Lost my ring, handed in, pub denying so.

[AJLOAL]

So, 3 weeks ago on a rare night out I lost a ring (was just a tad tispy!). I phoned the pub, taxi etc the next morning but no joy.
Put an insurance claim in which is currently being processed.
Last night my DD found a FB post with a photo of my ring and a caption saying it had been handed into the bar the following afternoon of my visit.
I phoned the bar, and the manager (he said he hadn't been there long) looked, spoke to staff who said they knew nothing about it but there was another manager he could message and he'd ask them to phone me back.
Since then I've received a reply from the lady who handed it in with a description of the staff member and possible name.
If it doesn't reappear do I have any recourse? I'm sure the police won't be interested.
The ring is worth about £1,000.
AIBU to think I'll get it back?

You'll need to report it to claim on your insurance.

Have you contacted the pub again since you received the description and possible name from the honest lady who found it?
It should be in the pub's interest to pursue this as having a dishonest member of staff is a liability for them.

If they refuse to pursue it I would definitely report it to the police .

I would send the information to your insurance company and then go to the bar and tell them that the insurance company is getting the police involved. Ask them if they have any CCTV.

If the lady who handed it in would agree to going with you at the same time that would be even better.

I can’t abide that level of dishonesty.

I think you will have to report it to the police even to just get a crime number or insurance company will do nothing for you. I'd potentially tell the manager that you are going to the police about it too, maybe it'll "reappear" if a staff member has had sticky fingers and realises there's potentially going to be consequences.

I’m no fan of the police but I think they would be interested. Not least because you’ve done half the work for them!

I agree , I'd go there myself with the proof and let them know you've reported it to police with the same evidence.

Go back to the pub, show them the FB post and say you'll give them one more chance to remember they do have it before you call the police?

I would tell the pub I’m going to the police for the insurance claim and just wanted to check ‘one last time’ to give them that opportunity to confess.

Then I would report it and have a look around any pawnbrokers in the area.

@2025VibeandThrive has a good idea. Also keep an eye out on Facebook marketplace, Vinted, eBay etc.

maybe print out some posters and bring them to the pub with you and ask them to put them up.

you could repost the Facebook post tagging in the pub (and their owners if they are a chain) saying that they won’t hand it back to you.

basically, present yourself as a giant pain in the neck who won’t give up until you have your ring back.

I would definitely go back to the pub with the description and possible name of the person it was handed in to and your evidence from social media, messages whatever.
If no luck I would definitely call the police as this is theft of £1k. The pub should have CCTV and you should demand it be looked at to see what happened to it after being handed in.

If there was a photo on FB what is to stop any person going into the pub to claim it? It sounds counter-productive!

This exact thing happened to mum who lost a ring in the pub toilet. She took it off to wash her hands and forgot to put it back on. I phoned the pub who said it hadn't been handed it. I put a post on Facebook a couple of days later and someone responded saying they had handed it in. I phoned the pub back and it had miraculously appeared!

The claim has been agreed but I'd rather have my ring back.

I think you need to make contact with the bar again and say the person who handed the ring has provided info and the person is described as x, y and z, and can they specifically ask them about it? Tell them you’ll need to report it to the police. It’s worth a try.

This could happen but the bar appear to have told OP they never had the ring, not that it was handed in and they’ve given it back to the wrong person.

Pubs are usually required to have CCTV as part of their licence conditions. Not having working CCTV may be a breach of their licence and would get them shut down - might be worth a mention if they claim not to have any.

Wouldn't necessarily know though.

Person hands ring in to person A on day 1.

Someone sees it on FB and goes and claims it from person B on day 2.

Person C is asked who wasn't at work day 1 and 2 and says they haven't seen it.

Or the person put it in the till, when it should have gone in the safe and when Op came they only looked in the safe etc.
My mil when she had dementia lost her handbag. She went and asked at Customer Services who had the whole lost property out, and the lost property safe emptied - I was with her. No sign.
I asked if there was another safe for money - and there it was. I'm confident that was an error rather than wanting to keep it - it was a cheap bag and her purse wasn't in it.

It's also possible that the good Samaritan who posted it on FB actually kept it, and put it on FB as verisimilitude because she was seen finding it.

Definitely go back to the pub with the evidence you have and if they still cannot turn it up then tell them you'll be going to the police with the information you have.

It's also possible that the good Samaritan who posted it on FB actually kept it, and put it on FB as verisimilitude because she was seen finding it.

I was thinking this was a possibility. Worth asking to check CCTV.

I'm going to go in tomorrow when it's quieter. Obviously I have photos of me wearing the ring to prove its mine, even from the night I lost it.
I've also emailed their HO and asked what their lost & found policy is for items of value. I don't imagine the police would help but asking about the CCTV is a good shout. Thank you.

I phoned today but they didn't pick-up so I'm going in tomorrow when it's less busy.

Another great idea. I had planned to advise my insurers too of this development but I will tell the bar they'll be investigating further.

Yes, you're all right. I'll phone 111 tomorrow for advice.

Will do. Thank you for your support.

I don’t think 111 will be much help