Backyard Gardener Finds Some Of Her Produce Missing And Accuses Her New Neighbor Of Stealing From Her Without Proof
You better have proof if you're going to accuse people of crimes they may or may not have done. You just can't go around pointing fingers when you suspect someone is stealing from you.
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No one wants to be a victim of looting, least of all this green-thumbed OP. Like most people during the pandemic, OP found herself focusing on one of her hobbies.
OP took up gardening and has really enjoyed feeding her family the literal vegetables, herbs, and fruits of her labor. OP is very careful and attentive to the care she puts into her own garden.
However, she noticed this summer that produce has been disappearing here and there from her garden. Her number one suspect was her new neighbor.
The spring before, a young woman named Kristin moved to the house next door from OP. Kristin owns her own catering business and runs a foodie Instagram account.
Lovingly grown tomatoes, squash, herbs, and eggplants seem to go missing from her garden overnight. OP has not seen any animals roaming about their area to pin the theft on.
None of OP's harvest disappeared the past summer and it's obvious to her now that someone was taking them. OP thinks it's her new neighbor for several reasons.
Kristin's house is the closest to OP's and the other homes in their neighborhood are farther down the road. OP is also suspicious that her produce only began disappearing once Kristin moved in.
OP checked Kristin's Instagram account and saw the same vegetables that were missing from her garden. Kristin's food account featured a lot of dishes that included tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, and herbs.
With only her suspicions as evidence, OP confronted her neighbor about the missing produce from her garden
According to OP, Kristin was very defensive during the conversation and said OP was acting crazy. Kristin said she had no reason to steal from OP since there is a nearby farmer's market to get vegetables from and she also happens to grow her own herbs, not to mention the ingredients she gets from her own suppliers.
Kristin also helpfully mentioned that she has more than enough income to purchase her own food. OP took Kristin's defensiveness and her "boastfulness" as a sign of her guilt.
Their argument escalated until Kristin had enough and slammed the door to OP's face. OP is still convinced that Kristin is a lying thief but she wonders how she could have handled things differently.
![With only her suspicions as evidence, OP confronted her neighbor about the missing produce from her garden](https://static.dailysquared.com/posts/b30523854570f2f1023d2e08416401c0_17512_700.jpg)
Did OP behave like an a**hole for accusing her neighbor of being a thief without proof? You can read her original post below:
![Did OP behave like an a**hole for accusing her neighbor of being a thief without proof? You can read her original post below:](https://static.dailysquared.com/posts/2e4b80b4ab4822f8a48b8df0410554ab_17512_700.jpg)
![](https://static.dailysquared.com/posts/9ccb5605b4006ed2b0f3177bfb2e54a4_17512_700.jpg)
![](https://static.dailysquared.com/posts/d666902554271d0419747467822e3e0c_17512_700.jpg)
![](https://static.dailysquared.com/posts/1b5395b57cd3969ab757fb5eca25d83d_17512_700.jpg)
![](https://static.dailysquared.com/posts/2494e88c920f70ee83a96682da8ac5a0_17512_700.jpg)
OP needs to back her accusations up with some concrete evidence according to this redditor
![OP needs to back her accusations up with some concrete evidence according to this redditor](https://static.dailysquared.com/posts/9f1f980c481e31a87d4ce3329570f5a1_17512_700.jpg)
The AITA subreddit lives for the drama and it shows!
![The AITA subreddit lives for the drama and it shows!](https://static.dailysquared.com/posts/e5507258a37b2da23658c36ae0f7c7dd_17512_700.jpg)
If OP really wants to prove the neighbor is the one stealing her vegetables and herbs, she needs all the receipts she can get
![If OP really wants to prove the neighbor is the one stealing her vegetables and herbs, she needs all the receipts she can get](https://static.dailysquared.com/posts/455bc4ac65d3f42046a61669eb7180bc_17512_700.jpg)
In the case where OP is proven to be wrong with her suspicions, she should also take the appropriate steps to apologize and assess her behavior
![In the case where OP is proven to be wrong with her suspicions, she should also take the appropriate steps to apologize and assess her behavior](https://static.dailysquared.com/posts/c4c2a949c2449d44a8be411c555e10a5_17512_700.jpg)
If OP doesn't get any hard evidence about the theft, she would be the a**hole for giving her neighbor that much grief
![If OP doesn't get any hard evidence about the theft, she would be the a**hole for giving her neighbor that much grief](https://static.dailysquared.com/posts/63c003e6c191401a346de0fcd389138c_17512_700.jpg)
If you visit your garden daily, you would be very familiar with the variety of your fruits and veggies...
![If you visit your garden daily, you would be very familiar with the variety of your fruits and veggies...](https://static.dailysquared.com/posts/67716705e09bc0f9daece4d6b6e7dab2_17512_700.jpg)
... but then again, knowing what your vegetable looks like is not the same as evidence that can stand in court
![... but then again, knowing what your vegetable looks like is not the same as evidence that can stand in court](https://static.dailysquared.com/posts/eb521bdc12833987fc62dddf31d16099_17512_700.jpg)
OP did come on pretty strong and the neighbor cooking with vegetables similar to OP's produce could just be coincidental
![OP did come on pretty strong and the neighbor cooking with vegetables similar to OP's produce could just be coincidental](https://static.dailysquared.com/posts/d9a3df54ad32a952547ee8d2168ae310_17512_700.jpg)
OP should really apologize to her neighbor for accusing her of being a thief and really consider putting up security cameras to catch the culprit (may it be the neighbor or someone else)
![OP should really apologize to her neighbor for accusing her of being a thief and really consider putting up security cameras to catch the culprit (may it be the neighbor or someone else)](https://static.dailysquared.com/posts/dfefd6b2fbe7c12b3bb5e53dd84684bd_17512_700.jpg)
If your neighbor suddenly accuses you of stealing from her, whether it's true or not, you will be defensive as well
![If your neighbor suddenly accuses you of stealing from her, whether it's true or not, you will be defensive as well](https://static.dailysquared.com/posts/0ebbaf25201f8f3729c83b40a85d7995_17512_700.jpg)
OP should really consider other "suspects." Other people in her own household could have been harvesting her veggies to give away.
![OP should really consider other](https://static.dailysquared.com/posts/bc86e8bd47beb281075482579034c52d_17512_700.jpg)
We really do but there is no update so far
![We really do but there is no update so far](https://static.dailysquared.com/posts/89b620dcdd5c578c2699325312d6d443_17512_700.jpg)
The truth will come out in thyme!
![The truth will come out in thyme!](https://static.dailysquared.com/posts/566c0eab4e2c4531ebfe0958e8367784_17512_700.jpg)
OP should have gathered concrete evidence first before she confronted her neighbor. She went for the nuclear option with only her hunch guiding her.
This may be an overreaction to some people but if you've grown your own produce, you would understand why OP feels so strongly about her vegetables and herbs. We surely look forward to any updates about this gardening drama!