Wasn't there a thread on Odd Neighbors? Have I got a story!

[Lollipop's Mom]

I am just fuming , but at the same time can't help but just laugh at this new neighbor..... I thought people on here might get a laugh at this, so thought I would share it....

A bit of background first....
We live in a townhome complex, and lived in #11 for 18 months and found out the owners sold and we had to move. Well #12 (next door) came up for rent, and since my daughter adores her school and friends in the neighborhood, it worked perfectly. Not to mention it was an easy move.
It worked perfectly because a little girl (I will call her Jane) the same age as my daughter moved into #11 and they hit it right off. Instant best buddies and have everything in common. They spend every possible minute they can together and have never had a fight. A beautiful friendship in the making.
Mom of this kid is a little odd. She sits in her car in the carport and smokes and reads books. We have beautiful little backyards, and also room for lawn chairs in the carport, but she sits in her car. She spends about 60% of her day in her car.

When we moved, she said she would bring over any mail that got misdirected and has done that a few times. I buy/sell alot of stuff on ebay and she brought over a cd I just bought. Our mail lady knows us really well and is aware we moved, so has just been putting anything with our names on it that is still going to #11 into box #12. She said we may as well save the $40 it costs to do a change of address, and between her and the new neighbor, we can get our mail.

My daughter has a particular animal she loves. This is a very hard thing to find and I found a really cool sparkly shirt on ebay with this animal on it back in mid-April. I ordered it for her bday in May. It was new with tags and I got it for a steal. Was so excited. Well it never came, and never came. I had emailed the seller and they assured it was sent. Today my daughter said 'Oh mom you should see Jane's shirt!! It has the animal on it and it glitters and has this cute saying on it....... and all of a sudden the penny dropped. I showed her the ebay photo and she said 'Yah - thats it!!! Oh please buy it for me! I want one too!'. So ok....this has been a mistake? But how do you open a parcel with a shirt in it that you never ordered or anything, and not wonder why you have it???
This kid has been wearing it and apparently it shrunk in the wash, and she can't wear it anymore. Grrrrrrrr.
So I phone the mom to leave voicemail. I knew they weren't home and was fuming, had to do 'something'.

Then I start to think some more...... didn't Jane show my daughter some 'new' Mary Kate & Ashley Jeans and a shirt she got a week or so ago?? Yahhh...wait she had....... so I ask my daughter to describe the jeans - they had a certain design on them -and she described the jeans and the shirt to the letter. Again, I show her the photo of this item I had bought and not yet received, and yep...thats them. Those are the same clothes Jane has!

OMG!!!! I am completely in shock, but also have to laugh because how on earth does this mom figure we are not going to see the kid in these clothes?????? She is still not home so I can confront her. I have to do this very carefully because of the girl's friendship. I have never seen my daughter so close with a friend before and can't mess this up on them. Also, how do you rip a kid's 'new' clothes away from her? yah....your mom stole these and we need them back!!!??!!!

Wish me luck with this woman -I am just shocked! I am not shocked that someone would steal - theives are everywhere - but if you are going to steal, don't make it so easy to be found out by having your kid wear the clothes you stole from the neighbor!!!!
What would you do?

 

[kadaten]

First, a change of address is free! Not $40 like the mail lady said. You get the forms for FREE at the post office, fill them out, and hand it back to them.

But for your question, I think it would be cruel to take them from the kid since it (I hope) wasn't her doing the stealing. I would, however, present the mother with a bill for the things she has stolen. You may want to get copies of the mailing confirmations from the sellers if they have them, copies of your winning auctions online, etc. to show her....

I'd also have a serious talk with the mail lady...if those things are coming to the townhouses with your name on them, there's no reason they should be left next door. You might ask her....is she leaving them on your doorstep or the neighbor's? Either way, it's theft, but it may make some difference whether they were on her front steps or yours (or in her box or yours).

But, since she's a bit "off"....you should be prepared to deal with some crazy behavior. Like make sure someone else is home with you when you confront her...or have the police department on speed dial. It's mail fraud to open mail that isn't yours, by the way....a federal offense...this seems kinda minor, but it's still a federal offense to tamper with the mail....

Good luck! I hate having to do stuff like this....

Oh...and I'd also request that ALL package come "signature required for release" from now on....better to pay the little extra up front than have it stolen again

 

[zurgswife]

Good Luck!!!

 

[Lorix2]

Is it possible that since the mother spends so much time alone, that if the package was left at the door, that "Jane" opened it by herself and said you're daughter gave them to her?

I guess I'm reaching because it's so hard to believe that an adult would let this happen. It IS theft and I'd definitely speak to her about it.

Maybe you're daughter can ask Jane where she got the clothes??? See what the answer is before you go over there.

 

[tiggersmom2]

OMG!!!! I......just.....don't......think.....I .....could....be..NICE

 

[Lollipop's Mom]

I am in Canada, so it does cost nearly 40 bucks to change your address and have stuff forwarded to you. You can change your address for free, but if you want any mail that goes to the old address, you have to pay for that. With the expense of hydro/phone/cable re-hook ups I decided to save myself 40 bucks (stupid...I know, but whatever).

The parcels would have been in MY name, but the mail lady who was making sure I got my stuff was on holiday for a week. I forgot to mention that. Her replacements would have just put the parcels in the neighbors box, but would have had my name on them. I have had a ton of mail for the lady who used to live here, and just write 'moved' on it and drop it back in the mail slot. The neighbor knows our last name obviously, and has probably been curious as to what was inside and opened them. Figured they fit Jane and for some odd reason figured we would never know!

I have already printed the winning ebay auctions with photos. We are in Canada, and these are clothes you can only buy in the US, so she can't easily say its a coincedence. LOL!

 

[chell]

 

[Lollipop's Mom]

My daughter said that Jane was proudly showing them off and said that Mom bought them at the mall for her and they were surprises when she got home from school!

 

[HappyMommy2]

Wow, that is unbelievable! I am fuming now right along with you. What a yucky and uncomfortable situation.

Maybe I'm too nice but if it were me, for the sake of peace, I think I'd just count those couple of outfits as a loss, pay the $40 for a change of address, and then not order anything till the address change is final. Also I would talk to your regular mail carrier and be extra-sure she understands the situation.

Unfortunately I'm guessing this won't be the last "weird neighbor" episode you have to deal with with this lady! As someone else suggested, you will want to use caution in your dealings with her; she isn't acting like a responsible, honest, sane adult would act--who knows what unusual stunt she may pull next?

Good luck.

 

[Stepharoonie!]

I don't know about Canada, but here in the US it's illegal to steal someone else's mail!! I would march over there and show her a picture of the items I'd bought along with any tracking info to prove she's a thief. I may even go as far as calling the police, to be honest.

Well, maybe I wouldn't do that...but I'd be pretty steamed!!

 

[mckryan]

After all this is settled, I'd seriously consider getting a post office box. If anything, have your ebay auctions sent there so you can avoid this happening again.

 

[Lollipop's Mom]

yes I would love to call the cops...problem is the girl's friendship. If that was not at risk I would be screaming in her face. We have moved around a LOT since my daughter was a year old and we finally feel settled in somewhere, and now she has a great little friend. I don't want to ruin it over a few dollars worth of clothes, but I do want the mom to know that 'I' know. I am hoping she is pretty embarrassed or at the least has a very logical explanation (I doubt what that could be......).

 

[Disney Doll]

I'd hand the e-bay auction info at a time whent hegirls weren't around and say "These are things that I purchased through ebay for my daughter. Your daughter told me that you had them waiting as a surprise for her when she got home from school. Since she and my daughter are such good friends, and she is a nice little girl, I would obviously not her her by telling her the truth. If it happens again, I will be forced to go ot the police." Then either do an official change of address or get a PO box.

 

[kilee]

I actual am in disbelief. Some things never cease to amaze me. I think I'm just as amazed that you have to pay to have your mail forwarded next door. Good luck, and please let us know how it ends.

 

[Lollipop's Mom]

Well I just confronted her. She came home and I talked to her, showed her the ebay stuff, but she claims that these AMERICAN clothes were bought by a friend and given to the child last weekend. I can't prove otherwise, but did say 'well isnt that funny? 3 items of clothing that I bought and have gone missing, your friend just 'happens' to buy the exact same things for your daughter, right next door to us' -UGGGGGGGGGH I HAVE SOME FOUR LETTER WORDS I WANT TO USE RIGHT NOW!!!!!!

Also, she said the jeans came from costco - but anyone with a daughter knows that only walmart carries Olsen Twins stuff.....and the other 2 items were not bought in Canada. Plus this shirt is very very rare - took me a month to even find this animal on a shirt!!!!!

I WANT TO SCREAM!!!!!

So how about this? Sitting in my backyard on the phone with a friend and LOUDLY telling them the story??? Sorry - guess I am just in revenge mode. I didn't think she would flat out lie - just make up a story.

 

[tinatark]

I don't get why these are being delivered to her address? I know you used to live there, but are the ebay sellers sending your auction items to the old address?? If they aren't, then why is the mail carrier not paying attention to the shipping address?

Also, when I haven't received items I've ordered from ebay (only happened once), I go back thru the ebay channels to get a refund from the seller. Are you doing this? If so, then there are other possible reprecussions for the mother.

This mom does sound like a nut!

 

[Lollipop's Mom]

Oh the problem was I forgot to change my address on paypal and paid,etc...., then realized about a week later. Was just a blonde moment. I didn't worry though, because my neighbor was so nice and offered to bring stuff over...... GRRRRRRRRRR.

 

[Kewz1]

Wow. The nerve of some folks.

I agree with Disney Doll's post. Let the neighbor know you are aware of the situation. Tell her because of the girls' friendship you are opting to let it "slide" for now but it better not happen in the future.

Keep us posted!

Kristen

 

[Kallison]

Maybe the idiot will be too embarrassed to do it again.

 

[Lollipop's Mom]

I think it got lost, but at the bottom of page one is my confrontation with the mother.

My daughter said the jeans were too big for Jane, but fit her perfectly (trying on each others clothes as girls do), so I am going to ask the mom to give me the bill for the jeans, and offer to buy them from her since they fit my daughter so well. Would like to see her produce the bill. LOL.