implied allegation of theft by vendor

frugalie

Hello Forumites,
We had an unusual experience on 8/3/14 in that we went to an accompanied viewing with EA where the vendor(s) were not present on the property at the time,and left the property before the agent did.
We reached home to get a call from the EA that the vendor returned home to find some valuables missing and that she was hysterical and they were calling in the police;and the EA would have to pass our details to the police as we were the only "strangers" (self,OH and kids) on the premises when the supposed theft happened.:mad:
We were called again by the owner/head of the EA yesterday asking if we had remembered anything etc.
Toward the end of the viewing the EA asked my daughters if they wanted to run upstairs and take another look,they set off but I followed them immediately.OH and EA stayed downstairs.We took a look at the layout again and then left with a positive note about the property.The only things we touched when inside the house was open one built-in wardrobe,after asking EA who was stood there,and a kitchen cabinet.
Nothing else was disturbed.
Has something such happened to anyone in your knowledge?How do unsuspecting buyers protect themselves from such allegations?
Do I have the right to any redress?This is causing me a lot of anxiety and hurt.:sad:
Please advise.
Thanks for reading.

Jenniefour

All you need to do is let police talk to you if and when they contact you - and tell the agent that as well. And just calmly explain what you have explained above. I wouldn't be getting too upset about it - you have nothing to hide, I presume, so nothing to be overly concerned about.

Thrugelmir

Bet the items have been mislaid and were put somewhere safe ahead of the viewing.

ConfusedofYorkshire

surely the agent is also one of the accused? particularly as he/she was left alone in the property!

frugalie

I hope that is the case-we were told someone else from EA office was accompanying us last minute;the person with whom I made the appointment was another member of staff.

ging84

A crime is being investigated, you are an obvious suspect,
you will have no right to redress provided the police follow proper procedures

DRP

Don't say anything about what happened to the ea. If the police are involved, the ea is also a suspect.

Are you going to make an offer?

frugalie

Yes,we went for the viewing...Never would even think or dream of picking up something not belonging to us!We were hoping to buy in cash,BTW ,mortgage-free.As most of us do,we do respect people's property and belongings.This was not the first viewing we had been to,have been looking in this particular area for 2 years, and have had a deal fall through only last week because the vendor asked for £35k over negotiated price and put the house back for sale without even getting in touch with us.That EA had called to say the house is back on the market at the new price,no written confirmation at all-in fact the contract would have been exchanged today...therefore this is a double whammy!

frugalie

you bet!
Tho to be fair we all had a good feeling about the place ;a shame this had to happen!

Jenniefour

Thrugelmir wrote: »

Bet the items have been mislaid and were put somewhere safe ahead of the viewing.

My thoughts exactly.

frugalie

I'm inclined to think the same-just that I have no way of proving it!