‘Finders keepers’: Resident fixes bench after neighbors threw it out, only for the neighbors to demand the improved bench back, claiming it was stolen

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    "Have you not heard of finders keepers?"
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    Neighbor threw out a park bench on trash day but took it back after I fixed it up.
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    Our city allows for heavy trash pickup at the end of each month. Two months ago I was taking my dog on a walk through the neighborhood on the morning of a pickup. One street over someone had put an
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    old park bench on the curb with their trash cans. I snapped a pic and sent it to my friend asking if they thought it was salvageable. They said sure, we can try. I came back
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    and grabbed it. My friend helped repair one of the legs - SC. ws were rusted and broke off, leaving the leg unconnected to the bench on one end. After that I power washed the mildew off then stained it and also painted all the metal.
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    I then placed the bench in my front yard under some trees where I'd mulched and planted flowers. One morning about a week later it was gone. My neighbor's doorbell caught who took it - yeah, it was the people
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    who had thrown it out (it was their truck they loaded it into). I went over there and yep, it was now in their front yard. I knocked on the door and asked them what was going on. They
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    simply said it was theirs and they didn't give me permission to take it. I said it was on the curb with the trash. They said they changed their mind and I wanted it back.
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    I called the police and they came over. I showed them the pic I took of it on the street, a couple of me fixing it up, and finally a pic once it was in my yard. I went with them over to the neighbor's and the police
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    told them to give it back and they did but not without complaining that I basically stole it. Police told them that if it was in the trash then it's fair game. I think they knew it was wrong or they wouldn't have
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    sneaked over to take it after dark. It was dumb to put it in the front yard but I guess they figured I wouldn't push the issue.
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    ETA: several have said to watch out for retaliation - I'm not super worried because they are at least in their mid-70s.
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    TheLost_Chef. 6 hr. ago Kinda surprised to hear the cops actually helped to resolve something for a change instead of just shrugging and walking away.
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    PeggysSimp · 10 hr. ago Wow! You actually resolved that rather easily.
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    1amtheone . 7 hr. ago I felt none of the usual "infuriation at OP for being a pushover" - pleasantly surprising!
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    PopulationMe . 9 hr. ago I would love to see the before and after comparison.
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    overboost_t88 · 9 hr. ago This happened to me with an old snowblower my neighbor threw out after rebuilding it they asked for it back.
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    mike2ff. 9 hr. ago Might want to put a cable on it and tie it to the tree or a long spike you drive into the ground. Just call your local utility marking service before going with a stake. The utility locate service is usually free.
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    1steverredditaccount · 9 hr. ago Your neighbors being in their mid 70's probably means they have all kinds of time to think of a way to get it back.
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    . Chance Answer 7984 · 7 hr. ago Yeah, but then they forget about it ten minutes later. OP's good. In all seriousness, they should keep an eye on the security cameras.
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    josbossboboss. 8 hr. ago Are people really this petty? I would be thrilled if somebody fixed up something I was throwing away.
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    Senth99 4 hr. ago • Not to mention taking use of stuff that would be otherwise thrown away.
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    Friendly_Fisherman37 · 8 hr. ago I sold my car to a mechanic, after they fixed it I changed my mind and decided to take it back.
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    tilrman · 6 hr. ago I put my empty beer can in the r ecycling bin. They melted it down, formed it back into a can, and refilled it with beer, so it's basically mine now.
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    [deleted] 9 hr. ago You did the right thing twice. Good for you and for sharing this story. Enjoy your beloved bench.
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    littlescreechyowl. 7 hr. ago Get a little plaque that says "one man's trash is another man's treasure".

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