New computer stolen by builder

TheSunRisesInTheEast

Please give barmcake a break. She went to stay in a guest house, she probably didn't want to take her computer when her phone will do. They weren't stored together, the computer was under the bed and the password book was in her drawer. It's upsetting a situation without people nitpicking and making the woman feel careless. She wouldn't have thought she had to lock everything away like Fort Knox. Anyway, she's back home now. It's up to her whether she wants to pursue it with the builder at the end of the job. She may just want to drop it, have some peace after the upheaval and look forward to her next move.

Thanks so much for the kind words. I admit to being book smart but not life smart. I always think 'this one is different'! I've been stupid.

I think I've only posted one or maybe two threads since 2022. That hardly constitutes an attention seeker.

I have never had a smart phone. I'm using my old laptop as you can see from I.P. address. I'm moving forward and can't wait to get rid of the responsibilities of owning a home.

Esmay

I thoroughly agree with Caleo .
It is a crime and you can't let it pass.

We let people into our homes on trust and anything can happen ....sometimes theft sometimes assault.

I've been looking for a DIY guy and my last experience was unfortunate .
Thoroughly recommended by my long term friend he'd done many successful projects for her parishioners .
Everything was fine at first - he seemed willing and versatile and then, his black moods ensued,the work slowed ,his language was foul ,his tempers alarming and eventually he walked out on me leaving a terrible mess .

I found out that he has a criminal record .

Recently I thought that I'd found a replacement only to find that he has many arrests for GBH against an ex /resisting arrests .
He asked me out on a date !
Er no thank you !

That sounds awful. You sound a bit like me when it comes to picking builders. If you're elderly and living alone it can be quite frightening. Why do some people just sail through life and others go from one crisis to another. My sister has never had a bad experience with builders. Unfortunately she's too far away for me to use hers.

The good news is they've almost finished the front of the house and put new windows in yesterday. Front is a mossy green with oak doors and windows. I absolutely love it and I'm so happy at the moment. Going out to get some bright flowers for the front today.

Oh I know Shrewsbury well. Never knew that.
We do have alleyways Cossy but usually where all the terrace houses are.
We don’t have back streets in the area where I live.

“Aldom

MT62
Oh hi Oreo. A ginnel in Lancashire is a sort of pathway that cuts through housing estates from one road to another.
There are schools near us & all the parents cut through as a short cut.
But of course ‘wrong uns’ passing, could be in & out of our house & up through the ginnel in a flash if we left the door unlocked.
In Shrewsbury they are known as
Shutts and Passages.“

In Essex we call them alleys, or alleyways or even cut-throughs.

MT62

Oh hi Oreo. A ginnel in Lancashire is a sort of pathway that cuts through housing estates from one road to another.
There are schools near us & all the parents cut through as a short cut.
But of course ‘wrong uns’ passing, could be in & out of our house & up through the ginnel in a flash if we left the door unlocked.

In Shrewsbury they are known as
Shutts and Passages.

If temporarily leaving an empty house for building work you would surely put a padlock on a room containing personal stuff, not wrap it with ‘binding’.
If you come back to find the door of that room not just unsecured but open you would surely ask whoever was in charge why.

Cossy

Having read twice through this story, I hate to say it but some red flags here, the first one is what is OP using to post on here as she said she didn’t have a smartphone?

I hate to doubt people and like to think the best of everyone, whenever possible, but something just doesn’t add up here?

Anyway, apologies for my suspicions and hope whatever is happening here has a swift and positive outcome!

There is wall to wall confusion, indecision, inability to stand up for herself (if true) maybe exaggeration, who knows, but most of all given that OP claims
The weird thing is I've got a strong gut feeling for who the culprit is there is a worrying lack of common sense.
OP claims to have been shafted by a previous builder, left seriously out of pocket, reimbursing her neighbour (why?) and clearly feels herself to be the victim here despite not taking normal security precautions.
You don’t cross a busy street without taking account of the traffic or leave expensive equipment where a casual thief (or dodgy tradesman) can help himself.

I don’t think red flags etc matter much here. Some good advice has been given, helpful to anyone who finds themselves in such a position.

TheSunRisesInTheEast

Please give barmcake a break. She went to stay in a guest house, she probably didn't want to take her computer when her phone will do. They weren't stored together, the computer was under the bed and the password book was in her drawer. It's upsetting a situation without people nitpicking and making the woman feel careless. She wouldn't have thought she had to lock everything away like Fort Knox. Anyway, she's back home now. It's up to her whether she wants to pursue it with the builder at the end of the job. She may just want to drop it, have some peace after the upheaval and look forward to her next move.

Maybe read again, carefully, I read through twice!

Having read twice through this story, I hate to say it but some red flags here, the first one is what is OP using to post on here as she said she didn’t have a smartphone?

I hate to doubt people and like to think the best of everyone, whenever possible, but something just doesn’t add up here?

Anyway, apologies for my suspicions and hope whatever is happening here has a swift and positive outcome!

Cossy

Your worst action is being trusted, this is not your fault, but you MUST, either now or when the job is complete tell the builder!

Even if to prevent this happening to anyone else.

Have you paid in full?

For goodness sake, please take some action!

I agree.

This could happen to others if you let them (whoever) get way with it.
If you report it to the police you will get a crime number for insurance purposes too.

Caleo

Builder Theft – What to Do (UK Guide You Can Share)

A builder stealing a computer and a book of passwords is a serious crime (theft and potentially fraud/identity crime). Here’s what to do:

Report it to the police
Call 101 (non-emergency) or report online. If you feel at risk, call 999.
Give details of the builder, dates, and what was taken. Keep the crime reference number.
Secure all accounts immediately
Assume all passwords are compromised.
Change email passwords first, then banking, shopping, and everything else.
Turn on two-factor authentication where possible.
Contact your bank
Tell them passwords may have been stolen.
Ask them to monitor accounts and add extra security.
Report fraud risk
Contact Action Fraud (UK national fraud reporting centre).
Keep evidence
Save all messages, invoices, and any CCTV footage.
Report the builder
If they were found via Checkatrade or TrustMark, report them there too.
Check insurance / recovery options
Home insurance may cover theft. You could also consider small claims court if the builder is identified.

Important:
Builders in the UK are not required to have criminal background checks for normal home jobs, and checks are not a guarantee of honesty.

Safety tips going forward:
Keep valuables and documents locked away, don’t leave passwords lying around, and avoid large upfront payments.

From ChatGPT

Fab advice

Your worst action is being trusted, this is not your fault, but you MUST, either now or when the job is complete tell the builder!

Even if to prevent this happening to anyone else.

Have you paid in full?

For goodness sake, please take some action!

Please give barmcake a break. She went to stay in a guest house, she probably didn't want to take her computer when her phone will do. They weren't stored together, the computer was under the bed and the password book was in her drawer. It's upsetting a situation without people nitpicking and making the woman feel careless. She wouldn't have thought she had to lock everything away like Fort Knox. Anyway, she's back home now. It's up to her whether she wants to pursue it with the builder at the end of the job. She may just want to drop it, have some peace after the upheaval and look forward to her next move.

Quite! Allira. I would never leave anything like that behind!

Aveline

Feel better of your outburst? Have a think why others might harbour dark suspicions about this and your previous posts. If you post on a public forum you should expect that not everyone will agree with you or support your actions - or inactions.

I'm still waiting for the post that said this is my second computer to be stolen?????

MT62

Oh hi Oreo. A ginnel in Lancashire is a sort of pathway that cuts through housing estates from one road to another.
There are schools near us & all the parents cut through as a short cut.
But of course ‘wrong uns’ passing, could be in & out of our house & up through the ginnel in a flash if we left the door unlocked.

For someone to go upstairs, rifle through drawers in the bedroom, find a laptop and the passwords stored together in the knickers drawer seems very odd. They would have to take a while to put everything carefully back, use gloves or they'd leave fingerprints and that does not sound like the work of an opportunist thief.

Why would you go to stay elsewhere and not take the laptop with you anyway?
🤔

friendlygingercat

I can understand you are upset and the massive sense of betrayal.

would never leave a workperson/cleaner alone in my house no matter how long I had known them. I am not a trusting person. The only person who has keys to my house is my nephew. He built my PC and does all my techy stuff anyway so he knows all the passwords.

Why? Have you had a bad experience in the past, with cleaners/ workmen stealing from you?

I thoroughly agree with Caleo .
It is a crime and you can't let it pass.

We let people into our homes on trust and anything can happen ....sometimes theft sometimes assault.

I've been looking for a DIY guy and my last experience was unfortunate .
Thoroughly recommended by my long term friend he'd done many successful projects for her parishioners .
Everything was fine at first - he seemed willing and versatile and then, his black moods ensued,the work slowed ,his language was foul ,his tempers alarming and eventually he walked out on me leaving a terrible mess .

I found out that he has a criminal record .

Recently I thought that I'd found a replacement only to find that he has many arrests for GBH against an ex /resisting arrests .
He asked me out on a date !
Er no thank you !

Feel better of your outburst? Have a think why others might harbour dark suspicions about this and your previous posts. If you post on a public forum you should expect that not everyone will agree with you or support your actions - or inactions.

Aveline

Amazing really considering her computer has been nicked (again)

Please find the message that says 'my computer was nicked for a second time'. If you can't find it I will apologise, if not, have the decency to apologise.

Secondly, part-exchange is accepted provided the property is in a reasonable condition. Please find this information yourself. They will NOT part-exchange on a wreck. No company can force you to renovate. I'm dealing with the same lady and we have had discussions on how best to proceed.

I don't have the time to go digging as I'm expecting a house full of builders and will reply when they've finished. Would you like a zoom interview, where I can answer all of the catty comments.

To those of you who have been super supportive, thank you. We do not know what a person is going through or what kind of position their in, so please don't be so quick to judge.

The biggest idiots I know are the know-it-alls who delight in kicking people when their down. It's always the same little gang, just like the school playground.

Have you given your door key to anyone else ? Is this builder the only one who has been given access to your house while the builder was working. Seems strange that it is too obvious that a builder would risk being blamed after being left in the house alone.

I can understand you are upset and the massive sense of betrayal.

would never leave a workperson/cleaner alone in my house no matter how long I had known them. I am not a trusting person. The only person who has keys to my house is my nephew. He built my PC and does all my techy stuff anyway so he knows all the passwords.

Oh hi Oreo. A ginnel in Lancashire is a sort of pathway that cuts through housing estates from one road to another.
There are schools near us & all the parents cut through as a short cut.
But of course ‘wrong uns’ passing, could be in & out of our house & up through the ginnel in a flash if we left the door unlocked.

Elsi

What do you mean? MawsRosie?

Perhaps confused? Forgetful? Or embarrassed to admit to what some of us find strange behaviour.
Who knows?