Flat mate trouble what would you do?

right well basically, a flat mate and her friend who is in the flat opposite picked up a purse and a mobile phone last night. As i believe it was lying around and they grabbed it and left.

Once i was back to the flat, they told me and another flat mate that they have spent £2000 ordering products online. The girl whose purse and phone it was started to call her phone, and my flatmate answered, this girl then offered £50 for the return of her phone when my flatmate was replying things like give me either £200 or the pin to your credit cards. now this went on and on and my flatmate ended up snapping the sim card into two.
The girls were then planning on going to tesco to spend money on the card on self service and buying more goods but thankfully they didnt.

Earlier today the girls woke up and showed signs of remorse, but i doubt they are actually feeling guilty for the girls whose bellongings it was but more hoping that they wouldnt get caught.

I went to the student advice center at uni because if the girls are capable of this i personally dont want to live with them as they are obviously shown to be thieves and untrustworthy. I have another appointment tomorrow as the advisor needed to investigate things but the impression i got today was that, if i reported these girls i would have to do it overtly because i would need to give evidence against them, something which i dont want to do.

The advisor said that they are not even sure how severe punishment from the university would be and that there would be no guarantee the university would act in such a case. They also told me the university would only act if and only when this case goes to court and the girls are proved guilty. Now because of the amount that was spent im scepticle that the case would even go to court.

I asked if they could not just search through the uni network history and find out they had done it and i would not have to overtly and they are going to get back to me on this. But i was also told that if i started getting harassment in the flat from these girls that it would be me who would have to move and not them, something i dont want to do as i get on really well with my other flatmates.

My main gripe is this obviously is a horrible thing to do, but the girls whose purse and things it was, happens to be a foreign student. This means this girl could be over here now with no money, no access to money if they dont have cards, no telephone and lost numbers of friends back home.
if you were me would you report these girls or not is my main question

Reply 1

she

16

report them, otherwise you'll be as bad as them

Reply 2

Anonymous #1

OP

to be honest thats exactly how i feel.

Reply 3

rosetinted

2

Personally I would phone the police. Stealing someone's phone and credit cards and running up bills of over £2000 is a criminal offense. I don't know how you can possibly see these girls do something like this and not wish to report it. Being apathetic about what is happening and allowing them to get away scot free is almost as bad as if you had stolen the money and phone from her yourself.

Just imagine if you were in her situation. You just moved away from your home, your phone is your lifeline to speak to people back home and someone steals it. They then take all your money and cards, so you end up broke, alone and stuck in a foreign country.

The very least you should do is report it to a senior supervisor.

Reply 4

OllieA

I agree with the others; you should report these girls. Maybe get other flat mates on your side?

Reply 5

Dragon24

17

Go to the police.

Reply 6

Anonymous #1

OP

rosetinted if you pay attention to my post you will see i do wish to report this, i have been to the university student advisors, i have an appointment to see them tomorrow, i have appointments with my personal tutor to tell him. im basically stuck though because if nothing happens remember i am the one living here with them. i think this can be one of those situations where its easier for an outsider. ultimately i am going to have to report them and i know this and i know this to be the right thing, but i am just looking for support and others peoples perspectives on how to approach the situation.

Reply 7

steve2005

17

Angel83

Go to the police.

Yes , Report them to the Police.

Also, give the police the name of the idiot advisor who implied that the university might not take action.

Reply 8

Vampyrcorn

14

Anonymous

rosetinted if you pay attention to my post you will see i do wish to report this, i have been to the university student advisors, i have an appointment to see them tomorrow, i have appointments with my personal tutor to tell him. im basically stuck though because if nothing happens remember i am the one living here with them. i think this can be one of those situations where its easier for an outsider. ultimately i am going to have to report them and i know this and i know this to be the right thing, but i am just looking for support and others peoples perspectives on how to approach the situation.

Possibly you could tell the university that if they don't deal with this effectively you will go to the police (and say you would tell the police that they didn't take your concerns seriously). I would expect that to encourage the uni to take suitable action.

try and find out about what conditions you are expected to live under. i know at my uni there's a kind of 'code of conduct' type thing for residents, so there may be a chance that yours has that too, in which case you may have more of a chance to get the housemates moved rather than moving yourself.

good luck, you're doing the right thing i really hope that it turns out ok. And i agree with what the other person said about getting the other housemates on your side. :smile:

Reply 9

Anonymous #1

OP

the university has a police liason officer to which the advisor i spoke to is contacting for our follow up meeting tomorrow. The advisor herself went away and spoke to what i presume is her supervisor and asked her what she thinks would happen and it was from her that it was said she's not sure how the university would act. the advisor i have to say did like me and all of you guys so far think thats absolutely ludicrous, and it was from her i was told they would put me in other accomodation. i wont name the university yet or come out of anonymous until tomorrow when i hear what the advisor has found out from her own research. By our appointment she is asking advice on residencies about moving her out and not me, the police liason officer, the vice chancellor and the universities disciplinary panel, but i have made my mind up there is no way this can go unreported. One of the girls is a medic student, the university did tell me because of code of conduct e.t.c that her discipline would have to result in her being kicked off the course, but again as far as i have already been told this would be the result of being found guilty in court. The chances of this getting to court i imagine are very slim because of the money involved to be honest.

Reply 10

Ywiss

15

Good for you - you're doing the right thing. Keep strong - stick to your story. You're in the right here.

Reply 11

Dragon24

17

Anonymous

the university did tell me because of code of conduct e.t.c that her discipline would have to result in her being kicked off the course.

Good, can't believe someone who would be training into such a responsible role would do such a thing.

Reply 12

always + forever

1

do you know the girl whose cards and phone they were? Surely, she'll have blocked her card by now - I'd thought that they could trace the her card, identify the purchases and from that get the police to trace the ISP addresses of the girls who stole the cards, and then identify them? You need her to start pressing charges to get the other girl in court. Other, than that good luck with sorting this out, and remember to lock your door!

Reply 13

matt@internet

12

One of the girls is a medic student, the university did tell me because of code of conduct e.t.c that her discipline would have to result in her being kicked off the course,

She better get bloody kicked off. I wouldn't want a doctor with light fingers working on me.

The chances of this getting to court i imagine are very slim because of the money involved to be honest.

I imagine they are quite high as £2000 is a s**t load of money, especially for a student. And, personally, I think you should get the guts to face these bitches down in court.

Reply 14

Anonymous #1

OP

locking door is a definate must !! the girl whose cards they were im sure would have blocked them yes, but i have no idea of her name or whereabouts but i do know for a fact that she is a student at the same university (another reason i cannot believe the uni arent acting more serious). I also myself thought they must be able to trace isp addresses as i said i will let you know tomorrow.

i couldnt believe that someone undertaking medicine would be stupid enough to risk her future by doing something like this. I just hope she does get thrown off and is never my bloody GP

Reply 15

Dragon24

17

Anonymous

I also myself thought they must be able to trace isp addresses as i said i will let you know tomorrow.

Be careful cos if you don't report it and you are sharing the same ISP you could end up being accused if you have no alibi.

Reply 16

Anonymous #1

OP

well we are in halls or residence, and everyone in the flat is aware of what they have done just none of them seem bothered enough to report it. theyre happy enough to call her all the names under the sun, just not do anything about it. but i do believe if i take the first step they will follow, and if not well b*llocks to them. i couldnt not report this to the police i have to, i just needed you guys to reassure me, i was thrown when my flatmates were so reluctant to actually do anything. My mum actually said she would be ashamed of me if i didnt.

Reply 17

Dragon24

17

They could end up doing it to you or carry on doing it to other people - they have no conscious. Take someone with you to the police if your nervous. That phoney person who you complained to doesn't want to get involved as its too much hassle even though its in their job description to deal with this rubbish. I hope you don't worry too much or let it distract your studies.

Reply 18

Anonymous #1

OP

ah no its fine i wont let it detriment me at all, at the end of the day they can say what they want, do what they want but i am not the one n the wrong

Reply 19

samba

6

Phone the girls bank, with the details of the cards they used online. That's the credit cards dealt with hopefully.

The next bit is tricky...I'd personally steal the things back from these animals and then move in with a friend whilst you let the uni and police sort it out.

It should be a fairly open and shut case to be honest for the police.

Flat mate trouble what would you do?

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