The family jewel thief, or unsolvable mystery?

[Anonymous]

I’m sorry! That really sucks and it’s awful when family becomes so materialistic after a death.

That said, after “a few years” go by, it’s too late. If she’s a great person, you’ll get them back. But it doesn’t sound that say. Good luck, though!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m sorry! That really sucks and it’s awful when family becomes so materialistic after a death.

That said, after “a few years” go by, it’s too late. If she’s a great person, you’ll get them back. But it doesn’t sound that say. Good luck, though!

Pp - “way” not “say” - sorry!

[Anonymous]

OP, if you're confident she took it (I would be), send an email copying everyone that makes it very clear you expect it back ASAP. Don't be overly nice -- just direct. Tell her you're sending a certified letter, too.

Then assuming she gives you the run-around, cut her off. She'll know why and so will everyone else.

I have an aunt who did something similar on a smaller scale and everyone was too nice and uncomfortable to address it openly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d show up at her house with your photos (unannounced) and compare directly against her collection. I doubt she sold it—reselling jewelry is difficult.

... with the police. And the FIL. To retrieve his property.

You’re quoting me. I’m a lawyer. The police are not going to tag along with this. Police don’t really GAF about familial squabbles.

Everyone else yammering about civil suits and criminal charges are similarly off their rockers. Being legally right isn’t nearly as helpful as people think. Catching her off guard is your best hope.

+1 to this. Show up unannounced or let it go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d show up at her house with your photos (unannounced) and compare directly against her collection. I doubt she sold it—reselling jewelry is difficult.

This. Show up there. Be pleasant but firm and explain you’re there to make it more convenient for her to give it back. Go with her to her bedroom when she goes to get the jewelry.

Be prepared to have the relationship permanently damaged. She sounds like a very shitty person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d show up at her house with your photos (unannounced) and compare directly against her collection. I doubt she sold it—reselling jewelry is difficult.

... with the police. And the FIL. To retrieve his property.

You’re quoting me. I’m a lawyer. The police are not going to tag along with this. Police don’t really GAF about familial squabbles.

Everyone else yammering about civil suits and criminal charges are similarly off their rockers. Being legally right isn’t nearly as helpful as people think. Catching her off guard is your best hope.

Maybe you're a lawyer and maybe you're not. You don't sound like a lawyer. Of course the cops don't care about family squabbles. This is not about a family squabble, it's about a theft worth tens of thousands in value. If the statute of limitations has not run out, OP's DH/FIL have a full right to report the theft. I would suggest OP's DH/FIL discuss this with your local police department, with an emphasis on the circumstances involving an elderly man. However, I would suggest FIL be kept out of it as much as possible because it will distress him.

[Anonymous]

Man, Susie sure set herself up to be haunted by MIL and to come back as a fly stuck in a horse's diarrhea.

[Anonymous]

Put all the pics together in one box. Get invited to Susie's house. Go rogue and find her jewelry box. Locate these items and put the items, pics and email trail in front of her. Walk out with the items. The relationship will be over. It sounds like it's worth it.

[Anonymous]

It sounds like FIL offered her jewelry, retreats that she took it all (or so much) then asked someone else to say she should send most if not all of it back. Does anyone actually know what FIL said to her when giving her the jewelry (or at least offering for her to take a few pieces)? I am thinking that come out once a gift is given, a person cannot really demand it back. And it doesn’t seem like anyone knows what the father-in-law gave her. Whatever she says, and whatever you say, it seems like everyone agrees that she took jewelry after it was brought down by your father-in-law, that she was offered at least son, and that he didn’t stop her from taking the amount she took, though he regretted it immediately there after. Unfortunately, for someone who is either greedy, or happy with what they believe they were given and not really caring about discussions with extended family, it’s a bit hard to say she is a thief. if I am understanding correctly, the person who allegedly gave her the jewelry never asked her for it back , and I am not sure if she would be required to give it back in any event. and any of her offers to give all or a portion Back later, or even not telling Family that she had had, could be Spohn to be just her way of avoiding family she doesn’t want to interact with. Scene in the bus favorable light to her, she was given jewelry by someone and then other family members got pissed and wanted it back. She isn’t required to give it back, so she stalled, lied, and decided not to respond. All very, very selfish contact, but not against the law.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d show up at her house with your photos (unannounced) and compare directly against her collection. I doubt she sold it—reselling jewelry is difficult.

... with the police. And the FIL. To retrieve his property.

You’re quoting me. I’m a lawyer. The police are not going to tag along with this. Police don’t really GAF about familial squabbles.

Everyone else yammering about civil suits and criminal charges are similarly off their rockers. Being legally right isn’t nearly as helpful as people think. Catching her off guard is your best hope.

Maybe you're a lawyer and maybe you're not. You don't sound like a lawyer. Of course the cops don't care about family squabbles. This is not about a family squabble, it's about a theft worth tens of thousands in value. If the statute of limitations has not run out, OP's DH/FIL have a full right to report the theft. I would suggest OP's DH/FIL discuss this with your local police department, with an emphasis on the circumstances involving an elderly man. However, I would suggest FIL be kept out of it as much as possible because it will distress him.

NP. It's a civil matter. She asked and was given permission. FIL later had regret.

[Anonymous]

Call her and ask for them back.

I did this in a similar situation and the thief was so surprised that she was caught that she apologized, made up a story to cover her tracks, and returned the jewelry at the next holiday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d show up at her house with your photos (unannounced) and compare directly against her collection. I doubt she sold it—reselling jewelry is difficult.

... with the police. And the FIL. To retrieve his property.

You’re quoting me. I’m a lawyer. The police are not going to tag along with this. Police don’t really GAF about familial squabbles.

Everyone else yammering about civil suits and criminal charges are similarly off their rockers. Being legally right isn’t nearly as helpful as people think. Catching her off guard is your best hope.

Maybe you're a lawyer and maybe you're not. You don't sound like a lawyer. Of course the cops don't care about family squabbles. This is not about a family squabble, it's about a theft worth tens of thousands in value. If the statute of limitations has not run out, OP's DH/FIL have a full right to report the theft. I would suggest OP's DH/FIL discuss this with your local police department, with an emphasis on the circumstances involving an elderly man. However, I would suggest FIL be kept out of it as much as possible because it will distress him.

NP. It's a civil matter. She asked and was given permission. FIL later had regret.

I’m the quoted lawyer and, yup, this. Cops are not going to give a single F about any aspect of this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d show up at her house with your photos (unannounced) and compare directly against her collection. I doubt she sold it—reselling jewelry is difficult.

... with the police. And the FIL. To retrieve his property.

You’re quoting me. I’m a lawyer. The police are not going to tag along with this. Police don’t really GAF about familial squabbles.

Everyone else yammering about civil suits and criminal charges are similarly off their rockers. Being legally right isn’t nearly as helpful as people think. Catching her off guard is your best hope.

Maybe you're a lawyer and maybe you're not. You don't sound like a lawyer. Of course the cops don't care about family squabbles. This is not about a family squabble, it's about a theft worth tens of thousands in value. If the statute of limitations has not run out, OP's DH/FIL have a full right to report the theft. I would suggest OP's DH/FIL discuss this with your local police department, with an emphasis on the circumstances involving an elderly man. However, I would suggest FIL be kept out of it as much as possible because it will distress him.

NP. It's a civil matter. She asked and was given permission. FIL later had regret.

Definitely a he said/she said. If the FIL offered, and then stood there and watched her take the jewelry and said nothing, it's difficult to prove theft. The best bet would probably be if you could prove the FIL wasn't fully competent and allege elder abuse. Some states have separate elder abuse statutes.

If you really want to pursue it, I'd go down the path of offering to come to her house with the inventory and match the pieces. I wouldn't just show up and barge in and start rummaging around in her house -- you could get charged with trespass/theft. If she refuses, then consult with a lawyer who could write a demand letter.

[Anonymous]

OP, sorry, but only a fool would put valuable jewelry in an attic. You should have rented a safe deposit box at local bank. Also, you have no proof that she stole anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, sorry, but only a fool would put valuable jewelry in an attic. You should have rented a safe deposit box at local bank. Also, you have no proof that she stole anything.

This. Also this happened years ago?