My fiancé (now husband) gave me a beautiful sapphire engagement ring two years ago. I treasured it, but I stopped wearing it for a bit after my pregnancy made my hands swell. I kept it safe in my jewelry box.
This week, I went to put it on again… and it was gone. After tearing the place apart, I confronted my younger brother, who’s been crashing with us “temporarily.” He broke down crying and admitted he pawned it for cash. He thought he could “buy it back” before I noticed.
I’m devastated. That ring meant more than just jewelry, it was a promise, a memory, a symbol of my husband’s love. And my brother stole it like it was nothing.
Comments
He HAS to get it back, it’s not a question. He better have the money to take it out.
Press charges and kick him out.
When was that? Is it already gone?
Oh. I would want to harm him in some way. Get the ring back. Press charges. Then cut him off like he’s dead to you. Forever.
Take him to the pawn shop inform the owner you are pressing charges as they are the recipient of stolen goods, get it back press charges on your idiotic bro
Damn, that’s rough. No matter what ur bro was going through, he crossed a line with that stunt. That ring ain’t just a shiny thing, it’s a symbol of love & commitment. I hope ur okay & can find a way to forgive, but honestly, fam or not, that’s a massive betrayal IMHO. Can’t be around ppl who don’t respect your stuff or your feelings. Try 2 get it back if u can, but also maybe he needs to find a new crash pad…just saying.
What was the reason? Are you sure that’s all he’s taken? Been misplacing $10 here, $5 there? I ask because I’ve been there and my brother was on Drugs. Not only do you need to file a police report so you can go get your ring back from whatever pawnshop he took it to ( He needs to fess up ), you also need to find out what his real issue is and let him know it’s time for him to find another place to live. There’s no coming back from this and you’re just going to live uncomfortably in your home.. you’ll be paranoid to leave anything of value around, you should get cameras, and like I said look around for what else is missing because I doubt that’s all. Don’t keep your debit cards or credit cards anywhere that he can get to them, bank information, even your Social Security number. You never know what someone will do when they’re desperate.
That’s not family, that’s the behaviour of a goddamned stranger
First thing drag his sorry butt to the pawn shop and make him own up to stealing it. Tell the shop owner you want it back now or you’ll be filing a police report. You’ll also be telling them the shop owner now knows it was stolen. Then go home, bag up your brother’s crap and kick him out now. Don’t wait. The scumbag has got to go. He’s a thief! He can’t be trusted. Don’t let him play victim. This is 100% his fault.
How does he plan to get it back? If he doesn’t have a plan you report it as stolen, press charges and get the police to get it back from the pawn shop.
If he’s willing to take your engagement ring, what else did he take from you?
This is the perfect example of why people should not take in “family”.
Your job is to protect YOUR family.
You have to file a police report and kick him out. He needs to deal with the consequences of his actions.
[deleted]
Tell your husband and report him you don’t he will never learn
File a police report and then take it to the pawn shop. They are in possession of stolen property and have to return the item.
Make your brother go get the damn ring and kick him out
What else he has stolen that you haven’t noticed yet.
I too had a younger brother like this. HE stole MANY things.
He either gets it back NOW or you go to the police and report that he stole it.
His decision.
Then you kick him out of the house, and change your locks.
Check to see if anything else is missing.
He needs to get the ring back or you need to presz charges for theft and then kick him out of the house
Go to the pawnshop with him and buy it back make him pay you back and 500 extra dollars
He needs to leave
Tell him he better get that ring back immediately. Or make him go with you so you can get it back. He owes both you and your fiance an apology.
Question – does he always steal from people who help him out? If so, why on earth would you let him stay with you in the first place?
Call the police report it stolen. If the ring has been sold, this is the only way you’ll have any chance of recovering it.
Have him take you to the pawn shop, buy it back if he can’t afford to, and tell him he can pay you back. I’d also kick out my brother and tell everyone I know he’s a thief. I’m interested in why he was staying with you and not your folks.
report it stolen and have your brother arrested
File a police report, take the report to the pawn shop, get your ring back, kick your brother out.
Inform the pawn shop it was stolen.
Contrary to popular belief, they’re not actually allowed to buy stolen items.
if he’s pawned the engagement ring, something so big and significant that you’d want to see without wearing it, then other smaller things are also gone. I know it’s hard, but he can’t stay with you anymore. He’s proven himself untrustworthy and a thief.
pressed charges on him OP
it was stolen property, try to get in contact with the pawn shop and tell them as such. if they do nothing, contact police, perhaps?
This is AI 100%.
File a police report as pawn shops cannot hold or sell stolen items
The pawn shop is responsible to check ownerdhip.
What kinda drugs he doing?
For so so many years, my brother would steal and pawn absolutely anything he could. He stole so much from my mom, sister and myself. I never got any of it back..
The last thing he stole (that I can remember) was a gold ring with my initial that my first bf gave me and Dior sunglasses I got as a gift (we were in severe poverty) so it hurt even more.
It’s truly devastating. He’s not that same person anymore but you never forget what someone is capable of.
Brother is not welcome until he gets you your ring back or the money equivalent
Have your brother take you to the pawn shop where he sold it and see if they still have it. You can tell them it was stolen and try to buy it back. If the shop doesn’t play ball, file a police report for theft and then take the police to the store.
Your brother should have a receipt.
Try to track down the ring and get it back first and then think of some way to impose consequences on your brother.
File a police report. Take it to the pawn shop. They can often get it back.
Police report. Family or not that is theft and honestly, a beautiful sapphire ring is likely gone.
Stop file a police report, for everything he stole. Make him make a list, once the report is filed, put him and his belongings on the curb, change your locks and block him from your phone
Posts like these make me glad I’m an only child, bc wtffff. I hope you get it back 💙💙💙
Sigh. Been there, done that. You’ve got 2 shitty options.
Option 1 With the pawn ticket and brother in hand, go to the pawn shop and buy back your ring.
Option 2 Call the police and press charges. The police can only retrieve your ring if you press charges.
Option 2 is the nuclear weapon option. Go this route if you are sure you are prepared to hand your bro a felony record. Do this IF you have been repeatedly victimized by him – (repeated thefts etc)
If this is the first time (that you’re aware of) IMO, go with him and buy your ring back, proceeding with kicking him out of your home IMMEDIATELY.
If you don’t, he will do it again, only smarter. (Probably already has)
This is a classic sign of an addict in action. I hope you hear me – whatever his reasons or excuses are;
YOU CAN NOT SAVE HIM
Allow him access to your home only if you are prepared to lose irreplaceable possessions. I thought I could save my son. TL;DR, I could only get off the crazy train myself.
Good luck.
I would kick him out immediately, and any relative who objects is welcome to house him.
I’m so sorry. I’m so attached to my engagement ring, I’d be so sad. Plus you did him a kindness by taking him in and he stole something so meaningful from. you.
I’d go get it at the pawn shop first before it gets sold and then squeeze the money out of him and kick him out.
You will never be able to safely turn your back on him. He’ll do it again.
He’s proven that this kind of theft is in his nature.
You need to do an inventory through your whole house to see what else is missing.
Line any old electronics, phones, iPads, tablets. That sort of thing.
Police report
90% chance he has a drug problem
Brother has to get the ring back or face the police Brother has to get out.
You need to file a police report and get it back.
Sorry to say but your best bet is, if you have the money, to drag your brothers ass down to the pawn shop and pay off whatever loan he has for the ring, get in your car and leave. Your brother gets to figure out how to get his broke ass back to your house on his own. That should give you enough time to put all his stuff on your front lawn as he should never enter your house again. When he gets back wish him luck and close and lock your front door.
Kick him out and report it as stolen. Hopefully you’ll get it back
File a police report.
They’ll find and retrieve your ring as it’s stolen property.
HE did that to himself.
All the tears in the world aren’t for YOU. It’s because he got caught.
He knew stealing was wrong. He did it anyway.
He had hoped you’d never find out and he’d get away with it.
Let him face the natural consequences. If you don’t.. he will be empowered to do it again. To you, to someone else.
He’s proven to be a liar and a thief. I promise you, he didn’t “learn his lesson and won’t do it again.”
He justified stealing something from a loved one… because tomes were tough. He’ll justify it again if crying his way out of it worked.
Police report. And then bring it to the pawn shop and get it back. They can’t buy stolen stuff technically.
Let this be a lesson apparently he don’t care to much about you. Once you break that trust it’s never the same again. Probably best to distance yourself from your own brother and that’s his fault not yours
On the curb he goes.
Tonight.
Also contact the police, they MAY be able to get the ring back as its stolen goods, not sold with permission.
Police
How long ago did he pawn it?
The pawn shops in my state said they have to hold jewelry for 30 days before putting it up for sale, with the implication that it gives the owners of stolen jewelry time to file a report. This may not apply in your state, locality, or country.
For sure file a police report but also your brother pawning things for quick cash and the saying he thought he could get it back sounds like a deeper issue. Like drugs or gambling, even if not and he’s just a regular thief he is not a safe person to have in your home.
Report it stolen. Because it was
Find where he pawned it, pay to get it back before something happens to it, and then throw his ass out. Maybe he can earn visiting privileges when he pays you back for everything he did wrong, but that will take a long time and a sincere apology.
He’s doing drugs. That is 100% depraved druggie behavior
Report it stolen!!! Pawn shops have to return stolen goods.
Go to the pawn shop and tell them it’s stolen , if that doesn’t go anywhere go to the police if you don’t get tough on your brother it’ll only get worse and worse and worse. Trust me I have been in your shoes and made that mistake .
Folks please stop falling for AI slop. Only AI finishes posts like this:
“I’m devastated. That ring meant more than just jewelry, it was a promise, a memory, a symbol of my husband’s love. And my brother stole it like it was nothing.”
And then of course is nowhere to be seen in the comment section.
OP: sorry but your brother has to move out and has to understand that if he doesnt get it back, he’s out of your life. I guarantee you that the first thing he stole from you wasnt your engagement ring. Its simply the first time you’ve caught him.
ALSO – call the pawn shop immediately and find out what steps need to be taken to a) buy it back and b) ensure they dont put it for sale in their shop.
Back around 1998 my idiot older brother stayed with me because he was basically homeless, I was with my ex at the time and she told me not to let him stay with us but I said that he had no where else to go.
He ended up stealing over $500 of tools from my garage and pawning them, my dad before he died begged me not to get the police involved as my brother already had run in with the police for drug offenses.
I took the loss and kicked him out, a couple years later, he was serving a 1 year sentence on a bunch of old warrants he had, he was let out of jail and came back to live with me again. My ex couldn’t believe I would allow it but my parents asked me to help him out till he got back on his feet.
I came home one day to my place almost emptied out, he apparently owed a few thousand dollars to some gang members who he told where I had guns, ammo, coins, cash, tools, and jewlery. They took everything even bottles of booze I had in my cabinet. He also gave them my alarm code.
For more than 25 years I haven’t spoken to my brother, I have moved away and he will never know where I live, be invited to my house or know my family. He was arrested on stolen property charge and because he had priors he was sent away for 7 years.
I will never in my life trust him
Listen, I know he’s your brother, but the fact that you are his sister, and you are letting him stay with you did not bother him when he pawned your engagement ring. Your brother is a thief. You should contact the police. First, call your parents (if they are still alive), and tell them what he did and that you want your ring back. Tell them you are reporting the theft to the police. If they try to talk you out of that, tell them if they pay to get your ring out of hock, you won’t go to the police. But someone needs to get you your ring back, and if they won’t or can’t, he may go to jail. Tell your brother, too. Tell him that for what a lawyer and bail and a court case will cost him, he should just get your ring back. If he can’t, if it’s gone, call the police.
This is shitty, OP. I certainly hope you kicked your brother out, and he’s not living with you anymore.
You need to go to that pawn shop and tell them it was stolen immediately. Family or not he stole from you. I’d also honestly file a police report. With a police report the pawn shop will be more likely to just give it back
Heroin addict?
Why does no one ever seem to go to the Police?
Your brother is likely a drug addict, if you didn’t already know.
You need to go WITH him to the pawn shop. IF you cannot get it back, either it’s been sold to someone else or he doesn’t have the money to buy it back, THEN you HAVE to file a police report. I know it hurts, but your brother stole from you. He broke the law for a quick pay day knowing that if you found out it would hurt you. He thought the quick pay day was worth more than your pain. He needs consequences.
You need to file a police report. As a first-time offender, he may only get community service. Especially if you, the victim, are on board. He’ll also likely be able to get the conviction expunged if he doesn’t reoffend, but if he doesn’t suffer real consequences, why wouldn’t he do it again.
You’d be a better sister by teaching him a lesson then protecting him. I promise you.
So file a police report and then go to the pawn shop.
How long ago did he put it? Is it still within the period that he can get it back? I doubt that is the only thing that is missing. You need to do an inventory to see what other valuable items may be gone. The pawnshop themselves may have a list of the items that he has sold there.fx
Regardless of the outcome of whether or not you get your ring back, this type of betrayal is unacceptable. He needs to move out. He has shown you how much he truly cares about you. I would not put up with this.
File a report, outside of buying it that’s the only sure way to get it back.
My question though is how long ago did he pawn it? If in the past week or two maybe he could get it back, if more than that it’s unlikely. You should file a police report and maybe by doing that you might be able to get it back, but no guarantees. If it was me I would kick said brother out to the curb.
Go to the pawn shop.
If it was pawned, not sold, it will be safe. And you can decide if brother needs a police record for the theft and sale or not – if yes you get the ring back fast, if no then you lean on brother to be transparent with payment or pay it yourself and have a private debt who owes you.
Police report.The pawn shop would have to give it back. Otherwise, that is receiving stolen property.
Curb meet my brothers a**.
Kick him out!!
I hoped you kicked your brother on his ass. What he did was break the law. You could press charges but I don’t think you will as he’s your brother. Maybe the ring is still at the pawn shop?
Boy bye
Police report now. This is theft and with the report you can go to whatever pawn shop he went to and track it down.
Call the pawn shop and tell them it’s stolen and file a police report.
File a police report for theft and the police will get it from the pawn shop. Your brother needs to be held accountable for this. Other option is filing it under home owners insurance.
Well here are your choices:
you let the ring go or get it replaced.
You buy the ring back from the pawn shop.
You report it stolen, have your brother arrested and use the arrest report to get your ring back free of charge. Because pawn shops dealing in stolen property is messy.
POS. Don’t give in to the manipulative crying. He’s not sorry and he’s probably on drugs
Well, that’s a hard No Go from your brother’s side but, I don’t know how old he is, possibly he needs to learn a bit more about life or needs help while in a situation he doesn’t see a way out. Or can’t cope on his own.
If you can, to minimize long-term damage to your relationship, is the ring still at the pawn shop and can be bought out/debt returned? If so, can you afford it, how about you get ot out and then do a whole head-washing procedure with your brother? At least as I understand it, the first and foremost objective at the moment is not losing that ring…
So, he stole your ring to pawn it for money.
Why is he so desperate?
Has he stolen anything else?
You may find you can only get the ring back by reporting it to the police as stolen.
Your brother is in serious trouble here. Even if you don’t involve the police, he is stealing for money, which means he’s in serious trouble, no matter what.
For the record, you should report it to the police.
Your brother needs to get it back and then he needs to go. You can’t harbor a thief, regardless of your relationship to them. What else has he stolen that you haven’t noticed yet?