CCTV of guest stealing chopping board!

[Elaine712]

Hi,

Yes this is as crazy as it sounds. I have 3 adults and 1 child guest currently in my property. 2 of the adults are grandparents and 1 adult is their daughter.

I happened to check my blink cctv camera as id had trouble with a neighbour the other week-so just checked in and saw the elderly female guest taking my white chopping board to their car and hiding it under the passenger seat.  I also think she has been snaffling other items and trying to hide them-going out and placing things in her car boot but i cant quite see what they are.

They have been very odd guests. They first arrive and wanted a late checkout as they arrived late. i said I can let them stay til 1pm. response was-"can we have longer?" not even a thanks for the extra 3 hours! i said no due to cleaning etc - no response.

I've got a no smoking policy yet she is smoking at the back door and chucking fag-ends down the drains. 

Today I saw the old woman taking the chopping board etc and tonight the younger adult guest had 2 teenagers and another little girl over. the teenagers left late tonight but we now have another child over the agreed guest numbers.

im a bit miffed about the stealing (the cost is minimal) and slightly worried they are stealing more bits.

They check out today and I've decided I will go park on the drive to effectively block them in and do "check out checks" and just have a look around. if the chopping board and other bits are missing I will ask them there and then if they know where the items might be. if they deny it i will show them the cctv. 

also worth noting-they havent used my front door at all. i state i have cctv covering my property on the listing but i think they have assumed its just the front door! and my camera covers our whole drive-not just the door. just seems so odd not to use thte front door unless they were trying to sneak extra guests in and steal things without being seen by the camera.

Any thoughts on how you would deal with this issue? Its not about the money-just fuming about the theft. i can't sleep for thinking it over so much.

thanks

[Elaine701]

Oh boy. This one is a facepalm 🙄

Yes, do that! Ask where the stuff is, and when they feign ignorance, show them the video.

Any chance of getting video of the look on their faces? Do you have a GoPro or something? 

I'd love to see that. 

[Elaine712]

ha ha I do actually have a gopro-that would be funny.  i'll do the confrontation infront of cameras or i will have my phone recording in my pocket. Also got my mum meeting me at the property who will be a good distractor as I check the place.

I've got blink cameras set up at all doors-but basically it covers all sides of the house where anyone could try to get in. 

[Till-and-Jutta0]

I would report the theft to the police.

It's good that you mentioned "Security camera/recording device" in your listing.

[Anonymous]

@Till-and-Jutta0 I've never lived in the kind of city where the police have so little to do that they'd respond to a call about a stolen chopping board. What's it like? 

[Till-and-Jutta0]

It has definitely also its good sides to live at a place like ours, @Anonymous  😂

[Patricia3334]

hahahahahahahaha Excellent answer!

[Helen3]

You would report the theft of a chopping board to the police @TillandJutta0 - really ????

[Mike-And-Jane0]

Hi @Till-and-Jutta0 I fear @Elaine712 will have little joy with the police as she has 'handed over' the keys to her space voluntarily. I hope I am wrong and would be interested to hear what other UK hosts have experienced in this regard.

[Elaine712]

Hi, just handing over your keys doesnt mean people can just take your things. it's still theft just not breaking and entering. I had shown the cctv to my copper mate and he said if they kick up a fuss just call 101, report with cctv imagery and give their car reg details-he said a very simple theft that could be sorted easily. 

[Suzanne302]

@Elaine712  How bizarre!!! I don't have any advice but please post an update after they check out! I mean, stealing a cutting board?? Who does that??

[Anonymous]

@Suzanne302   Considering the age of the guest, my first guess would be that the "theft" is an early sign of dementia. Inexplicable stealing and hoarding of random items is a really common behavior for people with Alzheimer's, but it often goes unnoticed because the person seems outwardly clear and cogent.

[Lorna170]

@Elaine712   Andrew has a very good point; if the elderly person is the only one who has been squirrelling things away in the car, and those items are similar in consequence to the cutting board, it could very well be dementia.  When you confront the guest and show them the video, you could ask if "Mom's behavior" is being treated by a physician -- it gives them a graceful out and hopefully the return of your belongings with very little fuss.

[Lisa723]

@Elaine712 I would definitely assume this could be a medical issue but I would definitely not ask that question. I would also not setup anyone to be caught in a lie. I would be up-front and non-confrontational/non-judgmental about what the camera picked up. Who is the booking guest?

[Elaine712]

Hi all-just a very quick note to say I got it all sorted. I'll elaborate with the details tomorrow as I am so tired after such a busy day, but got advice from my good friend who is a policeman and dealt with it...was very discreet and she said her mother has dementia-well thats what she said and i wasnt going to make a scene of it and gave her the benefit of the doubt...i didnt accuse, just empathised with her situation.

On another note they left the place in a real filthy mess.....never again!!!  

Anyway...will expand on this tomorrow 🙂