It takes a thief

[zoobie]

My wife let this goof in my home a few months ago (friend of the fam) and she hung out daily for 2 weeks until I kicked her out. Right after, I noticed a mini-DV tape was mysteriously missing that was stored right next to where the goof usually sat. Nobody else had been over that month or since because of this. The tape spanned 2 years and was properly stored.

Since then, we've learned the goof has a long history of theft. She's been fired from jobs for stealing, arrested at a grocery store and jailed, admitted she removed jewelry from my brother-in-law's deceased body, stolen a wallet with $100 in it and a Rolex from my mother-in-law...and this is just the stuff we actually know about.

We know the goof and her hubby are packrats..chances are she still has the tape at her place.
Of course I didn't see her take the tape...but I'm not suing, either.
I just need the tape back from this obvious thief who doesn't even know what a mini-DV tape is...a total 64 year old airhead...probably a clepto

What are my options, if any?

I forgot to mention...she's a pathological liar and denies most everything...

(Now I actually wish I had technical problems...)

[Epicurus8a]

If you confront her, she'll probably just deny knowing anything about it.
Maybe you could come up with an idea for a "No questions asked reward" to be handled by a third party.

Something similar happened to me several years ago. One day I noticed my collection of five $2 bills was missing. Since this was the only thing missing from the house, I quickly realized someone I invited into my home must have taken them. Boy was I pissed! If someone needed $10, I would've happily given it to them, but instead they decided to steal it from me.

[zoobie]

I was thinking maybe her hubby as the 3rd party...pull him aside and offer him a small reward if he can find it...no questions asked

I'm still pretty much shocked this person turned out to be mental...

[Supreme2k]

Something similar happened to me several years ago. One day I noticed my collection of five $2 bills was missing. Since this was the only thing missing from the house, I quickly realized someone I invited into my home must have taken them. Boy was I pissed! If someone needed $10, I would've happily given it to them, but instead they decided to steal it from me.

Is this you?

[gll99]

I noticed a mini-DV tape was mysteriously missing that was stored right next to where the goof usually sat.

You're joking right?

Check the couch/chair between the frame and the seat (back and side). That's where I found the missing remote.

[zoobie]

You're joking right?

No...You're joking, right?

You seriously think I go around accusing someone of stealing without eliminating every possible answer? My videos now have a vacant slot where one tape was obviously taken. Absolutely nobody else was around at the time. I've turned the place upside-down twice. With the goof's history of theft now painfully revealed, I think it's safe to say it was stolen. This person actually removed jewelry from two corpses...her mom-in-law and my bro-in-law.

I'm pulling her hubby aside and offering him a reward under the guise of some sort of mixup...about all I can do.
Kid gloves as it were...