Updating post from Reddit.
I’m beyond frustrated and honestly don’t know what to do.
About 12 days ago, when I still hadn’t fully moved out of my apartment, I came back to grab more of my belongings — and realized most of my remaining valuables were gone. I searched everywhere, thinking maybe I’d misplaced them, but they were nowhere to be found.
I asked my landlord about it, and that’s when I found out an inventory clerk (from a company called "The Inventory House") had been in my home — without my knowledge — to “document the state of the property.” I was never informed or given the chance to be there.
The timing lines up exactly between when I last saw my items and when they went missing (a one day window). I have no concrete proof it was them, but I can’t think of any other explanation — I still had my keys and no one else had access to the apartment except the porter and the landlord. What's more, I had a look at the photos taken by this "inventory clerk" and and all the locations where my items were taken from were either not shown at all, or conveniently covered up with other items like clothes or sleeping bags. What a coincidence!
What's even weirder is that bags that were under the bed were dragged out, opened and left that way. Why would any professional inventory clerk do this?
Since then, I’ve contacted the police (no response yet, and I’m not optimistic) and the inventory company (who ignored my calls and emails for a week — until I mentioned the police). They eventually replied, denied taking anything, and said I was accusing them just because I “wanted compensation.”
Has anyone else experienced something like this? What legal options do I even have here, or am I just completely screwed?
If you can get the police to investigate (and that’s a very big if nowadays) they’ll get the name of that clerk and hopefully be able to trace back where they’ve been before. It’s highly unlikely you’re the first person they’ve stolen from. The problem is definitely going to be getting the police to care.
Did you call the police or send an online form?
I would go into the local station, report a theft, and get a crime reference number.
Then reply to the inventory company and give them the crime reference number.
Tell them you don't want compensation, you want your stuff back.
There aren't any local police stations anymore. You have to just ring the non emergency number.
Don't know where you live mate, there are plenty around here.
But you're right, calling is better than submitting a form or emailing
Leeds. They closed the last one years ago.
Quick google tells you the elland road police station/HQ is open for walkins
Depending of the times check local second hand shops, eBay or FB market place for listings that may have your items
I can't see why the LL would employ the inventory clerk when your belongings were still at the flat. Did you overstay? My advice would be to write to the LL and ask him to repay the stolen value, and let him deal with the inventory company. Otherwise, take him to (small) Court (claim). I occasionally work as an inventory clerk, and there is no way that anyone would check your bags if they didn't think things would stay in the flat for the new tenants.
all a bit circumstantial, true or not, its far from the reasonable doubt threshold
Items went missing first - - - > landlord said people came unauthorised = breach and theft, unlikely foul play from your end
In other words, if the items never went missing, you'd probably not have known anyone was there
If landlord told u people were coming - - - - - > then you said things were missing = then that could be said to be dodgy on your part
It's the sequence of events!!!!
You would be making a tort claim against your landlord, they haven't taken your stuff but their actions seem to have lead to your stuff going missing. In the absence of a police report/crime reference number I would be wary of filing any claim on that basis.
Do you have contents insurance? They would cover accidental loss such as this.