Hurting Someone?

Yuck -- I'd say stay out of it. But...

Am I understanding you right? Does the Mark neighbor really not know that he replaced ladders that were not stolen? And that in fact, Derek now has 2 sets of ladders? If I am understanding this right, then a police report has been filed that has erroneous information. And if that is the case, you can call as a dutiful citizen and report what you know about the "theft" to the police and they will handle things with Mark-n-Derek.

Who are Derek, Mark and Taylor to you? If no relation--stay out of it.

Derek should have just taken his ladders back rather than taking them and hiding them. Very childish. He certainly shouldn't have accepted new ladders. However, it is none of your business unless you are Mark or Derek's wife.

It sounds like although Mark is careless he is also willing to take responsibility. What a neighbor!

So what, Derek now has 2 sets of ladders?

I see how it could be construed as funny...HOWEVER, the fun should have ended before Mark spent his hard earned cash on new ladders that were not needed!

IMO, Derek should Man Up and tell Mark what he did and give him the ladders he bought as a replacements...seeing how Mark needs some (I am assuming, since he needed to borrow them in the first place)...If I were to get involved at all (which I probably wouldn't unless your talking REALLY good friends here) I would probably talk with Derek and give him my opinion.

I would tell him. He needs to know to cancel the police report. And the new set of ladders needs to be returned to him!

Wow- Derek and Taylor are jerks. I would absolutely tell DEREK that you are aware of the situation and give him a time limit to "fess up" or you'll fill Mark in for him. I say this for several reasons...
1. The police report needs to be revoked. I know it seems "minor", but it may impact the crime stats in the district and be reflected as "unsolved"
2. Derek owed Mark $$ for the two new ladders if he is unable to return them.
3. Mark sounds like an upstanding and good neighbor. I would hate to see him taken advantage of AGAIN... or offer to pet-sit for a nasty neighbor unknowingly.

Hmmm, that does sound pretty crappy. But, I agree that it's not really your place to tell and that I too think the truth will come out eventually. If the situation presents itself I might say something to Derek letting him know you are aware of the situation and see if he tells Mark the truth on his own. I wouldn't seek him out by any means, but like I said, if the opportunity is there, I would think about it.

Men are jerks sometimes and you probably need to let Derick know that he needs to fess up. He will know he has lowered his value in your eyes. You don't need to tell Mark but if this isn't handled right it will damage your relationships. Just remember that forgiveness is a big part of long term relationships!

ok tracy are you an English teecher or something, she didn't as for a grammar lesson. ne ways, C., how important are both these friends to you? it is REALLY that serious, do you have PROOF of what the owner of the LADDERS did?? if you really value the friendship of both neighbors, i would stay out unless asked.

tracy, make sure you check my grammar and spelling in this one please?

I apologize for the English lesson. I was just trying to be funny. I didn't mean to offend anyone. I'm lost without spell checker. I'm no grammar police. I really was just trying to share a laugh with yall. Sorry If I didn't come across that way.

I think ladder is singular and ladders is plural. I'm just saying.... lol
Ladders would mean that there were 2 things stolen. You climb a ladder. You loan a ladder. You steal a ladder and make your poor neighbor file a false police report and replace a ladder. However, Home Depot might have ladders on sale. I'm just saying. lol
It's kind of like when people refer to their drivers license as them? Your license is not plural just because it ends in an "s" :)

Stay out of that mess! the truth will come out without you helping it along.

It isn't actually a false police report unless he knowingly filed it. Now if Derek was there when the report was filed, that does change things, but not enough to the point where you should get involved.

What Derek should do is pony up to the prank and give Mark the new ladders. He could even do it with a peace offering, like beer or something (if they drink).

This is more of an integrity issue than an illegal one. Now if the police do happen to call up for a follow-up, it just needs to be said that it turns out the neighbor had them. Happens all the time. (I asked my police officer hubby).

If anything, I would approach Derek, not Mark. Give him the chance to own up.

Hi Momma-
Wow- that is a unique issue.
If I were in your shoes, the ideal thing would be to confront Derek. Let him know that while it's totally illegal, it's also UBER UNCOOL to behave that way. If Mark left the ladders out on accident and they had gotten stolen, then that's one thing. But if Mark is just absent minded and left them out, Derek had every right to tell Mark that he would appreciate him being more careful with his stuff. He should have also been up front with Mark as to what he did, taking them an what not. He should also pay Mark back at least a portion of the cash.
In Mark's defense, purchasing new ladders if the old ones had been stolen was completely the right thing to do. But since it was a hoax, Derek needs to fess up. If it is a touchy issue, then at the next BBQ, bring up the "funny story" where the ladders were "stolen" by their own and hidden in someone else's yard. You don't want to cause trouble or a rift, but what Derek is doing is completely wrong and he needs to be up front about it.
Just my opinion. Take it up with the offender (Derek) first and give him the option of doing the right thing. After that, don't be the tattler and run off to Mark, but do let Derek know that if it comes up, you WILL NOT lie about what you know. An honest person is the best defense. I never promise to keep secrets because I don't want to have to lie to someone later to keep that secret. People know me up front that way and it works out pretty well.
I hope that helps and doesn't sound totally crazy and off the wall.
-E. M

Derek needs to tell Mark that he took them and was trying to teach him a lesson. He needs to fess up and realize that he let it go too far when he accepted the new ladders from Mark. I'm sure at this point Derek feels like it's too late to tell the truth, but the truth is, it's wrong to make Derek pay for new ladders just because Mark was mad. Do you live in a bad neighborhod? Should Mark have worried someone would steal them? Was Derek being completely irresponsible to leave the ladders outside or is that an acceptable thing in your neighborhood? We have an extension ladder that stays in our backyard, I don't expect anyone to steal it, although I'm sure they could. This all needs to be resolved with everyone telling the trugh. I don't don't that YOU should tell Mark, I think Derek should tell Mark. Why don't you approach Derek and tell him that you think he needs to come clean with Mark so that Mark can get his money back on the ladders he bought.

How old are these people?? Seriously!

Wow, that is an extreme way to get your point across. I would imagine it is illegal but I'm not sure you should do anything about it. If you do talk to anyone it should be to Derek. If you know do you think others in the neighborhood know too? It would seem logical. If it were me and I said anything to anyone it would be to Derek. I'd tell him the following: 1. Totally not cool! 2. Tell him since you know others probably do too. Suggest that he come clean and pay up and let the police know it was a misunderstanding. 3. I'd be tempted to add the suggestion he doesn't let people borrow his stuff it he is so concerned about it he has to resort to such extremes. This may be hard to pull off without major confrontation with someone who would do such a thing.

Geez! A quick phone call to say "hey I think you left my ladders outside" might be a little naggy but this is ridiculous.

Just saw a note below: I disagree about the not stealing. He got the ladders under false pretenses. If an insurance company bought new ladders for ones that were supposedly stolen it would be considered fraud, illegal and I would imagine you would at the very least have a hard time getting insurance if found out. So how wouldn't it still be fraud if you did this to a neighbor?

Ha! I think it's hilarious what Derek did. I'm guessing he didn't realize Mark was going to call the police but Mark did need to learn a lesson. Stay out of it!

By the way, It's not stealing if they were Derek's ladders. He took his own ladders back and put them in another neighbors yard.

Edit- Some of you ladies need to get a grip! It sounds like Derek was messing with his buddy, that's what I thought was funny. You added information to your original post, you did not mention Derek took the other ladders and didn't tell Mark what he did. Giving all the information up front could change people comments on the situation.