I can't make peace with movers having stolen things from my home

[Anonymous]

During our most recent move I had movers pack up my things for the first time in my life (I always packed myself, so they transported taped-up boxes). Lo and behold, upon unpacking it turns out that several things were missing: a small oil painting (part of a set, bought in Europe, basically impossible to replace), my only four brand name handbags, and a stack of gilded, reticulated, hand-painted heirloom porcelain plates.

Even though the magnitude of this loss is objectively minor compared to people who lose everything in a fire, tornado, etc., I can't seem to get over it. I really miss these items, and I am furious that these people broke my trust. I called the moving company and even talked to the guy who packed up my closet. Of course he denied it, in a lame tone.

The moving company has offered to reimburse 60cents per pound. An insulting joke.

[Anonymous]

I think it's more likely that a box got misplaced, than that the movers stole porcelain plates and an oil painting.
The handbags, maybe. But there's not much resale market for porcelain plates.

[Anonymous]

Are you completely unpacked. Can you determine which of the packers was in that room picking those items? Have we looked in all adjacent boxes or inside sheets/bedding or unorthodox means of protection?

Once you are fully unpacked of every box then you’ll be in a position to make a police report.

Check your ring cameras/anything that would’ve captured movement of these items.

Present the company with the police report. And then use that as leverage. But you’ve gotta be pretty sure at that point. Otherwise use your homeowners insurance with the police report.

Now you know to get better insurance coverage. Sorry it went this way. Hope they’re somewhere in the boxes.

[Anonymous]

OP here. No, I think the guys wanted the porcelain plates and the oil painting for themselves/their wives.

All these items were in different rooms. It is not like they were packed in the same box. Moreover, the other small oil paintings in the set were packed in the same box, with room to spare. It would have been logical to put the last oil painting there.

[Anonymous]

I get it OP. I recently had my credit card info stolen by an appliance repair person who came to my home. Not as bad as losing heirlooms but still incredibly violating. Definitely changes your perspective on trust.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you completely unpacked. Can you determine which of the packers was in that room picking those items? Have we looked in all adjacent boxes or inside sheets/bedding or unorthodox means of protection?

Once you are fully unpacked of every box then you’ll be in a position to make a police report.

Check your ring cameras/anything that would’ve captured movement of these items.

Present the company with the police report. And then use that as leverage. But you’ve gotta be pretty sure at that point. Otherwise use your homeowners insurance with the police report.

Now you know to get better insurance coverage. Sorry it went this way. Hope they’re somewhere in the boxes.

OP here. I unpacked everything. I only know the guy who packed up my closet.
We have ring cameras only outside. I did see some open boxes being moved, but they could have contained packing materials.

The police will not do anything.
I will not file an insurance claim, because they would raise our premium. For example, they raised our premiums even when a neighbor flooded our basement, paid all damage out of pocket, and I have withdrawn my claim.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:During our most recent move I had movers pack up my things for the first time in my life (I always packed myself, so they transported taped-up boxes). Lo and behold, upon unpacking it turns out that several things were missing: a small oil painting (part of a set, bought in Europe, basically impossible to replace), my only four brand name handbags, and a stack of gilded, reticulated, hand-painted heirloom porcelain plates.

Even though the magnitude of this loss is objectively minor compared to people who lose everything in a fire, tornado, etc., I can't seem to get over it. I really miss these items, and I am furious that these people broke my trust. I called the moving company and even talked to the guy who packed up my closet. Of course he denied it, in a lame tone.

The moving company has offered to reimburse 60cents per pound. An insulting joke.

This happened to me. I file a police report followed by an insurance claim. Magically Lu missing items were found once the police got involved.

[Anonymous]

I moved a lot with different movers, including internationally. Never had things stolen. Not saying it doesn’t happen or didn’t happen to you, but it’s not super common. Having things stolen by movers directly affects their business. It’s not something they take lightly. Check that you have unpacked everything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. No, I think the guys wanted the porcelain plates and the oil painting for themselves/their wives.

All these items were in different rooms. It is not like they were packed in the same box. Moreover, the other small oil paintings in the set were packed in the same box, with room to spare. It would have been logical to put the last oil painting there.

I think you are dramatically overestimating the appeal of porcelain plates (!!) and your oil painting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you completely unpacked. Can you determine which of the packers was in that room picking those items? Have we looked in all adjacent boxes or inside sheets/bedding or unorthodox means of protection?

Once you are fully unpacked of every box then you’ll be in a position to make a police report.

Check your ring cameras/anything that would’ve captured movement of these items.

Present the company with the police report. And then use that as leverage. But you’ve gotta be pretty sure at that point. Otherwise use your homeowners insurance with the police report.

Now you know to get better insurance coverage. Sorry it went this way. Hope they’re somewhere in the boxes.

OP here. I unpacked everything. I only know the guy who packed up my closet.
We have ring cameras only outside. I did see some open boxes being moved, but they could have contained packing materials.

The police will not do anything.
I will not file an insurance claim, because they would raise our premium. For example, they raised our premiums even when a neighbor flooded our basement, paid all damage out of pocket, and I have withdrawn my claim.

So why are you paying for insurance? Self insure if you can’t use what you pay for, seriously.

[Anonymous]

I am really sorry OP. No real advice, I just sympathize with you.

I am fairly certain a housekeeper stole my bracelet on a recent trip. It wasn't a super high $$ item, but it was the first piece of 'nice' jewelry I'd saved up and bought as a young recent college graduate. It was a bummer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you completely unpacked. Can you determine which of the packers was in that room picking those items? Have we looked in all adjacent boxes or inside sheets/bedding or unorthodox means of protection?

Once you are fully unpacked of every box then you’ll be in a position to make a police report.

Check your ring cameras/anything that would’ve captured movement of these items.

Present the company with the police report. And then use that as leverage. But you’ve gotta be pretty sure at that point. Otherwise use your homeowners insurance with the police report.

Now you know to get better insurance coverage. Sorry it went this way. Hope they’re somewhere in the boxes.

OP here. I unpacked everything. I only know the guy who packed up my closet.
We have ring cameras only outside. I did see some open boxes being moved, but they could have contained packing materials.

The police will not do anything.
I will not file an insurance claim, because they would raise our premium. For example, they raised our premiums even when a neighbor flooded our basement, paid all damage out of pocket, and I have withdrawn my claim.

So why are you paying for insurance? Self insure if you can’t use what you pay for, seriously.

DP. Homeowner’s insurance is basically for catastrophic coverage. If you file small claims they can and will drop you. Then you’ll have to get a much more expensive specialty policy. This happened to me so when I was finally able to get a normal commercial policy again (I think after 3 years) I got a very high deductible policy ($10,000) with cheap premiums.

[Anonymous]

Like you, I feel violated and will never get over it. The kids too since the things stolen actually belonged to them. It was a good life lesson for them since we were chatting with them all day and they seemed friendly. It proves my point about not trusting people outside the family. And yes they stole them right under our nose - they were in a specific place and then they weren’t. It actually made me reluctant to have any workers in my house now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I moved a lot with different movers, including internationally. Never had things stolen. Not saying it doesn’t happen or didn’t happen to you, but it’s not super common. Having things stolen by movers directly affects their business. It’s not something they take lightly. Check that you have unpacked everything.

Some companies employ 10-20 staff and have multiple trucks. They don’t know about everything and there’s certainly nothing they can do to ensure that all of those people are honest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Like you, I feel violated and will never get over it. The kids too since the things stolen actually belonged to them. It was a good life lesson for them since we were chatting with them all day and they seemed friendly. It proves my point about not trusting people outside the family. And yes they stole them right under our nose - they were in a specific place and then they weren’t. It actually made me reluctant to have any workers in my house now.

Don't teach your kids to be cynical and paranoid. Most people are good. Teaching your kids that they can trust no one outside your family is setting them up to be anxious and unhappy.