Stroller still missing at daycare

[Susie]

I posted last week that our umbrella stroller has gone missing from daycare.  I used it to drop Hobbes off last Wed. AM and left it in the area for storing infant car seats/strollers.  Calvin forgot it when he picked up on Wed (he just carried her out), and on Thurs I carried her in.  When he picked up on Thurs, I reminded him to take the stroller, and it was gone.  We reported it to daycare on Fri AM.

Fri PM, all the kids got notes in their cubbies about the missing stroller, with a stock picture.  

The note was very "we know mistakes can happen and pickup can be hectic, just bring it back, no questions asked."  It is now Wed, and it's still MIA.

There are a million cameras in the building lobby, parking lot, elevators, and halls.  There's no way a review of the video won't show it leaving.  They've already reviewed drop off and pickup times to verify that I arrived with it on Wed., and Hobbes left without it on Wed and Thurs.  But since it's a federal building, for reasons that I don't totally understand, apparently reviewing the intervening hours is a whole big THING, and they won't do it without reporting stolen property.  They're probably going to come down hard on whoever took it.  A larceny charge is likely.  I don't really want that, but I do want my stroller.

One one hand, I don't think I should drop this just because it's going to go badly for somebody.  I also (am admittedly type A and spent too much time testing strollers) and cannot fathom how anyone possibly accidentally mistook our stroller for theirs.  I know the other strollers that get stored in that area, and none are similar to ours.  OTOH, what if it was a grandparent who didn't know and was helping a parent out, and all they were looking for was a "blue stroller" or something.  And then back OTOH, well it's been almost a week, how have the parents not noticed they have a stroller that isn't theirs yet?  And it was a pretty nice umbrella stroller!

I hate feeling like I'm being "that parent" at daycare.  But moving forward at this point is fair and reasonable, right?  

[countthestars]

What does daycare suggest?

[lacey]

Yes, it is fair and reasonable to move forward.

If you want to give one more chance you could ask the daycare to send out one more note asking for the stroller to be returned by Friday or stolen property will need to be reported so the buildings cameras footage can be reviewed. A larceny charge is likely if this is needed. No question will be asked if returned before Friday (or whatever day you pick).

[boiler717]

Is it spring break time there? I'd maybe give some time in case people are OOT as it's spring break week here.

[karinothing]

Apr 5, 2017 9:05:00 GMT -5 lacey said:

Yes, it is fair and reasonable to move forward.

If you want to give one more chance you could ask the daycare to send out one more note asking for the stroller to be returned by Friday or stolen property will need to be reported so the buildings cameras footage can be reviewed. A larceny charge is likely if this is needed. No question will be asked if returned before Friday (or whatever day you pick).

I do think you could ask the police not to charge whomever took the stroller if that is the issue (meaning if you don't want to get someone in that much trouble).

I think I would do like lacey, says and ask the daycare to send another notes about involving the police and reviewing the cameras. Can the person drop the stroller off at security, maybe they are too embarrassed to bring it back to the daycare itself. Also, one final question, are you sure it wasn't custodial staff? Or anyone else in the building after daycare closes?

[patches31709]

Do you know if there is also another unclaimed stroller? So someone grabbed yours by accident instead of theirs? Either way, I agree with pp about the note saying camera footage is going to be reviewed if it isn't returned by whatever specified date.

[Mrs.flang]

I definitely wouldn't drop it.  And if IRC, you only have a limited amount of time before the security tapes are erased, so at this point I don't think I'd wait much longer.  If it was truly a misunderstanding, can't the charges be dropped?

[countthestars]

I think I'd give it a little more time. We have a bunch of part timers at day care so if someone only comes Tues/Thurs they may have just gotten their note yesterday.

Note: I personally think they should have told daycare already, but I'd give through the end of this week, I think.

[MadamePresident]

How much is the stroller worth?

[gigem]

Thats a really nice Maclaren stroller! I don't have any advice but hope you get it sorted out asap.

Does your rental or home insurance cover items stolen outside of the home? I guess you'd have to file a police report to claim it? In Paris we have to lock our strollers down with bike locks or they'd all disappear from the creche, I would never think to do that inside of a federal building!

[miamigirl]

That's annoying. I'm sorry. I wouldn't want to get anyone in trouble but I'd want my stroller back.
What does the daycare suggest?

[vmars]

Did you ask if any grandparents picked up in those 2 days? I'd ask that first. If not, I would pursue it further. If this person is stealing a stroller they could be stealing from other people.

[sju1982]

Even if it were a cheap stroller, just the principle of the matter would burn me up enough that I would move forward with reviewing security footage. I would, however, send out one more note giving the parents a head's up that they had one last time to figure out if they accidentally took the stroller before security footage would be reviewed.

And don't feel bad - you did nothing wrong. The parent that has the stroller is in the wrong here. I guess I can understand walking away with the wrong stroller in the chaos that is drop off/pick up, but I would realize very quick that a mistake had been made.

[noodleoo]

Ugh, I wouldn't let this go. That's an expensive stroller! Honestly, I'd probably give it a week and if not, pursue getting the footage. Is it possible that someone who is not a parent could have really stolen it? Or is the area secure and only parents and daycare employees can access it?

I spent way too much time researching strollers. I'm irrationally annoyed that our umbrella stroller was damaged on a recent flight. I'd be SO PISSED if someone took it from daycare. No way I am shelling out another $200 on a stroller without pursuing every option to get it back.

[gigem]

Thread jacking but noodleoo did you try to file a claim with the airline? I have had two strollers damaged and replaced by airlines with no hassle, they told me since it is for children I didn't even have to try to fix it (as they might make you try for a suitcase). They just refunded me for the cost of buying a new "comparable" stroller.

[noodleoo]

Apr 5, 2017 9:43:57 GMT -5 gigem said:

Thread jacking but noodleoo did you try to file a claim with the airline? I have had two strollers damaged and replaced by airlines with no hassle, they told me since it is for children I didn't even have to try to fix it (as they might make you try for a suitcase). They just refunded me for the cost of buying a new "comparable" stroller.

Oh really?  H didn't think they would care.  I will tell him to call.  It was American.  They kind of suck in general.

[loskadoodle]

I would move forward. It's not a "cheap" umbrella stroller. It's a nice one and someone must know by now that it's not theirs. Especially because of the note.

[bcarp30]

I think if another caregiver accidentally took the stroller it would be returned by now because with the notes and stock photo provided by daycare someone would have noticed it by now. It's an expensive stroller and what if that was your only stroller? Or if something else was happening that prevented them from being able to replace it?

There's the benefit of doubt, but someone has that stroller in their possession and you bought it. Push forward.

[ewall]

I wouldn't drop it.

Have you checked Craigslist or whatever else is popular in your area? In case someone's trying to sell it.

[mekia]

I wouldn't feel bad- it is a stolen item. I would push.

[gigem]

noodleoo Yes at least try! I got the first new stroller the same day I landed and my money back within 48hrs. And the other one I ordered online so I got my refund even before the new stroller arrived. Considering the small fortune I've given to air.france it is the least they could do haha

[cricketwife]

I will be really surprised if a parent stole it. I'd there was a mistake or it was stolen by someone not a daycare parent. Either way, you need to review the tapes to get the story.

[pinotgrig]

I would move forward. If it were a jacket or pants or something ok, things happen. I know I've not noticed strange laundry until I actually do laundry like a week later but this is a stroller!

[scm1011]

I wouldn't drop it. If someone took it by accident they've already been notified and have had the opportunity to return. If they stole it, they're an asshole and deserve to be charged.

[Susie]

Apr 5, 2017 9:24:30 GMT -5 MadamePresident said:

How much is the stroller worth?

The current version is $225.

Apr 5, 2017 9:11:35 GMT -5 patches31709 said:

Do you know if there is also another unclaimed stroller? So someone grabbed yours by accident instead of theirs? Either way, I agree with pp about the note saying camera footage is going to be reviewed if it isn't returned by whatever specified date.

There are no other unclaimed strollers.  There actually aren't very many strollers at all; the space is only supposed to be used by the 16 infants' parents since it is limited and most parents seem not to, at least lately.

Apr 5, 2017 9:33:40 GMT -5 miamigirl said:

What does the daycare suggest?

Daycare is driving the timeline on working with the DHS and security to review the video.  Admittedly in response to me checking in at the office every morning asking if they've gotten any news.  We would have the option to put the brakes on it.

[Susie]

Apr 5, 2017 9:37:43 GMT -5 noodleoo said:

Is it possible that someone who is not a parent could have really stolen it? Or is the area secure and only parents and daycare employees can access it?

Yes it's possible, but access is limited.  Strollers are stored in a hallway area with the daycare-owned quad strollers and a few other daycare-owned supplies.  The hallway is located immediately outside the keypad-locked daycare door, with a security guard posted outside the hallway entrance during business hours.  I suppose anyone with access to the elevators/building would have access outside business hours.  This is apparently the first time this has happened in like 20 years though.  It's so weird.  I'm equal parts curious and annoyed.

Apr 5, 2017 9:31:23 GMT -5 gigem said:

Does your rental or home insurance cover items stolen outside of the home? I guess you'd have to file a police report to claim it? 

We have a $1k homeowners' insurance deductible, so it wouldn't help in this case.

[sometimesrunner]

I would pursue this further. It could be a grandparent who has forgotten it the trunk of his/her car, or it could be someone who intentionally stole it. Either way, hopefully you get your stroller back. You're not an asshole to pursue this. If someone intentionally stole it, it is likely not the first item they stole. They're due for a little karma.

[noodleoo]

Susie, are you willing to just buy another $225 stroller and forget about it? I wouldn't be. If not, you don't really have any other choice than to pursue it.

[ewall]

Also, selfishly, I want to know where this stroller went. #invested

[hermione]

I would assume something like one parent took it by mistake and it is in their trunk. Possibly the other parent got the email and has no idea his/her partner has it. Can they pursue the matter but not press charges if it turns out to be a simple mistake like this?