My daughters jacket was stollen from school 2 weeks ago... I saw a little girl in Wal-mart wearing it tonight?

Question

It was a Columbia jacket and its an older one. My daughter got paint on it so I knew it was hers. When I asked where her daughter goes to school, then said Dame right the woman got all defensive. I wanted to smack the woman, knowing she was lying. Problem is I didn't feel the need to write all over my daughters things because I resale a lot of things and it takes away from the value. I was so heated and pi**ed. I did get my daughter a brand new coat... of the same quality, and did put her name in the new one, but feel I shouldn't have had too... Would you have said something or let it go?

Answer 1

I so understand your frustration, especially when it comes to your kids. I am so much more protective and sensative where my child is concerned. Just try to look at it this way. If somebody really needed a jacket that badly that they would steel it, just let them have it. How sad is it that that poor child needed a jacket that bad. She may not have had one and was tired of being cold. While that doesn't make it right to steal it, just have empathy for her. Not to mention, I can't tell you the number of times I have seen people make a huge deal over something they were convinced to be theirs for what ever the reason, just to find out much to their humiliation that either they were wrong or there was just more to the story than what they knew. There is a chance that your daughter actually lost the jacket and it got put into lost and found. After some time passes, the schools will donate the items in lost and found to goodwill... . I'm not saying that is the case here, but just give that some consideration. Also count your blessings that you were able to afford to buy your daughter a new jacket, not every family can say that. Keep love and peace in your heart.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

there are way too many possibilities of how your daughter's jacket ended up on that other girl. I know that a lot of schools give their old lost and found items to charity, in which case that other girl could have obtained it, maybe she took it by accident. there is no way to tell for sure that that girl(or some family member of hers or whatever) took the jacket... intentionally, so it would have been wrong to say something accusingly. like others have suggested, a simple "my daughter had a coat just like that that had paint in that same spot!, but hers dissappeared when she was at school the other day" would have gotten the point across and not made you feel like a complete jerk if it wasnt stolen.

sorry you(and your daughter) were a victim of this circumstance, but maybe you will learn that things happen, and its a good idea to write her name on the tag(so you can cut it off if you are going to resell).

edit: okay i just thought up a great way to figure out the truth; if you would have just asked the woman where she got her daughter's jacket, because you want to replace the jacket your daughter just had stolen that looked just like it. you would be dropping a hint and ultimately find out what happened, though you may not be able to do much about it, you would at least know the truth(which certainly is better than nothing)

Answer 4

I probably would have said something. The fact that you were ABLE to buy your daughter another jacket isn't the point. It doesn't take away from the fact that you had something stolen. It's unfair and would have made me angry as well. I think I would have made sure that the mom knew that I realized it was my daughter's jacket. There's always the off chance that the other girl mistakenly picked up your daughter's jacket (you didn't mention how old your daughter is, but I know that younger kids sometimes grab the wrong hats, coats, etc.) and no one realized it since there was no name in it. Or, if it was stolen on purpose, then it would have been important to me to let the other kid's mom know that it didn't go unnoticed and that you're not happy about it. Whether the other mom cares or not? Well, there's nothing you can do about that. But I know it would have at least made me feel better to say something to them. I probably would have started as you did, asking where she goes to school and then said something about how my daughter goes there, and then maybe commented on the jacket: "That's a cool jacket. My daughter used to have one just like it." and see how they react. You can't really accuse them but I would have felt the need to drop some kind of hint just so they know and maybe feel just a little bit badly about it. Sorry that happened to you--it sucks!

Answer 5

You were right to not start a scene in front of the child but I would have said I like your coat, my daughter had one just like it and even had paint in the same spot but some child in her school stole it the other day, its a shame that you kids can't have anything nice without someone else stealing it from you. Then I would have looked at the mother and said I started to report it to the school and have them check it out but figured what was the use if a kid was going to come home with a new coat their parents would know it was stolen so if they can't show courtisy to return it guess they approve of their child stealing. Would have gotten the point across loud and clear without a single hateful word. I know how it feels I always made sure my kids had nice clothes and being the dumby I am I often spent far more than should have for items especially considering the town we lived in was more a poverty level town and more than once the new jacket or hat I bought my daughter would come up missing. The sad thing is if they are that in need of something then get help don't allow your child to steal just because you can't get what they want.

Answer 6

Well I think I would say something and possibly to the school principal or even teachers. I mean when mothers are thieves it doesn't teach their children right from wrong. I mean especially if that woman knows that the jacket is not her daughters. I think the woman needs to be taught a lesson. If I were you I would tell the principal about it. Maybe the teacher of your child knows the jacket and can vouch for you. Also if you have a picture of your daughter with the jacket on then it will help your case. Also stealing is a crime and you can press charges on this woman if you can prove yourself.

Answer 7

Man, what a horrible situation. Well, if it were me, I would have said something. I understand why you didn't though. Maybe the little girl didn't have a coat of her own, but it isn't right to steal. If you ever see the lady again, and if her daughter is not with her, I would say something like, "look, I know that jacket was my daughters, so just tell me how your kid got it".

Answer 8

I would have said something, not so much because the woman lied, but because she protected her daughter that is a thief. What does that teach the child? On the other hand, the one that wrote maybe the kid didn't hage a jacket of her own, still yet, doesn't make stealing the jacket right.

Answer 9

Did you have PROOF that the woman or the girl stole the jacket? Nope...all you knew was that the girl was wearing the jacket. The person who stole it may have GIVEN the girl the jacket without her knowing where it came from or that it was stolen or they may have given it to charity and the girl would up purchasing it at a thrift store. YOU had no right confronting the girl that way and if I were the mother you'd be leaving WalMart in police handcuffs for accosting my child.

Answer 10

I think that you should just let this one go. It's not a good thing for somebody to steal your daughter's jacket and wear it and stuff... You were right to put her name on it and everything. and maybe you should put more info like your phone number. You can't do anything about this now... you could talk to the mom but i don't think that it's something you would want to do...learn to forgive and forget. you can mostly forget if you want to