#mystery for radbrl

[balkanradfem]

Alright, okay, so, I want to talk about a hypothetical, completely fake scenario, just to see what people would do in a certain situation. We need to do a little criminology research here.

Let's say, you're a ratty little woman who hates money, and also hates banks, and just, hates banks more. But you also need money to buy some land so you save some money and you have to put it somewhere. So you do what you're told not to - you hide your life savings in a sock. And you're like 'nothing is gonna happen to it' because of course you know, you don't believe in bad things happening to you.

And so, if your let's say, roommate, were to steal, I don't know, more than half of it, and you notice, only eventually because you don't even check because you're so sure it's going to be fine, it's been fine for years-- how would you prove it was her? And you know she took the money more than once. It disappeared from your wallet sometimes too. This is a repeated offense that you didn't realize was not just 'you miscounting'.

You're home at almost all times, because you're chronically ill, so the money is safe while you're in there. The only time the money could potentially be accessed is - while you're at work, twice a week, or while you're out foraging, or in the shower. The roommate who you're 99% sure is the culprit, is often at school while you're at work, so openings to steal are scarce. You know almost nothing about her because she hides in her room and never talks to you. She's also 17 and you have the phone number for her mother - but her mother trusts her completely, and doesn't know you well. You could involve the police, but you don't think it will bring your money back and also you hate police down to your guts. What you need is a skill in detecting, luring, and trapping the little thief red handed.

What do you do?