumman · 06/12/2024 21:20

12FreeRangeEggs · 06/12/2024 19:21

Haven’t found her as a local wreath maker yet. It is likely she isn’t local and took a tube ride over to us to forage.

Etsy £85...

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1821003929/fresh-christmas-wreath?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=large+christmas+wreath&ref=sr_gallery-1-8&content_source=32acc5110b1e41290012145d755c01ead62bd7c2%253A1821003929&organic_search_click=1

MaggieFS · 06/12/2024 21:21

That's such a good idea to rock up when she's doing a course.

WearyAuldWumman · 06/12/2024 21:22

12FreeRangeEggs · 06/12/2024 19:54

DD has found her on Instagram. Teens can be bloody brilliant sometimes. Not sure what to do yet. Will mull it over

Oh, well done to your teen!

2catsandhappy · 06/12/2024 21:24

Message her @12FreeRangeEggs to ask if 'her' holly has been 'Ethically Sourced'? The thieving baggage.
Any chance you could name and shame? Asking for a friend.
Is this the first year she's done it?

Toastandbutterand · 06/12/2024 21:31

Hey op.

I haven't got time to read the whole thread but Ive book marked as I'm interested in the responses.
Someone did this to me 2 or 3 weeks ago, when I went out to tell her to stop she started filming me and said I was harassing her and her son who she had with her (was in a sling so 3 months old?).

She's come back twice and stripped the neighbours hedges too.

I'm too scared to say anything to her directly after she filmed me but I'd dearly like to kick her.

My daughter took her photo and put it in the neighborhood WhatsApp group but noone else seems to care. We're all in housing association properties. I grow fruit and veg in my front garden in the summer and I'm dreading her coming back.

12FreeRangeEggs · 06/12/2024 21:33

It is the first year I have caught someone. Wondering now whether she’s been before and just not been caught. We’ve lived in this house for a few years now.

Not messaged her yet, but tempted to enquire about her wreath workshop

OP posts:
12FreeRangeEggs · 06/12/2024 21:36

Toastandbutterand · 06/12/2024 21:31

Hey op.

I haven't got time to read the whole thread but Ive book marked as I'm interested in the responses.
Someone did this to me 2 or 3 weeks ago, when I went out to tell her to stop she started filming me and said I was harassing her and her son who she had with her (was in a sling so 3 months old?).

She's come back twice and stripped the neighbours hedges too.

I'm too scared to say anything to her directly after she filmed me but I'd dearly like to kick her.

My daughter took her photo and put it in the neighborhood WhatsApp group but noone else seems to care. We're all in housing association properties. I grow fruit and veg in my front garden in the summer and I'm dreading her coming back.

I’m sorry to hear this. I hope you don’t have anymore issues with this woman

OP posts:
pinkstripeycat · 06/12/2024 21:37

OldJohn · 06/12/2024 18:22

As the thief was still at the scene a quick response from the police would have her apprehended and charged. If she still had the secateurs and the holly that is adequate proof that she intended to steal.
If catching a thief is not the police’s job I’m not sure what their job is.

Just asked a policeman. It’s theft as she is making financial gain from it. They wouldn’t appreciate a 999 call though as it’s NOT an emergency. 101 non emergency is more appropriate.

999 police is for:

*danger to life
*use, or immediate threat of use, of violence
*Serious injury to a person and/or
*serious damage to property that could result in harm to a person or financial loss

pinkstripeycat · 06/12/2024 21:38

Toastandbutterand · 06/12/2024 21:31

Hey op.

I haven't got time to read the whole thread but Ive book marked as I'm interested in the responses.
Someone did this to me 2 or 3 weeks ago, when I went out to tell her to stop she started filming me and said I was harassing her and her son who she had with her (was in a sling so 3 months old?).

She's come back twice and stripped the neighbours hedges too.

I'm too scared to say anything to her directly after she filmed me but I'd dearly like to kick her.

My daughter took her photo and put it in the neighborhood WhatsApp group but noone else seems to care. We're all in housing association properties. I grow fruit and veg in my front garden in the summer and I'm dreading her coming back.

Set up a ring doorbell or cheap camera to catch her then report to police

Yellowbananasarebetterthangreen · 06/12/2024 21:39

I would name and shame her business on your local fb groups.

Merrymess · 06/12/2024 21:40

No one in the real world would bother to report this to the police ffs.

Whyherewego · 06/12/2024 21:50

Toastandbutterand · 06/12/2024 21:31

Hey op.

I haven't got time to read the whole thread but Ive book marked as I'm interested in the responses.
Someone did this to me 2 or 3 weeks ago, when I went out to tell her to stop she started filming me and said I was harassing her and her son who she had with her (was in a sling so 3 months old?).

She's come back twice and stripped the neighbours hedges too.

I'm too scared to say anything to her directly after she filmed me but I'd dearly like to kick her.

My daughter took her photo and put it in the neighborhood WhatsApp group but noone else seems to care. We're all in housing association properties. I grow fruit and veg in my front garden in the summer and I'm dreading her coming back.

I'd just get my phone out and film her. She's not actually entitled to take your shrubbery ! So call her bluff!

0nlyM3 · 06/12/2024 22:06

We have a large female (berried) variegated holly bush at the front of the house which local floral arrangers are drawn to at this time of the year. I’ve always agreed to them taking from it providing it remains tidy and I’ve never had a problem. (If they’re taking it without permission they’d appear on the Ring doorbell but they aren’t.)
To have had someone take your holly without asking, argue and try to charge you is outrageous. She is unbelievably hard faced.
I’d mention she’d taken from the common, local wooded area and your garden on X date at X time because surely someone must have seen or recognised her. My next move would be to leave reviews about her kitchen business mentioning you hope participants can identify from the berried holly (variegated or not - be specific) which was purloined from X postcode area with aggravation by this disreputable woman. That should make them question her morals and price. Shun the shameless cow. Well done to your DD!

NeshButUpNorth · 06/12/2024 22:27

OP: Would you recognise her?
If not, I'd leave it for now

If you do, and are sure you have found her, send her an invoice as someone else mentioned, and if you can be bothered see if your home insurance includes legal cover, to get advice, and possibly a (free to you) solicitor's letter sent out.
Otherwise she could return and keep doing this.

Breadcat24 · 06/12/2024 22:30

why did you not just grab the bag off her?

WomenInConstruction · 06/12/2024 22:33

Breadcat24 · 06/12/2024 22:30

why did you not just grab the bag off her?

Edited

I imagine that's in the list of could'a should'a things that the op was gnashing her teeth about afterwards.
But when some mental bitch strikes out of the blue like that it's not surprising if you don't react exactly as one might if you were expecting Lady CF the First from Madbintland to raid your bush.

12FreeRangeEggs · 06/12/2024 23:22

Errr I’ve just got my Holly back.

Watching Netflix together and DH received a security camera notification. Thinking it could only be a car thief at this time of night he checked the footage and we saw a man in a baseball cap walk on the driveway, empty a bag of Holly onto the driveway then swiftly retreat 😲

OP posts:
Merrymess · 06/12/2024 23:29

12FreeRangeEggs · 06/12/2024 23:22

Errr I’ve just got my Holly back.

Watching Netflix together and DH received a security camera notification. Thinking it could only be a car thief at this time of night he checked the footage and we saw a man in a baseball cap walk on the driveway, empty a bag of Holly onto the driveway then swiftly retreat 😲

Blimey.

WearyAuldWumman · 06/12/2024 23:31

12FreeRangeEggs · 06/12/2024 23:22

Errr I’ve just got my Holly back.

Watching Netflix together and DH received a security camera notification. Thinking it could only be a car thief at this time of night he checked the footage and we saw a man in a baseball cap walk on the driveway, empty a bag of Holly onto the driveway then swiftly retreat 😲

I wonder whether CF is on Mumsnet?

waves at CF