I think my neighbours have stolen my towel

[DaleyBump]

Things have been going missing from our washing line for a while. I think. There are gaps on the washing line sometimes when I go to bring my washing in but I can never remember what I've hung up so I just assume that I've just left a gap by accident.

DP has just gone to bring in our washing which consisted of a whole load of baby clothes and one towel. That's all. It was DP's favourite towel, a great big brown affair (sad, I know). It was definitely hung up but has now mysteriously disappeared from the line.

The line is shared by 4 flats (us included). I'm pretty sure it was one of our neighbours as it's an enclosed garden with no access from outside and a security door, but how the hell do I go about getting it back?!

Hang out a towel with itching powder, you will soon find out who has been tleafing.

Do you have a photograph of the towel? If you do, you could post up 'Missing' posters on every telegraph pole and tree in the neighbourhood.

Are you sure it hasn't blown off in the wind?

Missing posters sounds like a good idea thing is, the only photo I have of it is of DP flashing. Think that'll matter?

Well I've not gone out to check but DP says it's definitely not there.

I hope you manage to get it back before it gets broken up into flannels

Oh no :( you think they'll start sending bits of it back for a ransom? I don't think DP could take that :(

I shared a house for a while with a friend whose cats used to nick all sorts of stuff from neighbours. Socks, sponges, tea-towels etc. We were very embarrassed and never knew where they came from.

None of our neighbours have pets. The landlord doesn't let us (but we do have a sneaky hamster and two snakes). I may just post the picture of flashing DP through all their letter boxes and wait for a response

You could always photoshop a squirrel over his bits and threaten to remove it next time if the towel is not returned within the week.

Our dog once stole a pair of our neighbour's skimpy pants off the line (at least that's what DH said)

DP went to the neighbours that we speak to and asked them if they'd picked it up by accident. One showed him all the towels he owned and the other one tried to get him to come to Tai Chi classes. Dear god.

I'm a bit concerned that none of you are taking this seriously enough . The poor OP's DH, losing, nay, having his favourite towel stolen, and all you can do is mock. I've used the same towel for 30 years and I would be gutted if it went missing and then buy a beautiful new fluffy white bath sheet to replace it.

Tsk.

TBF he is kind of gutted. His last favourite towel ripped right up the arse because he pulled it too tight around him and sat down. He was so unamused when I couldn't hold in my laughter. He doesn't have much luck with towels.

FruOla, was the cat called Slinky Malinki?

I could choke him. After going to the neighbours to enquire about the mystery of the missing towel, I sent him out the back with a torch to check again. It was there. Why didn't I just go look myself? Should I LTB?

Yes. And then post the flashing pictures anyway

One of my neighbours cats is stealing clothes from the washing lines from a block of flats that back onto his garden. I suggested he sneak back in the middle of the night to replace them until he pointed out that he might get caught replacing them and then people would assume he's some sort of pervy thief. So he's left with a pile of odd clothes he can't return. Maybe you need a washing line amnesty box?

My aunt once got her neighbour's porn collection delivered and she opened it without reading the name on the front because she was living alone at the time. She was then stuck with her neighbour's porn collection and obviously, since she'd opened it, she couldn't just go and hand it to him. I have no idea what she did with it.

Wait ... you washed a big old brown towel in with a load of baby clothes ?

No

There is a pile of washing consisting only of towels that needs to be hung up but we didn't have enough clothes pegs to hand up both sets so decided to go for damp towels instead of damp baby clothes, but I hung up his favourite towel along with the baby clothes so it would be dry for the morning. If that makes sense.

And even if I had, what's the big deal?

Wow pudsey your neighbour's cat steals clothes off washing lines, you have a full conversation about it and he logically works out that he can't take them back. That cat's got talent, get him on the telly.

I think you must now realize that your dh has engineered this as he wanted you to pass around pictures of him flashing his squirrel.

Mintyy why wouldn't you wash baby clothes with a big old brown towel ? Am I missing a vital piece of washing etiquette?