Viewer stole from my house?

[Calcaata]

I have a Diptique candle, 3 wick and cost £180. I’ve had two house viewings today, not done by myself but by the estate agent. I’ve come home and it’s missing.

Aibu to expect the estate agent to reimburse me?? I won’t be able to contact them now until Monday.

Yes, you’re being unreasonable. Also judgmental, sanctimonious, narrow-minded and bossy.

OP, on the other hand, just treated herself to a nice candle.

Ok I think it might be time to turn my candle making hobby into a business That is some mark up!

I can't see how a viewer would be able to make off with such a large object unless they had a big bag. I wonder if there are people who do this all the time, arrange viewings in order to steal. Wouldn't surprise me. This is why as a tenant I never allowed viewings when landlords decided to sell. You can't trust people unfortunately. Maybe an indoor camera would be a good idea for future viewings, not sure you're allowed to do that though? Or just do the viewings yourself.

I would definitely report to the estate agent and ask if any neighbours have a ring doorbell. I'd also pack any valuables out of sight. When we were looking at houses the estate agent would often show us around and then chat to dh whilst I had another look around. I never thought to open drawers or cupboards but people do and my friend said I should have to check the storage would work for me. I appreciate your candle would have been on display and not in a cupboard.

I also do find it annoying that people take umbrage on how you spend your money. You earn it so have every right to spend it how you like. It doesn't give another person a right to steal!

It’s not the point of the thread though is it ? And if you’d read the whole thread you’d have realised that you were by no means the first to pick up on it. Once again we have a ridiculous derail which has nothing to do with the question OP was asking.

The estate agent took the vase?? That's even worse

Tbh my first thought here was that the agent took it not yhe viewer - how can you just nab such a large candle

Why are people focussing on the price of the candle and not the theft of it? What a person spends their own money on is their business, even if it makes no sense to you. But they have the right to assume it’s safe in their own home.

The point is the viewer clearly knew the value because they whipped it! Ask your estate agent to tell both viewers what happened and that if it isn't returned they will have to give you names/details of both couples for you to pass to the police (I know the police may not do anything but the prospect may produce results)

This is MN. Any minute, ridiculous and irrelevant detail will immediately be leapt on and used to derail.

This

I agree. Why do people always go off tangent and totally ignore the actual question? It's irrelevant.
And why does the OP always feel the need to justify themselves? I'd just ignore anything that had naff all to do with my original question.

OP do you have a ring doorbell, mightn't show much but you don't turn up to a viewing with a carrier bag so possibly visible.

So you have never, ever bought yourself something just because it’s beautiful and you wanted it ? What a miserable way to live. And yes, you are being totally unreasonable to think that you should offset treating yourself with ‘significant amounts to charity’.

My money would be on the estate agent whipping it. The viewer wouldn’t be able to hide something like that, but the EA would stay behind to lock up, giving them the opportunity.

To be clear: I’m not condoning theft and I’m sorry for OP, but…

…I would be too embarrassed to tell anyone, let alone the overstretched police force, that I’d spent 180 quid on a ruddy candle.

Whilst I agree with that sentiment in general, in this case the expense of the candle is sort of the point of the thread. I doubt we'd have the same thread or any thread if it was a £2 candle from Tesco.

Yeah but, no but, yeah but - please allow for the shock factor!

I read MN to find out about the modern world and how other people live, so please have mercy. This has shaken my universe. There are people who will pay nearly £200 for a candle.

I have a few of those nice St Eval ones at 12 quid and I think that’s a shocking frivolity?😲🤣. Seriously.

Do lots of people really buy these things? I thought it would just be celebs and footballers’ wives?

100% this. It IS the point and anyone who thinks it’s not worthy of remark is living in a very strange and rarefied world!

Literally who do you think you are to decide what is worth something to someone?

But why should everybody live the way you live?

I don't like scented candles and I don't have a single one in my house. but I won't judge OP for having one because it would be ridiculous to impose my way of life on her.

@Calcaata a few years back, an acquaintance of a friend was jailed for stealing items from homes. He was the estate agent and they did exactly this. Im really not sure how they proved it but he went away for several years. I guess im saying dont assume its not them. This was in London in a very expensive area.

Why ?

40 odd years ago, my fellow 'show home' lady and I would be expected to confront smiley couples aka thieves as part of the shift ! A real eye opener, generally 'Bonnie & Clyde' seemed the most friendly/chatty sort

I don't think the high value of the candle is the main issue - the fact that something has been stolen from the house either by the EA or one of viewers is the important issue. I'm surprised at those who feel the need to comment on the price of the candle!

I would be asking the EA is they at any time left the viewers alone in a room and see what they say.

People can do the most extraordinary things when in someone else's property. My sons have recently sold their late father's house - I had to visit just before completion to discover that someone had left the most terrible mess in the loo!

I doubt if it was the EA, having met her, so it must have been one of the viewers, cleaners, furniture removers, etc, who knows!

I hate when people kind of don’t pick up on the point that you’re trying to make and veer the conversation elsewhere. But I am going to do it anyway. A £150 candle? Honestly, have what you want in your homes , I’m sure it’s all hard earned. But you bury candles and they they are gone . Well they say every days a school day. I never knew! I mean do they smell amazing? Do they chase out evil spirits? Is it a thing to have very expensive candles?

They’d be sniggering behind their hands!

This is genuinely interesting. In my world (and I know some wealthy people, though I wouldn’t put myself in that category) this would be shocking.

Seriously - I’m learning a lot about how others live! I really have never met anyone who would do that or who wouldn’t judge it.

180 quid.