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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Someone picked up my money

43 replies

Annnahh · 20/10/2025 18:08

Was walking today and I had a £10 note in my bag, went to get something out my bag and it was there but when I got something out I must have dropped it. 3 men were behind and I heard one say ‘keep walking, keep walking’. When I went into the shop with my little one. So presuming they took saw me drop it and took it. DP says it’s my fault and I was careless. Aibu to think they shouldn’t have took it and it wasn’t my fault

OP posts:
TeenToTwenties · 20/10/2025 18:09

You were careless.
If they saw you drop it, they were dishonest.

HarlequinHare · 20/10/2025 18:09

It was your fault that you dropped it, but also they should not have taken it

OptiMumm · 20/10/2025 18:11

Aibu to think they shouldn’t have took it and it wasn’t my fault

Well clearly they shouldn't have taken it but obviously it was your fault that you dropped it 🤷‍♂️

AmethystAnnotation · 20/10/2025 18:11

It was an accident - not really a 'fault' unless you make a habit of it.

BreakingBroken · 20/10/2025 18:11

a decent person would have given it to the shop keeper.
sounds like you need to reorganize your bag or get one with a good zip compartment for cash and change.

shhblackbag · 20/10/2025 18:13

TeenToTwenties · 20/10/2025 18:09

You were careless.
If they saw you drop it, they were dishonest.

Agree.

CatMum27 · 20/10/2025 18:14

I once stood behind an older lady at a cash point. After she walked away and I got to the machine it spat out what must have been £200. Luckily I managed to catch her and give it back but the two young girls behind me told me I should have kept it. There are a lot of awful people in the world.

It’s just one of those things I’m afraid. You made a mistake dropping it but it can happen to anyone. They shouldn’t have taken it but it is what it is. Try and draw a line and move on.

Gilgogirl · 20/10/2025 18:15

OptiMumm · 20/10/2025 18:11

Aibu to think they shouldn’t have took it and it wasn’t my fault

Well clearly they shouldn't have taken it but obviously it was your fault that you dropped it 🤷‍♂️

Why didn’t you have it in a wallet or zipped pocket instead of just floating around in your bag?

Safahh · 20/10/2025 18:15

How is it anyone else's fault you dropped it? They know they shouldn't really have kept it, but they only picked it up and didn't take it from you by force.

IDontHateRainbows · 20/10/2025 18:16

Its a tenner. Not like they took it out of your bag. Worse things happen at sea.

Viviennemary · 20/10/2025 18:16

They took it. Yes it was mean and dishonest. But you were careless

Mum2twoandacockapoo · 20/10/2025 19:12

Least it wasn’t a lot more.
don’t dwell on it , just take more care in future .

myglowupera · 20/10/2025 19:20

Safahh · 20/10/2025 18:15

How is it anyone else's fault you dropped it? They know they shouldn't really have kept it, but they only picked it up and didn't take it from you by force.

They didn’t take it by force but they blatantly kept it knowing exactly who it belonged to. Next step down from mugging in my opinion.
It’s very different if you find a tenner and you have no idea who it belongs to. They also saw that she had a young child with her and that could have been a tenner for stuff for her child. It’s just scummy behaviour.

But I can see people are blaming OP for actions of someone else. Nice bit of victim blaming on this thread.

Namechangerage · 20/10/2025 19:24

It’s a bit weird if it was just floating in your bag, course you’re going to drop it! And of course they shouldn’t have taken it if they saw you drop it. But that’s life and at least you can learn to be more careful with bank notes.

Namechangerage · 20/10/2025 19:26

myglowupera · 20/10/2025 19:20

They didn’t take it by force but they blatantly kept it knowing exactly who it belonged to. Next step down from mugging in my opinion.
It’s very different if you find a tenner and you have no idea who it belongs to. They also saw that she had a young child with her and that could have been a tenner for stuff for her child. It’s just scummy behaviour.

But I can see people are blaming OP for actions of someone else. Nice bit of victim blaming on this thread.

Show quote history

Of course they shouldn’t have taken it. But people are rightly pointing out that maybe it’s not a good idea to just have random bank notes floating around in your bag? The one time I did that, because my partner gave me a £20 note as I was leaving - I dropped and lost it!

FieldInWhichFucksAreGrownIsBarren · 20/10/2025 19:27

How do you think it's not your fault? You were careless and dropped it-purse or back of phone case is best place for notes.
They were dishonest but a lot of people are.

paulhollywoodshairgel · 20/10/2025 19:27

If I’d seen you drop it I’d have given you it back. Because I’m not a twat. Those men were.

SilverStripedSunset · 20/10/2025 19:30

Two things can be true at the same time - it was your fault you dropped it and they should have given it back to you.

Tamfs · 20/10/2025 19:30

Hmmm it's not certain these men picked it up? If OP knew that was definitely when she dropped it, she would have picked it back up. I mean it's possible they did, but there are many other possibilities.

DiscoBob · 20/10/2025 19:34

If I saw someone drop it and I was right behind I would say something. But if I saw a tenner on the pavement I'd be having it.

It's a shame if they were dishonest but there's no concrete proof they even had it. Did it fall out of your bag? I guess that's just unfortunate.

Be lucky it wasn't way more or something more valuable.

Safahh · 20/10/2025 19:52

myglowupera · 20/10/2025 19:20

They didn’t take it by force but they blatantly kept it knowing exactly who it belonged to. Next step down from mugging in my opinion.
It’s very different if you find a tenner and you have no idea who it belongs to. They also saw that she had a young child with her and that could have been a tenner for stuff for her child. It’s just scummy behaviour.

But I can see people are blaming OP for actions of someone else. Nice bit of victim blaming on this thread.

Show quote history

It's in no way 'victim blaming' to address the fact that the OP admits she dropped it and goes on to assert this wasn't her fault. It wasn't anyone else's fault. She isn't a victim.

Tanya285 · 20/10/2025 20:11

BreakingBroken · 20/10/2025 18:11

a decent person would have given it to the shop keeper.
sounds like you need to reorganize your bag or get one with a good zip compartment for cash and change.

What so they can keep it instead?

If they saw you drop it then it was horrible that they didn't return it OP. But if I just found a random tenner then I would keep it or donate it to charity.

BreakingBroken · 20/10/2025 20:14

@Tanya285 not in my experience, staff would hold it till the end of the day at least same with keys and cc’s.

TY78910 · 20/10/2025 20:16

You dropped it, they saw an opportunity and were dishonest. It’s the circle of life.

TangledUp679 · 20/10/2025 20:24

If they actually saw the £10 fall from your bag and they kept it rather than alerting you (which you can't know for certain), then I think that's technically theft. There was a case a few years ago where a woman pocketed £20 she'd found on the floor of a shop, and she ended up being charged and convicted of theft. You have to make a reasonable attempt to return the item to the owner - so in that case, alerting the shop staff who could have checked CCTV to see who dropped it.