'I think my friend stole my treasured engagement ring, but I can't prove it’

13 December 2023 , 13:40

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The husband bought her a replica ring (stock photo) (Image: Getty Images)

A woman has told how ‘losing' her treasured engagement ring has also led to her also losing a treasured friendship. Sharing the situation on social media, the 30-year-old explained how she had always enjoyed a very close friendship with her pal after meeting through work in 2019 and made sure she was always available to help out whenever she needed.

She said: “This past October I married my husband. He would always mention it seemed like Amy takes advantage of me, and he knows if I ever were to ask for her help I wouldn't get the effort back. He's probably right. Although Amy is kind, she is very scatterbrained and chaotic, and at times socially unaware.”

Admitting she gave her friend slack due to some issues she had, it wasn't until a recent situation left her questioning her friendship and wondering whether to cut ties for good.

After taking time off work to help her close friend paint her new home for ‘more than 12 hours’, she said she packed her rings away for safekeeping: “As we were working with paint I decided to take them off and zip them in my purse. I did not touch or open my purse again until the next day. I woke up and got my purse and went to put my rings back in their box where they stay when I am not wearing them. That's when I noticed my engagement ring was not zipped in the pocket with my wedding band. I emptied my purse and even cut the lining in it to see if it somehow magically slipped in it. Nothing.”

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Frantically searching her car to no avail, she called her friend, only to be told when she texted back a few hours later that the carpet fitters were there: “She said she could not go and check. She did retrace the steps I took to my car but found nothing.”

After calling her crying and begging for her to look, the woman admitted she had her doubts, due to another friend there at the time who had admitted to petty theft in the past. “I cannot trust her integrity,” she said.

“I reached out several times over the course of 4 days and got very little response and she showed a lack of concern,” she continued. “This whole time her posting snap stories just hanging out with friends. Obviously, I don't expect her to spend 24/7 looking for it. However, if it were me and she lost something I would be very willing for her to come over and help search my house from top to bottom until I found it.”

Devastated at the loss of her ring, she texted her friend to tell her she didn’t care she had lost a prized possession. “It's been nearly a week and I still have very little news or updates, she has said she has just been keeping an eye out. I just feel after spending 12 hours cleaning and painting for her, and all the other times I have helped her, I have not gotten a shred of that effort returned.”

While her husband was ‘kind and understanding’ about the loss, buying her a replica ring for Christmas, she admitted it had left her friendship in serious doubt.

“I just feel like this was her chance to show up for me, and I am disappointed. My heart aches. I love her to pieces, she is hilarious, sweet, and really fun to be around. However, she is disorganised and a bit self-centred at times. I've been urged by my husband and friends several times to minimise contact with her even before this incident,” she said.

She also admitted she ended up filing a police report over the loss: “I worried about doing it as I did not want to upset her with accusations. I did not share this information with her. If she asks I will tell her I am covering all my bases. I don't think I'll ever see it again, which is heart-crushing.”

The post caused quite a stir on Reddit, with most readers believing her friend to be at the centre of the engagement ring debacle. “I think she did take it,” said one. “Hence her lack of concern & willingness.”

“What kind of ‘friend’ wouldn’t let a person come back to their place and look for the ring, the 12 hours of painting notwithstanding?” said another while one commented: “You realise that a likely scenario is that either she or one of her friends ‘found’ it...and sold it? I know it's hard to accept, but she's no friend.”

Another urged the woman to report it, saying: “She already found your ring when she removed it from your purse. Call the cops. Report the theft. You need to be checking pawn shops near her home or where she works. I bet Friday's paycheck it's gone and she knows exactly where it went.”