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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to want my pushchair back???

30 replies

ivedoneitnow · 22/03/2010 21:50

Just returned today from a weekend break at Center Parcs, Whinfell forest. We have been twice before and have booked up fro next year before we had even been away this time. We were only there for less than 2 hours when my pushchair was stolen / taken from outside the swimming pool changing area. The staff at Center parcs have been more than helpful in trying to reassure me that this has never occurred before, and the security tean were able to identify my pushchair being taken by a woman in a checked coat, with her baby in my pushchair. My pushchair is a Jane Powertrack 360, in colour Sky Tech (5 year old pram, so not really worth nicking!!) with a footmuff, and a homemade footmuff liner... So I could identify my pushchair a mile off.
Unfortunately I did not take out holiday insurance, but do have a crime number to try and claim off my house insurance, now we are home. The women was not seen anymore on site throughout the weekend, and it has been assumed that she left on Friday (changeover day).
I got a pushchair lent to us free of charge from the timeout club, and some vouchers for the distress caused, but I am so sad and mad about it now. God, I even ended up crying in front of the head of security.
If by any far chance, that the person who took it, is on Mumsnet, or anybody knows her, please please return my husbands hat and glasses, and my kids hats that were tucked away in the footmuff. The kids hats were made by my Mum, and my hubby needs the glasses for driving.
It certainly took the shine off the weekend!
Please please note to lock pushchairs up when you visit!!

OP posts:

thisisyesterday · 22/03/2010 21:54

oh how horrid for you

what kind of a person does that???? Have the police been informed? video footage is a good thing surely? they must have other footage from cameras around the park that might give some indication of who this lady is??

I hope you can get some money back for it at least, although I know that's probably not what you want, you want those personal items.

CaptainPicardsPineapple · 22/03/2010 21:56

Of course YANBU, how awful, poor you. Are the vouchers enough to buy another pushchair, how old is the DC who uses it, will you need it for much longer, could you make do with a smaller, cheaper one?

Original poster

ivedoneitnow · 22/03/2010 21:58

My hubby really wanted to leave within the two hours of our arrival. I think we were lucky in a way not to spot the pram again over the weekend, as it would have led to a major confrontation which I would not have appreciated!!

I feel so angry that another Mum has done this to me, knowing that I will have a little one in need of a ride home once you come out of the swimming pool!
Gutted is an understatement!!

OP posts:

Original poster

ivedoneitnow · 22/03/2010 22:09

The baby looked like an under 1 year old, with a bald head, and perhaps a boy, as the sleeves looked like dark blue.
Her coat was cream (perhaps waist length) with a checked pattern, and a wide collar, with the points nearly at her shoulders. Her hair looked dark and shoulder length. Somebody must know somebody who fits this description who was there last week.
I would love to ask her why

The footmuff liner is fleece and has oval shapes joined together, in cream beige and dark grey.
I have a photo of the pushchair with the liner showing to anybody who wants to see it!!

My little one is a chunky 16 month old, who has only just started walking at 14 months, so i need a pushchair daily for the school run

OP posts:

Babieseverywhere · 23/03/2010 07:21

How shit are some people

It might be worth checking with your home insurance and see if it would be covered.

If not our local Argos were selling off a stroller cheap, I got a basic one for £10 just for the nursery run.

My home insurance does cover our P&T Vibe but I have to use a bike lock and lock it to something secure if I am not with it. Even so the number of people who tell me I am mad to lock it up as noone would take it, I just couldn't risk losing it.

nickschick · 23/03/2010 07:28

I know its no consolation but as a temporary measure freecycle may have a sturdy stroller on offer.

Something like this happening really makes a nice event shit and I think its really low that some thieving Mum took it.

GoldenSnitch · 23/03/2010 07:39

On our first visit to Center Parcs (Elveden), we asked for an extra bike lock for the buggy when we were picking up the bikes and the staff were more than happy to give us one - out of the returned and ready for the bin locks admittedly but it worked fine.

We used it that visit for our old Silvercross and last visit for our brand new P&T as I was paranoid about them getting pinched.

Or at least I hoped I was being paranoid

So sorry to hear this has happened. I guess with the colour and the home made bits there is no way she could have gotten it mixed up with her own buggy?

motherbeyond · 23/03/2010 07:52

poor you...what a bitch!some people are just scum with no scruples at all.if it's any consolation,i'm just as trusting and it would never occured to me that other people,who have paid to holiday at the same place would steal my belongings

pantshavenames · 23/03/2010 07:53

Does your dump have a recycling centre? I got an immaculate pliko for £5 this weekend after the wheels fell off my buggy.
What a crappy thing to happen on holiday.

Trillian · 23/03/2010 08:01

Makes note never to go to center parcs

Longtalljosie · 23/03/2010 08:06

Makes mental note to buy a bike chain for the buggy. Poor you, OP.

4andnotout · 23/03/2010 08:14

We had the exact same thing happen to us but at Butlins in Skegness but their staff were useless and didn't try to help, it was dd2's 1st birthday too to really ruin a day!

Where in the uk are you? I have a buggy you could have if you are local? (Norfolk)

GoldenSnitch · 23/03/2010 08:21

Might have to get one of these

I have a non locked version at the moment to clip bags onto and was thinking of getting a second one. This one doubles up as a lock too to stop your bags getting snatched and allow you to lock the buggy to things too.

ShinyAndNew · 23/03/2010 08:23

I've been to Center Parcs Nottingham loads of times and nothing like that has ever happened to us. Having said that I always used a bike lock. We ask for an extra one for the buggy too.

It just doesn't seem like the sort of place something like that could happen does it?

What an utter cow that woman is. Surely if you can afford Center Parcs you can afford a buggy?

I think someone else has already said but surely center parcs could identify her to the police with more footage or staff who remember her villa number?

MillyMollyMoo · 23/03/2010 08:31

I had a bugaboo stolen at Alton Towers, it seems to be becoming more common these days with prams being so flash expensive.

StrictlyKatty · 23/03/2010 08:33

Check ebay! I can't believe the nerve of some people! I'm getting that lock, I hate leaving my Bugaboo unlocked and it seems with good reason

BigWeeHag · 23/03/2010 08:59

That's horrible, you poor thing. It's not uncommon though - I was at a baby group that was upstairs in a church, and the prams were left in the porch - someone strolled off with one lady's silver cross + shopping (yes she was daft to leave it there, but how low is it to steal a baby's pram, nappies, formula milk etc?)

I used to always lock mine with a wee bike lock, sad but neccessary.

DarrellRivers · 23/03/2010 09:14

I picked up a 5 year old powertrack 360 on ebay recently for £25 or so
It wasn't immaculate and had a wobbly wheel (which is easy enough to fix) but I wanted to use it with my lie flat car seat as a pram for the impending arrival
It is great, have a look on ebay or the recycling warehouse (tipshop) and see what you can find
It is a horrible thing to happen and destroys your faith in human nature
Someone nicked my son's scooter from outside the front door

Original poster

ivedoneitnow · 23/03/2010 21:03

Thanks to all who have messaged in support!! My Powertrack had a wobbly wheel that my hubby fixed before we went!! (Sods law)
My pushchair was immaculate, but I am on the lookout for another one to tide me over. I do feel like Center Parcs could trace her if they wanted to. I'm still fuming about it though, although my nearly 5 year old wants me to stop talking about it!!
I can't even claim on my house insurance as it was not classed as left but not "secured", plus even if I could, my £75 excess makes it not worthwhile....
I'm still hoping somebody on here can identify her!!! (At CP Whinfell from Monday to Friday 19th, dark hair, checked coat, baby (?boy) and has a nice Jane Powertrack since her return. Grrr

OP posts:

DilysPrice · 23/03/2010 21:10

If you're in a good Freecycling area then you could try there for a replacement - your tale of woe might well get you a good offer.

I'm always paranoid about the kids' scooters, but it's never occurred to me to worry about leaving the pushchair (mind you I never had a Bugaboo).

andirobobo · 23/03/2010 21:31

Sorry to hear about that - people are terrible these days. We are going in a few weeks with the battered Maclaren, but I will bear it in mind and make sure we take a bike lock to secure up the buggy. If I remember it is a bit of a bind leaving the pushchair outside the pool area - are there things to lock them upto?

thisisyesterday · 23/03/2010 21:37

the worst bit though is knowinbg that someone is using YOUR stuff. someone has it and it isn't theirs, it's yours.
i had my handbag stolen in sainsburys once and it was awful. they dumped it all in the bushes outside once they'd taken all my money and cards... but even though i had it back, knowing someone had been through it was terrible

you feel violated relaly. so even if you do get a replacement that's not really the point is it?

presumably the police have washed their hands of it??

lambsie · 23/03/2010 22:45

Sorry to hear this has happened. Whinfell doesn't have anywhere to lock up a buggy apart from the bike park outside. The brochure says they can be secured in the buggy park but there is nothing there to lock them to.

chipmonkey · 23/03/2010 23:23

We are going to Whinfell in the summer and I will certainly be locking my buggy up now!

We thought ours had been taken from outside the poor in Center parcs in France but it turned out someone had put it into the squash court for safekeeping. But in the interim period when we thought it had been taken, the staff told us that they often got taken from outside the pool

So sorry this has happened to you. Are you on Freecycle already? I would sign up, someone is bound to want to help you out when you tell your story.

pinkfizzle · 23/03/2010 23:30

Just a thought - could you contact Crimewatch? I mean why not?

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