this post was submitted on 02 Aug 2024
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Has someone or something stolen from you? Do you know who/what it was? Did it affect you? Do you care?

Doesn't have to be serious.

Share your stories!

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[–] bizarroland@fedia.io 26 points 3 months ago (2 children)

I crashed a friend's house one night, and I woke up and $50 was missing out of my wallet.

I asked my friend, who I knew had stolen it, "how can $50 disappear from my wallet overnight?" and he looked me dead in the eye and said:

"I don't know man. It's a mystery."

We aren't friends anymore.

[–] cashmaggot@piefed.social 8 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I wonder if your friend was an addict, an asshole, compulsive, or some combination of the set?

[–] bizarroland@fedia.io 6 points 3 months ago (1 children)

He was a pothead selfish asshole, thought working was beneath him.

Wanted a half ounce of weed more than he wanted my friendship.

[–] cashmaggot@piefed.social 6 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I don't like people floating weed as this innocuous thing. I've met some really shitty potheads. But I also know that I've more than likely met a bunch of grounded regular smokers too. I don't think people should go to jail for it, but I def think it brings out some really awful characteristics in some folks. But that's just me. I mean when it's legal (cause it most def will be her cross-country at some point) I think people will start talking about it the same way they talk about alcohol. Because some folks will drown themselves in it. But also hopefully at that time, we might also start addressing our horrendous food situation too. Shrugs.

Or all be dead from global warming. Eh.

But yeah, fuck that dude.

[–] bizarroland@fedia.io 3 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I've got nothing against weed. Like I have indulged recreationally myself a time or two, and honestly other than the occasional giggles I don't really see the appeal.

I think it affects everybody differently, for me it's just usually too heavy and too strong to indulge in other than every once in awhile.

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[–] xilliah 5 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

So did you ever solve the mystery? 😐

[–] nichtburningturtle@feddit.org 6 points 3 months ago (1 children)
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[–] Urist@lemmy.ml 24 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Yes! Two days ago, someone stole my bike. That is, I had parked it (and locked it) in a bike garage monitored by CCTV at the train station where I commute and when I came back from work my bike was gone and only my broken lock was left. However, as I looked around a little the thieves had not moved it far, only down a floor into the premium "bike hotel" area that is an actual locked in area as well. So I just called the company, and they let me in and gave me my bike back.

Afterwards, I called the police to let them know someone stole my bike and that the whole ordeal was caught on cameras (they have to open an official investigation before the footage can be used due to surveillance laws). As I tried to report the theft (or attempt thereof), I had the following fun conversation with a policeman:

  • Me: Explains the circumstances of what happened.
  • Policeman: (Interrupts) "Yeah, maybe you should keep that in mind for next time."
  • Me: "Uhm what?"
  • Policeman: "Yeah, maybe you should be a little bit smarter with regards to where you put your bike."
  • Me: "Uhm OK, I just told you I put it in the designated parking spot that, as pointed out, is monitored."

I get that they do not really care about bike theft as they account for 30% of reported thefts, but I mean come on. They obviously moved my bike (along with others, I assume) to a nearby area so they could collect them all in a van later that night and drive off unnoticed. The police could have sent one patrol there at the right time and have them caught red-handed with video footage of the entire ordeal. Incompetence and unwillingness to actually do their work is precisely why there are so many thefts to begin with. Had I said I was a shop owner and had a bike stolen, I am certain they would show up in no time.

TL;DR: Bike got stolen and the police sucks. Thankfully, the thieves sucked marginally less, so I got my bike back.

[–] cashmaggot@piefed.social 4 points 3 months ago (1 children)

a) Glad you got your bike back.

b) I know for a while they sold a thing for bikes to identify them and get stolen bikes back. But I am not sure the system really works and I think it's on a sticker. And can't you just peel off any sticker @_@!

c) Cops suck hard at things they find inconvenient to them. I didn't know the reports were that high. I think it's because you're actively messing with a person's means of transportation, that they get reported so much. But nowadays cops don't show up for car accidents. So it's really hit or miss in general.

d) I loved imagining this inconspicuous scrapper-esq van that whisks away all the stolen bikes with the little punk ass thieves thinking they got you so they moved on to the next one. Maybe in you figuring out their bs they might move their bike-hotel to another space.

[–] Sadbutdru@sopuli.xyz 4 points 3 months ago (2 children)

In the UK I think there's a scheme where you register your bike and engrave a serial number on the frame somewhere, so if it turns up stolen it's easier to prove/legitimate sellers won't buy it off thieves. Don't know how well it works personally.

[–] Urist@lemmy.ml 4 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

As far as I know all bikes have these. The number is definite proof of ownership, but can of course just be removed by the perpetrator (if they bother).

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[–] ____@infosec.pub 17 points 3 months ago (1 children)

The value of my labor, daily.

The nominal “cost” of my healthcare, at every encounter.

Etc.

[–] cashmaggot@piefed.social 3 points 3 months ago

Yeah, that's true. I once read an essay by a dyke who was a construction worker and wondered what life would be like if people just did the work they were interested in and everyone got paid a flat rate. I'm not sure it would work, but it is something to think on.

[–] xilliah 10 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

Yeah my new bicycle was stolen. Right where everyone could see it, and there were no other bikes. 250 euro lock.

I heard they use a spray to freeze the lock and then just break it.

Couldn't have been happier because it was a piece of shit and my insurance got me a new one that I still have over a decade later! Karma is a bitch.

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[–] WHARRGARBL 8 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I was a court advocate for victims of domestic violence, volunteering at the same facility that had helped me escape an extreme situation. Having noticed that there was no federal, state, local, or private list of resources for people in crisis, I approached the director to request permission to compile a comprehensive guide and make it publicly available. Although I would’ve done it for free, the director saw the need and suggested this should be a highly-paid position; she announced the job opening to everyone at the next meeting.

A woman I’d never seen before expressed interest at the meeting, so I introduced myself and offered to collaborate to make the publication a success. We were scheduled to make our presentation to the board in a month. I gathered my half of the research and negotiated with businesses to donate materials and operating expenses, so that this program would be self-sustaining. I contacted the other woman every couple days to update her on what I’d accomplished, and to gather her data. She never had anything except excuses, so I gathered her share of the data, too.

On the day of the meeting, I’d done 100% of the work, which I’d happily shared with her, and I had put together the entire presentation. I didn’t mind, because this was a valuable community service. I arrived early for the meeting and sat outside the closed boardroom, waiting for my “partner”, but she never showed up.

At precisely the agreed-upon time for our meeting to start, the boardroom door opened and my partner emerged, grinning as everyone congratulated her. Yeah. I still didn’t get it.

I was ushered in and was asked to make my presentation. I was quickly interrupted because the board wanted to see MY efforts, not the work of the other woman. They accused me of stealing her work and told me to leave.

The other woman received a hefty salary for almost a year, but she never even bothered to use my research and connections to make even one flyer. Eventually she was fired and the failed community service idea became anathema to the facility.

That fucker changed the meeting time, stole my work and all the credit for it, scammed herself into the position, took the salary from the outreach budget, and destroyed the comprehensive resource list that would have helped tens of thousands of people in crisis.

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[–] cheesymoonshadow@lemmings.world 8 points 3 months ago (1 children)

When I was first on my own, I was living paycheck to paycheck and only ate ramen and oatmeal at home because I couldn't afford decent meals.

The first Christmas when I could finally afford to buy presents for friends at work, I went shopping and carefully picked a gift for each person. Nothing fancy as I was still on a tight budget, but things I thought each person would enjoy. Then I splurged and bought gift bags and decorative tissue paper.

I left them all in the back seat of my piece of shit car to bring to work the next day. I figured it would be safe in the garage in a gated apartment complex. Someone broke into my car and stole it all.

They left fingerprints on my window, so I thought the police could track them down like on TV, but the police couldn't care less. It really deflated me.

[–] rekabis@lemmy.ca 4 points 3 months ago (1 children)

but the police couldn't care less.

The police protect property, not people. Your property was just too insignificant for them to care about.

If you have a net worth in the many dozens of millions at minimum, they respond much better to even tiny incidents like that.

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[–] cashmaggot@piefed.social 8 points 3 months ago

For me, it was a punk ass who would steal stuff and call me his friend. Although I don't really care (only in that indignant small child way), I did tell my partner just the other day that "I bet you his ass is in jail." Well he is, in fact, he's actually in prison for murder. So yeah, that was a thing.

[–] stealth_cookies@lemmy.ca 6 points 3 months ago (3 children)

Yes, someone stole a game console from my room in university. Then I caught them selling it on craigslist, contacted them, got their name and got them arrested and my console back.

Lucky for me that I had reported it to the police since I was considering using insurance to cover it. The officer that took the info recognised the persons name because he had pulled the guy over that week and thought it would be fun to catch him with stolen goods as well.

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[–] tektite@slrpnk.net 6 points 3 months ago (1 children)

A friend in college gave me his Gameboy Advance SP and some games, and I'd collected more games over the years. I lent everything to a coworker and then I was home sick when said coworker moved away and took it all.

Could've left it at work, could've left it with a mutual friend. They were coming back for a visit so I asked if they could bring it and they accused me of not caring about them, only the gameboy, so they did not give it back then either.

It was a huge bummer because I was on THE LAST LEVEL of Pokemon Sapphire and now it's too expensive for me to get another copy. I'd also told the guy who gave it to me originally that he could reclaim the GBA and his games if he ever felt inclined but thankfully that has not happened since I wouldn't be able to return them now.

I've had other belongings stolen from me in the past but it was the accusation that trying to reclaim my property meant I did not care about the person who stole from me that really grinds my gears even now. I'd spent a lot of time trying to help them through some difficult life stuff long before I ever lent them the console.

[–] cashmaggot@piefed.social 2 points 3 months ago (2 children)

a) Co-worker is an asshole and who the hey knows what happened to your stuff but you can reach out and see if they maybe have it in a box somewhere. $12 will get you most smaller things shipped across America (pending you're here).

b) Idk where you sit on the whole retro-gaming thing. But they've got gobtones of little handheld systems that can emulate most older systems and they're loaded to the gils with games too. I don't have one (if I feel the spirit I emulate on my phone) but they look pretty nifty. I've actively looked at them and though "Hmm, that's pretty nifty!" I am just not sure how much I would play them, and I already do well enough with my phone.

c) On the tail-end - most people will be friendly first if you do reach out. They don't feel a bunch of shame about anything, especially if you were nice to them. They might just think about the good times you spent with them and reminisce. Seriously, I would consider reaching out and seeing whatsup and then ask them if they remember the DS. But also you clearly kissed it goodbye, so it is what it is. I hope you kick the tail outta the last bit of Sapphire some day =)

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[–] rainynight65@feddit.org 6 points 3 months ago (1 children)

When I started University, I used part of my small savings to buy a very nice bicycle so I could get around between uni districts.

When I moved into a shared student apartment, there was a locked bicycle room in the basement. Only resident keys would fit that lock. Nonetheless I still locked my bike separately.

The one day I forgot to do that, my bike was no longer there the next day. It pissed me off immensely because I couldn't immediately afford a new one, and the theft really made me uncomfortable. Mostly the fact that it must have involved someone who lived in the same block.

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[–] SurfinBird@lemmy.ca 6 points 3 months ago (1 children)

The year was 1990. A kid stole my WWF ring and wrestlers. I will never forgive or forget.

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[–] Fizz@lemmy.nz 6 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Growing up our house would get robbed often. I'd say yearly. Since I was interested in electronics they would always steal my stuff. I'd get a computer and it would get stolen. I'd get a playstation and it would get stolen. I'd get an air rifle and it would get stolen. I used to wish that they would take my sisters dollhouse or books just to even the score.

The worst part was they would trash my room every time. They would break open my cupboards and draws throw my clothes on the floor. One time they stole my playstation and gba and smashed my TV. I didn't even live in a bad area. I lived in the poor part of a nice area. My theory was that people would come from poorer suburbs and since we didn't have a massive wall, gate and security system we got targeted.

[–] lemann@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 3 months ago (1 children)

That sounds horrible, literally couldn't own anything nice without it getting stolen and your personal space getting trashed..

[–] Fizz@lemmy.nz 5 points 3 months ago

It did suck and we were to poor to replace the items but at the time it wasn't to bad because I'd just go play outside or go to a friends house after school and play on their computer or playstation.

It would be way worse today where everything is online. If someone took my computer away for a year it would heavily impact my social life.

[–] cashmaggot@piefed.social 3 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Counter craziness - have you ever thought it might be younger richer kids from your area? Cause my girlfriend got shit kicked all the time for being the "poorer" person in a stinkingly rich area. And I think some rich kids are outright psychos. Either way, it sounds fucked. Did you guys end up moving ever? Or like...getting a dog. Cause dogs get thieves to fuck off.

*** Dogs got thieves to fuck off. Idk if they do anymore.

**** p.p.s. - Knew one other person who's ma (single parent) went from a nurse of some sort to a lawyer and they leveled up like crazy income-wise. But they were also targeted because of their social standing and their whole life fell apart. They are most def not doing well, even now.

[–] UKFilmNerd@feddit.uk 6 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Living with a friend, in the first place after moving out of our parents places. He smoked weed but that didn't bother me. However, one night he invited in the local weed dealer and I was really concerned but he assured me it was ok.

We both worked at the same company, so came home at the same time a day or so later to find the front door was open. They smashed the small decorative window which allowed them to reach in and unlock and open the door.

I can't remember what they stole from my friend but I lost my GameCube, controllers and all the games. Also, my first portable minidisc player and a pair of cheap earphones I used with them which I absolutely loved. The wire was like string and rarely tangled.

I had a few imported US games and I thought they might give me the edge. I rang all the local game shops to see if anyone had tried to bulk sell the lot but I was unlucky.

[–] cashmaggot@piefed.social 3 points 3 months ago

Ugh, I am sorry. Especially on those imports, that must have cost an arm and a leg. I talked about a friend who lost everything to a drug-dealer's crappy behaviors. I also know someone who was dating someone who invited a random person from the streets to come hang with them and then all of a sudden they were freebasing in their living room. I think they're pretty lucky that things didn't go down like this down the road. Cause sketchy people do sketchy things =/

Sorry again =/

[–] remotedev@lemmy.ca 5 points 3 months ago (1 children)

About 15 years ago I went on a trip from San Diego to NY. We were staying in a shitty Days Inn in some some town. We left our luggage in the rooms, and went out for the day, and I had left my iPod nano in there. When we came back that evening, my iPod was gone and my package of brand new boxers was missing a pair also. I assumed they hid the iPod in the rolled up boxers. We went down to complain to the front desk but they didn't give a shit. Lessons were learned that day. I was so excited to listen to Biggie "Going Back to Cali" on my way back to Cali and that's what was REALLY stolen from me :(

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[–] punkaccountant@lemm.ee 5 points 3 months ago (4 children)

A coworker I didn’t particularly like, but we were able to work together fine, was leaving the job. On his last day…I came in to start my shift, he was ending his…we were the only two on staff (evening/nights job). I kept a box of ice cream sandwiches with my name on it in the work fridge for a mid-shift snack. Found out later in my shift that he ate the last one…put the wrapper in the box and left the box in the freezer. Not sure if it was personal or he was just a POS…but I was LIVID.

Definitely more of a “mildly infuriating” one…but it sticks with me.

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[–] PolandIsAStateOfMind@lemmy.ml 5 points 3 months ago

Yes, every workday the owner of company i work in steal from me.

[–] maegul@lemmy.ml 5 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Yep. Fucking hate thieves

Pushbike stolen ... Many times. Once was kinda my fault for leaving it out, but every other time it was some cunt working hard to get a push bike. Every time I only found out just when I was going to the bike to go some where. One time, the bike was in a secure garage with two gates and the fucker secretly tail gated a car on foot to get in and then waited for another car to leave to tailgate them.

Motorbike stolen ... it was a cheap and nasty one but still

Apartment broken into ... 18th birthday present fancy watch stolen along gaming console

[–] cashmaggot@piefed.social 3 points 3 months ago (3 children)

Nah, never your fault. You were just being you. Humans make mistakes. Assholes just take advantage of that fact. That garage bit there is why I always tell my girlfriend safety is an illusion. Cause like you could have some Fort Knox shit going on, and still get absolutely screwed out of something. I mean, I'm still locking my doors. I'm not saying like...I'm not, but you know - if people see something they want they'll work their damndest to get it. I'm sorry people kept hitting you up, but I hope things are somewhat better now? At least on the homefront. I don't know about bikes, cause those things are still being stolen like crazy.

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[–] ClassifiedPancake@discuss.tchncs.de 5 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Yes, two bikes. Made me very paranoid and hate people.

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[–] HubertManne@moist.catsweat.com 4 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Im a bit busy but like I can't believe anyone can get to adulthood without having something stolen from them and likely stealing something to boot.

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[–] Corno@lemm.ee 4 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (2 children)

I had my art stolen and combined with other stolen art by an AI image prompter. Some of my work is very personal to me and I have zero tolerance for art thieves.

[–] cashmaggot@piefed.social 3 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Ngl, I stopped posting stuff pretty much as a whole because of bots and thieves and shit heads. But then again, they're gunna steal all of this (text-based) stuff and talk like a shit-eating hooker so muwahahahaha!

Sorry that they did you like that. I'm not even sure what to do in the end because even if you crop your art for litigation and ownership - who you gunna sue? It really is crazy though because I believe creative endeavors are copyright the second idea hits the "paper."

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[–] Rocketpoweredgorilla@lemmy.ca 4 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (5 children)

Recent story but not me. A friend of mine just had his car stolen two days ago. He was going to bed around midnight and heard something outside, so he looked out the window just in time to see his vehicle rounding the corner on the street.

He phoned the RCMP who managed to catch the guy a few miles down the road. The thief had ripped the Sirius radio out of the vehicle but otherwise there didn't seem to be any damage. My friend and his mom had picked up the vehicle the next morning and was driving home when they heard a loud "pop" and the vehicle caught fire, burning to the ground. (My guess is when the guy ripped out the radio some wires got damaged and shorted out.)

So now he's scrambling to find a new set of wheels that he can't really afford to do because he needs it to get back and forth from work which is 16 miles one way. He will eventually get some insurance money for the vehicle, but who knows how much, and that probably won't be for a little while. In the meantime he's kind of up the creek without a paddle.

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[–] 2xsaiko@discuss.tchncs.de 3 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Someone stole my digital camera when I was a kid. I left it near the window at the place we were staying at for our vacation and someone must have grabbed it from the outside while we were gone. I was probably pretty mad about it back then. Nothing since, that I can remember right now at least.

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[–] intensely_human@lemm.ee 3 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I was a kid once and heard a group of kids following me. I was trick or treating.

Heard them coming up behind me and was expecting them to attack me. Instead one of them just grabbed by bag of candy and ran off.

I started to go after them but my friends stopped me and said with all the solemnity a 7 year old could muster, “let it go”.

They shared their candy with me.

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[–] Hextubewontallowme@lemmy.ml 3 points 3 months ago (2 children)

An umbrella...

Some fellow student named Jordan did it years ago...

I'm still pissed and wondering where wtf he lives

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[–] Catsrules@lemmy.ml 2 points 3 months ago (3 children)

Someone stole my car's owner manual.

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[–] Nemo@midwest.social 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Yeah, about five minutes ago. It happens. I'd rather extend trust and sometimes be disappointed than live in paranoia.

[–] cashmaggot@piefed.social 2 points 3 months ago

=(

I don't know what I want to live in. Cause I have been open as a book, and gotten jacked up. Being closed off is most certainly not healthy either. And things are things. But I really wish people stayed in their lanes.

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