New computer stolen by builder

Please give barmcake a break. She went to stay in a guest house, she probably didn't want to take her computer when her phone will do. They weren't stored together, the computer was under the bed and the password book was in her drawer. It's upsetting a situation without people nitpicking and making the woman feel careless. She wouldn't have thought she had to lock everything away like Fort Knox. Anyway, she's back home now. It's up to her whether she wants to pursue it with the builder at the end of the job. She may just want to drop it, have some peace after the upheaval and look forward to her next move.

Your worst action is being trusted, this is not your fault, but you MUST, either now or when the job is complete tell the builder!

Even if to prevent this happening to anyone else.

Have you paid in full?

For goodness sake, please take some action!

Caleo

Builder Theft – What to Do (UK Guide You Can Share)

A builder stealing a computer and a book of passwords is a serious crime (theft and potentially fraud/identity crime). Here’s what to do:

Report it to the police
Call 101 (non-emergency) or report online. If you feel at risk, call 999.
Give details of the builder, dates, and what was taken. Keep the crime reference number.
Secure all accounts immediately
Assume all passwords are compromised.
Change email passwords first, then banking, shopping, and everything else.
Turn on two-factor authentication where possible.
Contact your bank
Tell them passwords may have been stolen.
Ask them to monitor accounts and add extra security.
Report fraud risk
Contact Action Fraud (UK national fraud reporting centre).
Keep evidence
Save all messages, invoices, and any CCTV footage.
Report the builder
If they were found via Checkatrade or TrustMark, report them there too.
Check insurance / recovery options
Home insurance may cover theft. You could also consider small claims court if the builder is identified.

Important:
Builders in the UK are not required to have criminal background checks for normal home jobs, and checks are not a guarantee of honesty.

Safety tips going forward:
Keep valuables and documents locked away, don’t leave passwords lying around, and avoid large upfront payments.

From ChatGPT

Fab advice

Cossy

Your worst action is being trusted, this is not your fault, but you MUST, either now or when the job is complete tell the builder!

Even if to prevent this happening to anyone else.

Have you paid in full?

For goodness sake, please take some action!

I agree.

This could happen to others if you let them (whoever) get way with it.
If you report it to the police you will get a crime number for insurance purposes too.

Having read twice through this story, I hate to say it but some red flags here, the first one is what is OP using to post on here as she said she didn’t have a smartphone?

I hate to doubt people and like to think the best of everyone, whenever possible, but something just doesn’t add up here?

Anyway, apologies for my suspicions and hope whatever is happening here has a swift and positive outcome!

TheSunRisesInTheEast

Please give barmcake a break. She went to stay in a guest house, she probably didn't want to take her computer when her phone will do. They weren't stored together, the computer was under the bed and the password book was in her drawer. It's upsetting a situation without people nitpicking and making the woman feel careless. She wouldn't have thought she had to lock everything away like Fort Knox. Anyway, she's back home now. It's up to her whether she wants to pursue it with the builder at the end of the job. She may just want to drop it, have some peace after the upheaval and look forward to her next move.

Maybe read again, carefully, I read through twice!

I don’t think red flags etc matter much here. Some good advice has been given, helpful to anyone who finds themselves in such a position.

Cossy

Having read twice through this story, I hate to say it but some red flags here, the first one is what is OP using to post on here as she said she didn’t have a smartphone?

I hate to doubt people and like to think the best of everyone, whenever possible, but something just doesn’t add up here?

Anyway, apologies for my suspicions and hope whatever is happening here has a swift and positive outcome!

There is wall to wall confusion, indecision, inability to stand up for herself (if true) maybe exaggeration, who knows, but most of all given that OP claims
The weird thing is I've got a strong gut feeling for who the culprit is there is a worrying lack of common sense.
OP claims to have been shafted by a previous builder, left seriously out of pocket, reimbursing her neighbour (why?) and clearly feels herself to be the victim here despite not taking normal security precautions.
You don’t cross a busy street without taking account of the traffic or leave expensive equipment where a casual thief (or dodgy tradesman) can help himself.

If temporarily leaving an empty house for building work you would surely put a padlock on a room containing personal stuff, not wrap it with ‘binding’.
If you come back to find the door of that room not just unsecured but open you would surely ask whoever was in charge why.

MT62

Oh hi Oreo. A ginnel in Lancashire is a sort of pathway that cuts through housing estates from one road to another.
There are schools near us & all the parents cut through as a short cut.
But of course ‘wrong uns’ passing, could be in & out of our house & up through the ginnel in a flash if we left the door unlocked.

In Shrewsbury they are known as
Shutts and Passages.

“Aldom

MT62
Oh hi Oreo. A ginnel in Lancashire is a sort of pathway that cuts through housing estates from one road to another.
There are schools near us & all the parents cut through as a short cut.
But of course ‘wrong uns’ passing, could be in & out of our house & up through the ginnel in a flash if we left the door unlocked.
In Shrewsbury they are known as
Shutts and Passages.“

In Essex we call them alleys, or alleyways or even cut-throughs.

Oh I know Shrewsbury well. Never knew that.
We do have alleyways Cossy but usually where all the terrace houses are.
We don’t have back streets in the area where I live.

Esmay

I thoroughly agree with Caleo .
It is a crime and you can't let it pass.

We let people into our homes on trust and anything can happen ....sometimes theft sometimes assault.

I've been looking for a DIY guy and my last experience was unfortunate .
Thoroughly recommended by my long term friend he'd done many successful projects for her parishioners .
Everything was fine at first - he seemed willing and versatile and then, his black moods ensued,the work slowed ,his language was foul ,his tempers alarming and eventually he walked out on me leaving a terrible mess .

I found out that he has a criminal record .

Recently I thought that I'd found a replacement only to find that he has many arrests for GBH against an ex /resisting arrests .
He asked me out on a date !
Er no thank you !

That sounds awful. You sound a bit like me when it comes to picking builders. If you're elderly and living alone it can be quite frightening. Why do some people just sail through life and others go from one crisis to another. My sister has never had a bad experience with builders. Unfortunately she's too far away for me to use hers.

The good news is they've almost finished the front of the house and put new windows in yesterday. Front is a mossy green with oak doors and windows. I absolutely love it and I'm so happy at the moment. Going out to get some bright flowers for the front today.

TheSunRisesInTheEast

Please give barmcake a break. She went to stay in a guest house, she probably didn't want to take her computer when her phone will do. They weren't stored together, the computer was under the bed and the password book was in her drawer. It's upsetting a situation without people nitpicking and making the woman feel careless. She wouldn't have thought she had to lock everything away like Fort Knox. Anyway, she's back home now. It's up to her whether she wants to pursue it with the builder at the end of the job. She may just want to drop it, have some peace after the upheaval and look forward to her next move.

Thanks so much for the kind words. I admit to being book smart but not life smart. I always think 'this one is different'! I've been stupid.

I think I've only posted one or maybe two threads since 2022. That hardly constitutes an attention seeker.

I have never had a smart phone. I'm using my old laptop as you can see from I.P. address. I'm moving forward and can't wait to get rid of the responsibilities of owning a home.

Allira

Witzend

Whether it’s foolproof I don’t know, but we only use people recommended on the Which Trusted Traders site. It’s worked for us so far.

Not for our neighbours, unfortunately.

They had a bad experience with builders who were on a recommended list and in fact they were really threatening.

Not for me either had a terrible job done by a plumber from the trusted traders site where they can recommend themselves very easily.

The last builder damaged my neighbours house and I've had to have the roof and gutter redone at great expense to me.

His reviews were outstanding and he was a polite and charming.

The good builders all seem to be booked up for years and don't need to advertise themselves in any way.

It must have been a big disappointment. Being threatened by builders is totally unacceptable but seems to happen often now.
.

I w ould ask the workmen if anyone oother than they had had access to your house while they were there.

If they so no, I would then say, "I am asking because my new computer and a list of my passwords written down in a note-book are missing from such and such a place. Are you sure no-one has been here?"

If they still say no-one has been in the house, ask if there have been any signs that someone had been in after the left work one day and came back the following day.

Then I would report the matter to the police as theft. You don't have to do this in the presence of the workmen.

You might be lucky and the missing things "mysteriously" turn up in some room where the builders can say they never have been into.

If your "gut feeling" is about another person, then tackle them in the same fashion.

I would out right say 'have you moved it?' if he says no say well my son can trace it as we put a tracer in it, so its no problem then we will get the police involved.

Because the stolen items include passwords, this is considered a high-risk security breach (potential fraud/identity theft) rather than just a theft of goods.Here is a step-by-step guide on how to proceed in the UK.
1. Immediate Security & Safety (Priorities 1-3) Secure Digital Assets: Use a different device to change passwords immediately. Prioritize bank accounts, email, and password managers. Assume all accounts linked to the computer are compromised.
Report to Action Fraud: Report the stolen password book to Action Fraud (the UK's national fraud and cyber-crime reporting centre) to get a crime reference number. Report Theft to Police: Call 101 to report the computer theft. Tell them it was stolen by a contractor. Obtain a crime reference number. Secure the Property: If you haven't already, ensure the site is secured and stop the contractor from accessing it until you have a plan, change locks ASAP.

2. Handling the Builder and Unfinished Work.. You need to separate the criminal act (theft) from the contract (building work), but they are now intertwined. Notify the Builder in Writing: Send a formal letter/email to the builder (not just a verbal warning). State that a theft has occurred, you have reported it to the police, and provide the crime reference number. Do Not Confront Alone: If you think a specific worker did it, notify the owner of the firm in writing. Let them handle the investigation. Review Your Contract: Check your contract for termination clauses. If the builder has breached the contract (which theft does), you may be able to terminate.Consider Termination: If you have lost trust, it is often better to "cut and run". You may need to hire another professional to finish the job. Withholding Payment: You can typically withhold payment for incomplete or defective work. If the builder has stolen items, you may be able to set off the cost of the stolen goods against the payment owed.

3. Dealing with Rising Costs/Home Insurance: Inform your home insurer. Even if you don't make a claim for the computer, they may have legal assistance for disputes with contractors. Ask if they cover "construction site theft" by contractors.
Stop Work Safely: If you need to stop work, get a new contractor to make the site safe and secure first. Document Everything: Take photos of the unfinished work and make a detailed list of all missing items, their age, and estimated value.Summary of Actionable Steps...

Call 101 (Police).Call Action Fraud (0300 123 2040).

Change all passwords on a secure device.

Send a written notice to the builder about the theft.

Seek legal advice if the builder threatens to stop work or makes demands for payment.

Barmcake, it's your property, your business, if you just want to put it all behind you, it's up to you. If you want to report it to the police, it's also up to you.

I hope your move goes well and you will have a happy, relaxing and peaceful life in your new home 🙏.

If it is a small team of builders speak to the boss man as he may have innocently employed someone who is dishonest and will give his firm a bad name. Explain that you won’t be able to recommend him even if his work is excellent. My friend had a small painter decorator firm and did a job in a pub but one of the young lads stole from the fruit machine. The Landlord told my friend what had happened and he approached the lads and said that they wouldn’t be paid until the thief owned up and repaid all the money. Problem solved but the lad had some explaining to do to his father as to why he’d lost his job on the second day. You’ll need to change you passwords quickly and maybe freeze your accounts if you use internet banking. It’s unusual for burglars to hunt around for password records so they must had had plenty of time. Good luck. My computer has a tag on it so I can trace it, I usually lose it in the house and can track it down. Very useful.

That's very useful advice. I didn't have bank names in my passbook and it would be difficult for someone finding it to know what the passwords related to. I've changed them all now.

I do envy those who are married to a builder or has a husband who can get up on the roof and fix leaks etc.

I did ask if anyone had been in. The owner said his girlfriend came in to clean. I'm always wary they'll come back at a later date and throw a rock through the window or something.

Some awful experiences above.

Thank you Dreadwitch, that's useful.

Am having a new front door today so will probably need to change the lock. Do people usually do that?

barmcake

TheSunRisesInTheEast

Please give barmcake a break. She went to stay in a guest house, she probably didn't want to take her computer when her phone will do. They weren't stored together, the computer was under the bed and the password book was in her drawer. It's upsetting a situation without people nitpicking and making the woman feel careless. She wouldn't have thought she had to lock everything away like Fort Knox. Anyway, she's back home now. It's up to her whether she wants to pursue it with the builder at the end of the job. She may just want to drop it, have some peace after the upheaval and look forward to her next move.

Thanks so much for the kind words. I admit to being book smart but not life smart. I always think 'this one is different'! I've been stupid.

I think I've only posted one or maybe two threads since 2022. That hardly constitutes an attention seeker.

I have never had a smart phone. I'm using my old laptop as you can see from I.P. address. I'm moving forward and can't wait to get rid of the responsibilities of owning a home.

Having had all the work done on your house and liking the results why would you want to get rid of the responsibilities of owning a home? Do you plan to sell it and look for a place to rent?

I was planning to buy or rent a small garden flat in an assisted living block. I just don't want the responsibility of maintenance. My house is Victorian and absolutely freezing in winter and needs constant upkeep. I hate having workmen in and all the disruption that comes with it.