After months of saving and carefully planning every detail, thirty-two-year-old Olivia and her husband, Mason, finally left for the two-week vacation they had been dreaming about for years. Before leaving, they asked nineteen-year-old Lily, the daughter of a trusted family friend, to stay at their house. Her responsibilities were simple: feed their beloved cat, Milo, water a few plants, collect the mail, and avoid using anything that wasn’t necessary. Olivia even prepared a detailed schedule, emergency contacts, and enough pet supplies to last the entire trip. Confident that their home and cherished pet were in good hands, the couple boarded their flight feeling excited for a relaxing getaway.

For the first few days, everything appeared normal. Lily sent cheerful text messages along with photos of Milo sleeping on the couch, reassuring the couple that everything was going well. However, behind those reassuring updates, she had begun inviting friends over to the house almost every evening. What started as a quiet movie night gradually turned into larger gatherings. Despite being told not to touch the couple’s belongings, Lily decided it would be harmless to borrow Mason’s car for a late-night drive with friends. The short trip quickly turned disastrous when she lost control on a wet road and crashed into a roadside barrier, causing severe damage to the vehicle.

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Panicked and unsure what to do, Lily chose not to tell Olivia and Mason about the accident. Instead, she arranged to have the damaged car towed back near the house and hoped she could somehow explain everything later. The situation became even worse when someone accidentally left the back door open after another gathering. Their indoor cat, Milo, slipped outside unnoticed. Hours passed before Lily realized he was missing. She searched the neighborhood through the night, posted messages online, and asked nearby neighbors for help, but Milo had disappeared without a trace.

Several days later, Olivia received a phone call—not from Lily, but from a neighbor who had noticed the wrecked car outside the house and learned about the missing cat. Shocked, the couple immediately ended their vacation and booked the earliest flight home. Instead of returning to happy memories, they were greeted by a heavily damaged car, a distressed housesitter overwhelmed with guilt, and an empty home without the pet that had been part of their family for nearly eight years. The vacation they had spent months anticipating suddenly felt completely meaningless.

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Over the following weeks, Olivia and Mason devoted every spare moment to searching for Milo. They distributed hundreds of flyers, contacted local animal shelters, spoke with veterinarians, and walked through nearby neighborhoods calling his name. Meanwhile, Lily repeatedly apologized, admitting that every poor decision she had made stemmed from trying to hide her first mistake instead of telling the truth immediately. Although the couple appreciated her honesty in the end, they struggled to forgive the chain of irresponsible choices that had caused so much heartbreak.

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Months later, the damaged car had been repaired, but the emotional impact remained. Whether or not Milo was ever found, Olivia and Mason realized how quickly trust could disappear when someone ignored clear responsibilities. Lily carried the experience as a painful lesson about accountability, understanding that one careless decision often leads to another when honesty is replaced with fear. The incident forever changed all three of their lives, proving that protecting someone else’s home and loved ones is a responsibility that should never be taken lightly.

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House sitter stole and crashed my partner’s car

What the title says. House sitter [19M, my relative], broke into, went on a joy ride, then crashed my SO’s car all while we’re abroad for a month.

Car key never given to the house sitter, was tucked away into belongings. House sitter rummaged through belongings, located a different old dead key with an expired battery (not the one I had hidden), and then proceeded to break into the car, look up a video on how to start the car, drive into the city for some unknown reason to me, and crash the car.

House sitter called multiple relatives in what I am now understanding as him setting the tone and readying his case. Then called me to tell me someone crashed into my SO’s car. Forgiving at first, I got whatever information I needed then informed my SO the news and other relatives who were the emergency contacts.

As the day went on, the other relatives began to text me blaming me for the crash, saying I shouldn’t have given him the keys or allowed him to have access to the car.

House sitter is newly licensed. Prior to trip other relatives were informed the car was only to be accessed by emergency contacts and that car key was hidden. Prior to trip house sitter was told this, to not touch the car, and that he wasn’t on the insurance (neither am I) just to really set it for him to not touch the car.

My amazing friend found the car, took all car keys, and is keeping eye on it.

As my SO got me towards calm, a different relative called to ask if the house sitter could retrieve their license from car.

Sorry for typos. Still in blind rage.

RELEVANT COMMENTS

slaviccivicnation

Holy fuck OP that is infuriating.

Worst is you being blamed for it. A newly licenced driver should not be an excuse to crash anyone’s car EVER. So the fact that any family is blaming you for “giving” him the keys are still plain wrong. Lending someone a car shouldn’t be an issue if the borrower isn’t a selfish moron. That said, you clearly didn’t allow it. It’s not your car even to allow cousin to drive!

I’m infuriated for you OP. In a car-centric culture, cars are everything to us. Hopefully you can actually get cousin or fam (or their insurance) to pay for repairs. At the end of the day, it’s cousin who crashed it, so he’s gotta pay for it. If not, it’s a police matter and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. If cousin is hellbent on ruining his life like that, then maybe a lesson from you can save him from killing himself or someone else in a future “joy ride.”

OOP

We’re about 6-7 hours ahead of them. I just got the first message from a relative (my mom) of the day and it’s rage bait. No accountability, no acknowledging what happened, just a plea to not call the police, “he’s just a kid”, “he’s my nephew”, and diversion.

Prior to this message, my SO has said he’s against pressing charges, says he’s just a kid, doesn’t want to ruin his life as well. He’s been trying to research ways around involving the police all day.

Me? I want charges pressed. Firm believer in consequences. Kindness, trust, and generosity were taken for granted. Lies and deceit that followed are unforgivable.

Response to my mom and any other relative today that is not an offer of compensation and acknowledgment/apology, will be the same: highlight lack of critical thinking skills among my family and that I’m encouraging my SO to press charges. Going back to no contact when this is over.

~

WerdaVisla

So maybe it’s just me. But if I were being paid to do literally nothing except occasionally dust some surfaces and maybe water some plants, I’d take care to not lose that gig. No rummaging through their stuff or stealing their car or whatever the fuck people get up to.

Paid house sitting is SUCH a sweet deal, I’ll never understand how there are so many horror stories where people screw it up so bad.

OOP

This is what gets me. Sitter was doing great, animals were taken care of, he cleaned the house without our asking, and was allowed to have friends over. I spent $220 stocking the fridge and pantry for him, SO prepped meals for him, SO covered his Uber/Lyft rides to and from work, and SO paid him weekly. We chuckled when he told us he felt like he was free loading. SO and I planned to tip him and extra few hundred for the good work he was doing. And then this shit happened.

To give someone so much trust and kindness all for this to happen, I don’t understand.

Update July 22, 2026

Our cat has been missing since the night the house sitter was evicted. We are only just finding out today that our indoor only cat hasn’t been seen nor active around our house since Saturday night.

While being evicted from the premises by someone who failed to supervise the disgruntled sitter as he packed up his belongings, something happened to our cat. We don’t know if the disgruntled house sitter threw the cat outside, off the balcony, or put him into his bag of belongings. Our cat is gone.

Timeline of events:

• House sitter located dead car key, broke into, started, joyride, then crashed SO’s car.
• House sitter calls relatives with false story of me, someone who isn’t on the car registration nor insurance, somehow giving him permission to the vehicle.
• House sitter calls me confessing crash, laughs when asked him where he found the car key.
• House sitter leaves house with another relative to attend family function, leaving car key behind
• Close friend rushed to our house to do a wellness check on our pets, the car, house, while collecting all car and house keys; calls and sends video of all our pets
• House sitter informed via text of termination
• House sitter escorted back to house to gather belongings, apparently with limited supervision
• Relative escorting house sitting calls requesting access to the car to retrieve drivers license; request denied.
• New pet sitter arrives at house Sunday morning, doesn’t see the cat
• Next pet sitter arrives at house Sunday evening, also doesn’t see the cat
• Over the next two days, none of the pet sitters find our cat nor see activity in his litter box or his food.

Cat was last seen by our close friend on Saturday night. Cat is indoor only. In-laws, neighbors, friends, exes, hired pet sitters, and the owner of the pet sitting company have all entered our home in the last 24 hours searching for our cat. The owner of the pet sitting company, with my permission, turned the house upside down searching for our cat or any signs of him.

We believe the disgruntled house sitter did one of the following: took the cat and hid him in his bag, threw the cat outside either onto or off the deck, or killed the cat and disposed of his body.

Relative that was with him when he was evicted initially declined to answer questions, with police now involved, as been answering questions. Animal tracking service has been hired.

The sweetest and snuggliest boy that I finally convinced that head kisses and being held so he could melt into my arms are amazing things, is gone. My mini weighted and heated, purring blanket and alarm clock is gone. This silly little guy who had a not-so-secret crush on my dog and hilariously humped her diaper when she was in heat, is gone.

The most infuriating part is, I can’t be there to help search for him and the person responsible still hasn’t shown accountability.

Edit: Update – July 23rd

He was found!

Spotted after 1am attempting to climb our fence and onto our deck.

My MIL drove two hours to our house to work with the professional animal tracker and an amazing friend who helped search and setup her nature camera by the food trap they made. They spent 3 hours searching around our house together.

MIL sent a long text of how she stayed up late reorganizing our kitchen when she spotted him. Will share in comments if possible.

My SO had just left for work when her text came through. It’s almost 8am here. Internet and cell phone service is bare, so I sprinted in my pajamas to his lab to tell him. We spent the entire night devastated and sobbing. Seeing his face light up was the best thing ever on top of kitty being found!

SO’s mom got kitty’s wound cleaned up and fed. Performed many snuggles and is taking him home with her, which is something we wish we did in first place.

Deciding when to get add the other updates. I’m elated kitty has been found but I’m currently battling with stress, anxiety, and shock. Trying to type an update on the remaining and newly uncovered things triggers an anxiety attack.

But will address that the professional dog walkers have been amazing. They were the ones who figured out our cat was never in the house when their caretaking service started. They searched my house, interviewed neighbors, verified details with their walkers, and have responded to every text, email, and called right away once I had steady WiFi.

Thank you all for the mental and emotional support. You’ve helped me talk through the last few days and provide guidance on something I never thought I’d experience.

Cat tax

Mini Update July 31, 2026

I just got back to the states and on stable data/internet after being in the sticks for awhile.

But quick update: We are going to the police station once we are back home. SO was very against filing a police report, which is what really peaked my infuriation and anxiety, but he understands the consequences of not doing so.

We have to review the extent of damages and other things before pressing charges but there is an assumption that items from our home were removed (cash, jewelry, technology, luxury goods, etc.). Basically we are headed back home with accepting that some things might be gone.

We also learned that the house sitter never never walked our dogs and lied about doing so. So we’re at about $8k in known damages, plus recouping vet visit costs for our cat and costs of the professional dog sitting company. And maybe another $6k in others.

Sorry this was longer than I expected. Sleep deprived and anxious to get home.

Edit #2: Update – August 1st Returned to the states yesterday after 17 days abroad. Overall just avoided and dread writing this update.

Updates:

• Police report filed, SO declined to press charges.
• SO’s car is totaled.
• Trash and the belongings of others indicates house sitter had others in the car and used it for multiple days.
• House sitter lied about walking our dogs and was seen by neighbors putting them on our deck for extended periods of time.
• House sitter cleaned us out our pantry, toiletries, bath towels, gym bags, one kindle, one VR headset that was a friend’s, and some bedding items during his eviction in which my own mother was tasked to supervise but aided instead.
• Cat is with in-laws who have noticed temperament changes.
• As of today, zero relatives have reached out to offer compensation or support for our lost cat, car damages, hired professional dog walking services to replace fired house sitter, etc.
• Lastly, SO has asked me to drop this topic and to stop talking about it with him.

House sitter’s eviction was supposed to be supervised by my own mother. She watched as he took my gym bags, loaded them up with our toiletries and assisted him emptying out our pantry, fridge, claiming bath towels and technology he had no right to. She believed him when he said items were left or given to him or felt he was entitled to. No questions were asked. The only call I received during this process was a request from her for him to get access to my SO’s car to retrieve his license. That request was denied.

Yes, my own mother watched as the person who stole and totaled my SO’s car (he somehow felt entitled to), rob me of my things.

SO’s car was littered with trash. It looked like someone had rummaged through his belongings. SO admits to hiding that two days prior to our trip, someone had broken into his car and stolen items. SO said he refrained from informing me as to not worry me, since I was heavily against and apprehensive of going on this trip in the first place.

However, SO says he put the car back in order prior to our departure. In the backseat and front passenger seats were the house sitter’s items and the belongings of others. One item included a visit pass with house sitter’s face on it and another included document dated for July 15th, 2026.

Our deck was covered in dog shit and reeked of urine according to my MIL. We never allow our dogs or cat onto the wooden deck or deck furniture, it’s a safety issue. MIL said one of the dogs bolted past her and pissed for a long time on the corner of the deck. This makes sense given whenever I pinged the dogs air tags, there was never any movement. House sitter never walked the dogs and lied about it.

When my in-laws found the cat, they requested I let my mom know. Her response? “Please do not include me in the messaging. This matter is between the parties involved.”

My own mother sent texts day later pretending like all is fine, inquiring as to how my trip was going, telling me safe travels, etc. Each was ignored.

And lastly, SO has asked me to stop talking about this with him and says he’s moved on. Shamed me for bringing it up. I’ve been in a different part of the house all day just trying to keep myself from crying, he says I’m being mean and avoiding him.

I feel a lot of things: rage, disappointment, embarrassment, depressed, stressed, etc. Looking at the damage done to my SO’s car. Having zero people in my own family reach out in support or to apologize, despite them all being quick to defend the house sitter and vilify me. I feel a lot of things. I have to keep my brain busy to stop myself from ruminating this; napping all day and watching YouTube videos. I tried writing letters that I don’t send to help with coping. If I’m not angry at someone else, I’m angry and disappointed at myself.

I can’t look back at the screenshots of messages without feeling enraged all over again. A different cousin sent me a barrage of messages calling me a liar and manipulative. I responded telling them off and they continue to berate me. I’ve blocked everyone.

I don’t recognize the house anymore. Can’t shake feeling there are more things missing that I’m unaware of. SO says house sitter’s did us favor getting rid of things if we don’t know what they are. I worry about someone breaking in or one of my relatives knocking on the door. Locks haven’t been changed yet. SO leaves for more work training tomorrow morning for week. All in all, just immensely stressed and depressed from this.

Thank you all for your guidance and support. If you’ll have me, can you guys be my new family now?

The Couple Thought Their Home Was in Safe Hands

After nearly a year of saving every extra dollar, Daniel and Sophie finally booked the two-week vacation they had dreamed about since their wedding. They planned to explore the coast, disconnect from work, and celebrate their fifth anniversary. Before leaving, they asked nineteen-year-old Emma, the daughter of a longtime family friend, to stay at their house. Her responsibilities seemed simple: feed their indoor cat, Oliver, water a few plants, collect the mail, and make sure everything stayed secure. They trusted her completely and left feeling confident that both their home and beloved pet were in safe hands.

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During the first few days, Emma sent regular updates with cheerful photos of Oliver lounging on the sofa and short messages saying everything was going well. Daniel and Sophie relaxed, believing they had made the right decision. But once the weekend arrived, Emma invited a few friends over. One gathering turned into another, and she gradually became less focused on the responsibilities she had promised to handle.

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One evening, Emma decided to borrow Daniel’s car without asking. She convinced herself she would only drive a short distance to pick up food for everyone. On the way back, heavy rain made the roads slippery. She lost control on a sharp curve and crashed into a roadside barrier. Although she escaped without serious injuries, the front of the car was badly damaged.

Terrified of disappointing the couple, Emma didn’t call them. Instead, she had the damaged vehicle towed back near the house and hoped she could explain everything after they returned. Unfortunately, while dealing with the accident and trying to keep her friends calm, someone accidentally left the back door open. Oliver quietly slipped outside unnoticed, disappearing into the neighborhood before anyone realized he was gone.

Emma spent the entire night searching nearby streets, shaking a bag of cat treats and calling Oliver’s name. She printed missing-pet flyers, contacted neighbors, and searched local parks, but there was no sign of him. The longer he remained missing, the more afraid she became of telling Daniel and Sophie the truth.

Three days later, a neighbor noticed the damaged car and contacted Daniel after recognizing it. Shocked by the phone call, the couple immediately ended their vacation and booked the first available flight home. Instead of returning with happy memories and souvenirs, they came back to find a wrecked vehicle, a frightened housesitter overwhelmed with guilt, and an empty house without the cat they had loved for eight years.

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When Daniel and Sophie arrived home, Emma burst into tears before they even stepped inside. She admitted everything—the unauthorized drive, the accident, the parties, and finally Oliver’s disappearance. She apologized repeatedly, but her words couldn’t erase the heartbreak written across the couple’s faces. Sophie quietly walked through the house, noticing muddy footprints, dirty dishes, and clear signs that the home had not been cared for as promised.

The next morning, Daniel contacted his insurance company while Sophie focused entirely on finding Oliver. They printed hundreds of missing-cat posters and placed them on telephone poles, community bulletin boards, and local businesses. Friends and neighbors joined the search, hoping the beloved indoor cat had simply wandered into someone’s yard.

Emma insisted on helping. She spent hours walking through nearby neighborhoods, knocking on doors, and asking residents if they had seen a gray cat with bright green eyes. Although many people sympathized, no one had any useful information. Every unsuccessful search made Emma feel even more responsible.

As the days passed, Daniel became increasingly frustrated. The damaged car would take weeks to repair, and the insurance claim revealed that Emma wasn’t an authorized driver under the policy. Repair costs would be significant, leaving the couple facing an unexpected financial burden in addition to the emotional stress.

Sophie, however, struggled with something even deeper than money. Oliver had been with them since he was a tiny kitten and had comforted them through difficult times, including the loss of a close family member. The thought of him alone outside frightened her more than she could describe.

Neighbors continued offering support. Some checked security cameras, while others left food and water outside in hopes of attracting Oliver back. Several people claimed they had seen a similar-looking cat, but every lead ended in disappointment.

Emma confessed that she had considered calling Daniel and Sophie immediately after the accident but panicked. She feared ruining their vacation and hoped she could solve everything before they returned. Instead, every attempt to hide the truth only made the situation worse.

Daniel admitted that the accident itself, while serious, wasn’t what hurt him the most. What truly damaged their trust was Emma’s decision to keep lying. Had she called immediately, they could have arranged help for Oliver before too much time had passed.

A week later, a local animal shelter contacted Sophie after receiving a report about a gray cat found several miles away. Filled with hope, the couple rushed there, only to discover it wasn’t Oliver. The disappointment left Sophie in tears as she realized how emotionally exhausting the search had become.

Emma’s parents learned the full story and were deeply disappointed. They apologized to Daniel and Sophie and promised to help cover part of the repair costs. They also encouraged Emma to accept responsibility instead of making excuses.

Feeling ashamed, Emma took on extra shifts at her part-time job and gave nearly all of her earnings toward the car repairs. She understood that paying for the damage wouldn’t erase what had happened, but it was one way to begin making amends.

Meanwhile, Daniel and Sophie refused to give up searching. Every evening after work, they walked through nearby parks carrying Oliver’s favorite blanket and a container of treats. They hoped the familiar scent might encourage him to come home.

Nearly three weeks after Oliver disappeared, a woman living several neighborhoods away called the number on one of the missing posters. She explained that a friendly gray cat had been visiting her backyard every night for food. Although she wasn’t certain it was Oliver, she thought the description matched.

Daniel and Sophie rushed to the location with cautious optimism. After waiting quietly for nearly an hour, they saw a thin gray cat slowly emerge from behind a fence. The moment Sophie softly called Oliver’s name, the cat froze before running directly toward her.

Overcome with emotion, Sophie knelt on the ground as Oliver climbed into her arms, purring despite being noticeably thinner. Daniel smiled with relief, grateful that after weeks of uncertainty, their beloved companion was finally safe.

Oliver recovered quickly after a visit to the veterinarian, though he needed extra care and rest. Seeing him comfortably asleep at home again reminded Daniel and Sophie how fortunate they were that the situation hadn’t ended much worse.

Although relieved to have Oliver back, the couple couldn’t ignore everything that had happened. They appreciated Emma’s sincere efforts to accept responsibility, but they admitted that rebuilding trust would take a long time.

Emma often reflected on how one poor decision had triggered a chain of even bigger mistakes. Borrowing the car without permission led to an accident, hiding the accident delayed help, and the chaos ultimately allowed Oliver to escape. She realized honesty at the very beginning would have prevented much of the pain.

Months later, the car had been repaired, Oliver was healthy again, and life slowly returned to normal. Yet none of them forgot the lessons learned. Daniel and Sophie became more cautious about leaving their home in someone else’s care, while Emma gained a lifelong understanding that trust is fragile, responsibility matters, and even a single careless choice can have lasting consequences.