Autistic brother stole mums jewellery and sold to post cash for gold

fluffnutter

bells_on_it wrote: »

My parents are definitely going to have to do something about this, i have suggested councelling or something, because it doesn't appear he understands the severity of what he's done, I quite agree that he's been sneaky and have been on at my parents to properly deal with this and have made some suggestions as to how we can intercept post in the future and for them to have a word with the postman. He clearly must understand what he's doing, like you say the lengths he went to cover up what he was doing again which I've told my parents they need to deal with, i'd almost want them to go to the police over it.
I just think there needs to be some sort of protection for innocent victims like my mother, people whos jewellery is going missing and send down this route, they don't even keep an inventory or description of these items which means that if someone was suspected of theft and had gone down this route then they wouldn't even be able to trace the item back to the thief. In addition, they disposed of (which i would imagine sold off as there were working watches and £1 coins) without giving any money for them so they're scamming people who don't understand what they're doing.

There's just nothing in it for the companies, hon. I know you're upset for your mum, but profit-making organisations aren't going to lose money helping people out like this. There's simply no business reason to do so.

Equaliser123

Ultimately if he did not own the goods then he couldn't sell them. Trouble is, taking it up with the company is going to lead to a criminal charge against him.

pulliptears

So sorry this has happened to your family, it is as others have pointed out a no win situation really. The company take the receipt of gold on face value and your few options seem to be press charges against your brother, none of which will get the jewellery back.

May I ask what he did with the money? If it is still there maybe buy mum a piece of jewellery, it wont replace her heirlooms but its something.

dmg24

pinkshoes wrote: »

Being autistic doesn't necessarily make someone mentally !!!!!!!!

He was obviously bright enough to understand that he could send the jewellery away for cash, so you really can't blame the company! Lots of people have handwriting that looks like a child's!

Short of calling the police and having him charged with theft, there is nothing you can do other than keeping items of value out of his reach in future.

I agree, and the title gives an implication that the theft was due to his autism, which does a great disservice to all those with autism who would never dream of doing such a thing.

OP, if you do not want to go to the police perhaps you could speak to your GP, or another health professional involved in your brother's care?

Charis

dmg24 wrote: »

I agree, and the title gives an implication that the theft was due to his autism, which does a great disservice to all those with autism who would never dream of doing such a thing.

I think the OP was trying to indicate why her brother did what he did and that he is incapable of understanding the emotional repercussions of what he has done. Autism comes in many forms.

bells_on_it

That wasn't intentional - i wasn't trying to tar all autistic people as thiefs because they all differ in their characteristics and in the way they see and communicate with the world. It was more highlight the fact he was autistic therefore sees the world differently and is more vunerable to things like this as he wouldn't understand fully, and lacks sensitivity to peoples feelings etc. And also to ask advice as I do see that these companies are almost encouraging these sorts of circumstances. If their procedures were tighter, maybe even if they asked for more details surrounding the items ie where they came from it might make it harder for people to do this. Just think its a bit scary.
As for the money, he spent it on CD's he already had.... So there is none left. I made him give whatever money he had to my mum and that was a battle as he couldn't understand that he should give her his money.
I am going to continue to insist my parents go down the doctor/councelling route, my emphasis being that they've nothing left for him to take so what next...
I do think that there shuold be something done about these companies, there should be tighter regulations.

forgotmyname

Report the crime to the police & see if the company can find your items, If not are they covered on the house insurance?

Of course he is likely to get arrested and a criminal record.

Families, Who needs them eh.

Wifes brother was a scallywag, They had to lock everything away, Its hard sometimes.

fthl

I must admit that I have some sympathy for the argument that warning bells should have been rung -

1) they receive a letter written in very poor, childish handwriting
2) it contains pound coins and ten pence peices.
3) it contains other, more valuable items, and strange random things.

In this circumstances, I think that morally, if not legally, they should have paused and sought clarification. Whether this would have done any good with the post interception, I doubt, but I think they should have tried.

fluffnutter

fthl wrote: »

I must admit that I have some sympathy for the argument that warning bells should have been rung -

1) they receive a letter written in very poor, childish handwriting
2) it contains pound coins and ten pence peices.
3) it contains other, more valuable items, and strange random things.

In this circumstances, I think that morally, if not legally, they should have paused and sought clarification. Whether this would have done any good with the post interception, I doubt, but I think they should have tried.

If these companies had morals, they wouldn't be giving people far less money than their gold's worth would they?! They're shysters!

Torby

If someone broke into the home, stole the items, posted them off, got the money once they were melted down, the only recourse available would be if that person was caught, tried and convicted....subsequently jailed or fined....

the only difference in the scenario appears to be you don't want to involve the police...and the taker was known to you...either way, what's done is done, it's unlikely that the items are still intact...so again as in both scenarios, all you can do is involve the police and/or chalk it up to experience...and don't get caught out again.