Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Original poster

Items Missing

15 replies

flipent · 18/12/2023 10:31

I'm having some work done on an empty house at the moment, with a number of tradesmen accessing the property with various teams.
There is also a family member there for certain periods.
I have noticed a couple of items going missing - nothing of substantial value, but I'm not sure what, if any action to take.

I don't want to accuse anyone of theft and would never be able to determine which of the many people in the house had taken it - but I also worry that the traders who I've engaged may have a thief working for them and be completely unaware.

OP posts:
Strugglinghouse · 18/12/2023 12:02

I’m sorry to hear this. What type of items were taken?

samestyle · 18/12/2023 12:10

I would let owner of each team know you are aware of items not in their usual place, if they've been moved to be put back, see how that goes first? perhaps they were moved to avoid being damaged or they don't return explain you will report theft and find other tradesmen.

andymary · 18/12/2023 12:12

If it's an empty house, what items are left inside for them to potentially take?

Original poster
flipent · 18/12/2023 12:34

It was things I'd left in advance of a 'house warming' so consumables mainly. Honestly, if they had asked, I wouldn't have had issue with them taking them - but I was short of certain items when I came to host.

It isn't about the cost at all, but the principle.

OP posts:
AutumnNymph · 18/12/2023 12:37

flipent · 18/12/2023 12:34

It was things I'd left in advance of a 'house warming' so consumables mainly. Honestly, if they had asked, I wouldn't have had issue with them taking them - but I was short of certain items when I came to host.

It isn't about the cost at all, but the principle.

If it was consumables, maybe they assumed it was left there for their use?
I always leave some tea bags, biscuits, colas out for tradesmen when I am having any kind of work done.

SuitYouSir · 18/12/2023 12:39

What sort of consumables? A pack of sausage rolls or a £100 bottle of whiskey?

Original poster
flipent · 18/12/2023 12:43

Was a few beers with all of the other drinks for the party (all the rest left untouched). And I need to double check, but I think a bluetooth speaker may also be missing.

OP posts:
zigzag716746zigzag · 18/12/2023 12:44

If it was wine or champagne then mention it. If it was soft drinks or food they could easily have assumed it was for them. Beer, could possibly still be assumed as for them as a lot of people will give a case of beer as a thank you at the end of the job.

AutumnNymph · 18/12/2023 12:48

zigzag716746zigzag · 18/12/2023 12:44

If it was wine or champagne then mention it. If it was soft drinks or food they could easily have assumed it was for them. Beer, could possibly still be assumed as for them as a lot of people will give a case of beer as a thank you at the end of the job.

This. If the Bluetooth speaker is missing, i would definitely mention that.

RidingMyBike · 18/12/2023 14:05

I'd ask about the Bluetooth speaker. The drink may have been assumed to have been left for them? Our builder was very good and we had to specify the food/drink left out was for them and their contractors (house was empty!) but I suspect they'd brought that policy in after problems like this in the past!

Original poster
flipent · 18/12/2023 14:10

If that was the only thing on the side, I could understand - but it was with all of the other drinks (which were left untouched) and the snacks that I'd got in advance.
Just find it a little strange and do want the guys I hired to know, but don't want it to come across like I think they did it. There were so many different people in the house from a number of contractors, I don't want to spoil relationships with those who are entirely innocent.

OP posts:
VelvetandLace · 18/12/2023 21:45

Have you asked your family member? More likely to be them I would think.

Original poster
flipent · 19/12/2023 08:47

VelvetandLace · 18/12/2023 21:45

Have you asked your family member? More likely to be them I would think.

Yes have spoken to them, but certain they haven't taken anything.
It is still possible that they have been 'moved' but as both items were with other things, I think that's unlikely - not like they were alone and possibly in the way.

OP posts:
ScaredSceptic · 19/12/2023 20:24

As you can't narrow down who this could have been, and it's just a few beers, I really don't think it's worth the awkwardness and bad feeling which may result from mentioning it to be honest.

JohnofWessex · 05/09/2024 13:50

I have always tended to keep 'stuff' out of the way of workers not because I dont trust them but because it can put them on the spot if things go missing

New posts on this thread. Refresh page