Having roommates has often led to lifelong friendships and romantic love stories.
It can be nice to have someone down the hall to chat with on the regular.
But sometimes the roommate situation can turn into an episode of Dateline NBC.
Not every person in a shared space is mentally stable or trustworthy.
Has everyone seen “Single White Female?”
Redditor Yapper_202 wanted to discuss her experience and get some feedback, so naturally, she came to the “Am I The A**hole” (AITA) subreddit.
She asked:
“AITA for calling the police on my roommate after they broke into my room?”
The Original Poster (OP) explained:
“So, I (22 Female) live with two roommates (one 22 F, the other 23 F), and we’ve had some tension lately.”
“I’ve always been a private person, so I make it a point to keep my room door closed when I’m not there.”
“The trouble started a few weeks ago when one of my roommates, let’s call her Rachel, started borrowing my things without asking.”
“I don’t mind sharing occasionally, but Rachel would take stuff without telling me, and when I confronted her about it, she’d either deny it or get defensive.”
“After a couple of weeks of this, I decided to check with our landlord to make sure it was okay to put a lock on my bedroom door.”
“He said it was fine as long as it wasn’t an issue with the door frame, so I went ahead and installed it.”
“I felt like it was the only way to keep my things safe, especially after I noticed some of my personal items were moved or misplaced.”
“Fast forward to a few days ago, I came home from work and noticed that the door to my room was wide open.”
“Immediately, I got this sinking feeling.”
“My laptop, which I had left on my desk, was missing, as well as my Nintendo Switch.”
“I called Rachel and my other roommate, and asked if they had been in my room.”
“Rachel acted surprised but also defensive, and then just seemed concerned, asking if everything was okay.”
“I was furious.”
“I knew that the only way my door would be open was if someone had broken in, and at this point, I was pretty sure I knew who it was.”
“I went into my room and searched for my laptop and switch, but they were gone.”
“After some back-and-forth with Rachel, I realized that she had taken them without permission.”
“When I confronted her, she admitted to borrowing them for ‘a few days’ but didn’t think it was a big deal.”
“At that point, I was beyond frustrated.”
“I told Rachel that I didn’t appreciate her violating my privacy, and I was done trying to sort things out on my own.”
“I called the police to report that my property had been stolen and that I felt unsafe in my own home.”
“The police showed up, and after hearing my side of things and talking to Rachel, they advised her to return the laptop and switch and apologized for the inconvenience.”
“The laptop was returned, but the switch wasn’t, and she claimed that she ‘didn’t know I owned a switch.’”
“She seemed to think I was overreacting, and some of my friends have also been saying that I might have taken things too far by involving the cops.”
“Now, I’m feeling conflicted.”
“I honestly didn’t expect things to escalate this much, but I felt like I had no choice.”
“I’m just so tired of being taken advantage of in my own home.”
“But at the same time, I feel bad because now things are super awkward with Rachel, and the police involvement might have been too dramatic.”
The OP was left to wonder:
“So, AITA for calling the police on my roommate after she went into my room without permission and took my devices?”
Redditors shared their thoughts on this matter and weighed some options to the question AITA:
- NTA – Not The A**hole
- YTA – You’re The A**hole
- NAH – No A**holes Here
- ESH – Everyone Sucks Here
Many Redditors declared that OP was NOT the A**hole.
“NTA, she straight-up burgled you.”
“If that Switch doesn’t turn up immediately, you need to get yourself down to the station and make sure they do file a report.”
“This ain’t just some petty flatmate drama. She broke in and nicked your stuff.”
“If she’s getting away with this, what’s stopping her from doing it again?”
“Nah, she’s taking the piss.”
“Get your Switch back and seriously reconsider living with her.” ~ ruyrybeyro
“Also, people like Rachel often retaliate.”
“If Rachel is evicted, there’s a very strong chance that she’ll not only fight the eviction until or even past the deadline, but also destroy OP’s property and room and possibly the shared areas.”
“And will most likely leave her own room with significant damage and and trash so that OP and the other roommate will lose their security deposit.”
‘If at all possible, OP needs to get a camera in her room – preferably one that stores footage in the cloud in case Rachel steals that, too, as well as on an S[ecure] D[igital] card.”
“OP can turn off the camera whenever she’s in her room – unless she feels so unsafe that she needs it on at night while sleeping.”
“OP should also try to leave without Rachel knowing ahead of time – get the new place, then have some friends come over to help move everything out in 1 evening so Rachel doesn’t have time to retaliate or sabotage the move.” ~ Random_Stranger12345
“NTA. You were robbed.”
“You need to leave your apartment.”
“Most leases will let you break the lease for this, especially if you have a police report.”
“Report to the landlord the copy of the police report.”
“Ask what your options are, you are legally protected to break the lease.”
“Pack your bags and get ready to leave as soon as possible.”
“Your situation will get worse.” ~ Dense_Island_5120
“I think Rachel should have to move immediately.”
“Landlord knows there are issues latest since OP asked to install a lock.”
“Now the police are involved.”
“She should be kicked out because nobody should have to live with a thief.”
“OP, you did NOT overreact.”
“Find new friends. NTA.” ~ MapHazard5738
“This the second OP put on a door lock, Rachel stopped pretending and straight up broke in.”
“OP, you should get a hidden camera set up immediately and recommend the other roommate does as well so you can see what Rachel is really getting up to and maybe see if actions are violations of the lease and can have her removed.”
“OP, you should check and see if maybe she sold your switch and prosecute.” ~ Vegetable-Cod-2340
“Personally, I don’t think you took it far enough.”
“Your other roommate may have your switch.”
“Ask her if she has it, but if she denies, she does go file a police report for the theft.”
Then, call pawn shops in the area to see if anyone has sold your switch.
“You also need a better lock on your door. NTA.”
“ETA: Rachel may have broken your switch by accident, too, which is why she didn’t give it back.” ~ HarveySnake
“Yes this exactly.”
“OP did not go far enough.”
“We have someone who OP is trying to give the benefit of the doubt to who was ‘borrowing things’ without permission.”
“That in itself is a huge violation issue.”
“Now this person actively broke into the locked room, lied about it, and took two expensive items.”
“If the roommate didn’t take it, then who else did?”
“And who had they invited to the home.”
“Either way, the RM is culpable as the room was broken into and the items are missing, with 50% of the items being in the possession of said room.”
“This is not an ooopsie.”
“This is a f**ked up and harmful person.” ~ starfire92
“NTA. I hope there was an actual police report made.”
“You have a Nintendo account, right?”
“Pictures or videos of you with it?”
“I’m guessing she hid it or sold it.”
“I agree with above commenter, get your lease and go to the leasing office WITH a police report.”
“One of you needs to leave.”
“Your friends who say you overreacted SUCK and obviously aren’t going to pay for your missing things or for you to move somewhere you feel safe, are they?”
“I don’t know why they’d be ok with her stealing from you but you should ask them and more importantly yourself that question. “
“Reconsider who you call friends in 2025, EVERYONE!”
“Good luck OP.”
“Please stay safe.”
“Make a REAL REPORT!” ~ Usual_Equivalent_888
“NTA. You did the right thing.”
“She broke into a clearly locked room.”
“Schlage sells a type of key-in-knob lock where the latch is a deadbolt, so it will be harder for her to open.”
“Tell the landlord and file a police report for the Switch.”
“It’s fine that Rachel is only a suspect right now.”
“I hope that you have the serial number for the Switch.”
“Pawnshops are surprisingly highly regulated when it comes to what goods that they accept.”
“For instance, they are required to check serial numbers for items before buying or lending against items to be sure that they aren’t stolen, and if you have the serial number, the police can check pawn shops for the Switch.”
“They can also go into each pawn shop with a picture of her, but that is slower.” ~ No_Philosopher_1870
“NTA, things are super awkward with Rachel BECAUSE SHE IS TAKING AND USING THINGS THAT AREN’T HERS AND DOESN’T HAVE UNDERSTANDING OF PRIVATE PROPERTY!”
“Your room is not shared space or communal property.”
“If your Switch isn’t returned, keep the report as stolen and check if the serial number can be traced in a different way.”
“I would also consider looking for alternative accommodation since you are valid in not feeling safe in your own home.” ~ atealein
“This is not over. You need to loop the landlord in ASAP and get eviction processes going, as well as file a police report for the forced entry and stolen Switch.”
“Consider your relationship with her over (and consider that your other roommate may have the Switch and be just as bad).”
“You can’t be forced to live with criminals; you are the victim of a serious crime.’
“Get it on the record.”
“Forcing the lock into your room is beyond the pale and needs to have serious consequences.”
“Don’t let it end here.” ~ aluriaphin
“NTA, Rachel is a thief.”
“She did not have your permission to break into your room and take your items.”
“It is time to find new roommates or move out.”
“Also, tell her to return the Switch or pay for it.” ~ Scary-Scholar5800
“NTA. But I do think you need to move ASAP.”
“As you’d already reported to the landlord an issue with stuff going missing and put a lock on the door, and you’ve got a police report number, I think you have good enough reason to break the lease if your name is on it.” ~ dragonetta123
“NTA. Are you sure your friends are… your friends?”
“This girl is literally stealing from you and going unpunished and they’re fine with that?”
“I honestly feel like they’re underreacting and not having your back on this one.”
“And you should look for a new place because your roommate is not going to stop using the five finger discount on you.” ~ boringbutkewt
“NTA. At all.”
“And make sure landlord knows everything that is going on.”
“Catalog everything of value in your room and by video as well.”
“Get a cheap security camera and mount it in your room facing the door.”
“Tell her if she goes near your room again you will press charges.”
“Get out of that house if you can or get her kicked out.” ~ Sharontoo
“NTA – and you aren’t safe in that place.”
“Your landlord needs to know that one of your roommates vandalized the house and broke into your locked room.”
“Notify them in writing (or via email); you need to start a paper trail, and they can bring pressure on the other two that you cannot.”
“Another part of that paper trail is going back to the police and filing a formal theft report for the Switch.”
“Start looking for another place to live.” ~ wesmorgan1
“NTA. Press charges, and sue her for the switch.”
“You have proof that she broke in and stole the laptop – the judge will believe you when you say she also stole the switch.”
“And: send the police report to the landlord and ask him to evict her.” ~ k23_k23
“NTA! NTA! NTA! NTA!”
“Listen, she’s a known pilferer of your items.”
“I’m surprised the other roommate isn’t on your side because if she’s taking your stuff she’s surely gonna take hers.”
“Rachel needed the cops called on her, because that is just disrespectful and disgusting and honestly would earn her some two pieces with no biscuit.” ~ GoStyx
“NTA, and I do not know your financial situation, but once the police are called it’s time for other living arrangements.” ~ AKACharlieRock
“NTA. When people steal things from you, you call the cops.”
“Of course, she’s upset you called the cops on her, she is a thief.” ~ LavishnessGeneral
This is a terrible situation that your roommate has created.
She is a straight-up thief, and she needs some mental health help.
You have nothing to feel bad about.
Reddit has given you a lot of good options on how to deal with Rachel.
Please stay safe and update if you can.
Good luck.