A woman had received a heartfelt and expensive Christmas gift from her boyfriend. It had been the best present she had received in a while, and she had loved it. However, when she returned the next day, she was surprised to find that her gift was missing. Here is what she decided to do next.
A happy couple posing outside in autumn | Source: Shutterstock
On November 30, 2023, an anonymous female poster took to Reddit’s “Revenge Stories” forum to recount an incident that occurred about 20 years ago. At the time, the Original Poster, aged 39, was in a relationship with a 35-year-old man.
Woman taking a photo of her boyfriend | Source: Pexels
They didn’t cohabit, and occasionally, mutual friends of theirs—both male and female—would gather at her place. During that period, OP’s boyfriend presented her with her first digital camera (this was before mobile phones came with built-in cameras). It stood out as the best gift she had received in a while, and she cherished it.
Who Stole OP’s Christmas Present?
A mutual friend, whom OP referred to as Kevin, a 35-year-old man, had visited one evening, and no one else had been present. OP recalled showing her new camera to him. The following day, when she went to retrieve her camera, she was surprised to see that it was missing.
The retaliation escalated when someone posted an advertisement on Craigslist, falsely listing his apartment for rent.
A digital camera lying on a wooden surface | Source: Pexels
Convinced that Kevin had taken it, OP went to his house, but he wouldn’t respond to her knocks or phone calls. “I was upset that a person I thought was my friend could steal from me and just shine me on,” expressed OP.
But that wasn’t all that OP endured. She even had a fallout with her boyfriend after the incident. “I ended up breaking up with my boyfriend because he wouldn’t stand behind me and said I probably lost [the camera]. I was devastated by the loss of both,” OP shared.
How Did OP Take Revenge from the Gift Thief?
With no support from her boyfriend and after everything she had experienced, OP decided to take revenge on the guy who stole her Christmas present. In her quest for revenge, she contemplated actions that wouldn’t harm anyone or land her in trouble.
A pair of black sunglasses lying on a stack of magazines | Source: Pexels
In an act of retaliation, someone orchestrated the completion of a transgender magazine subscription in Kevin’s name, with the magazines being addressed to him but delivered to his four neighbors.
This prank took place during a time when discussions about transgender issues were considered taboo, and the neighbors unwittingly became part of the unexpected delivery scenario. OP couldn’t help but find humor in the situation.
A couple looking for an apartment to rent online | Source: Getty Images
Continuing with the revenge tale, OP explained that Kevin resided in a small garage apartment at his mother’s house. The retaliation escalated when someone posted an advertisement on Craigslist, falsely listing his apartment for rent.
The advertisement specified that interested individuals should apply in person either before 7:00 a.m. or after 10:00 p.m., noting Kevin was a day sleeper. The consequences were far-reaching, with a stream of people arriving at all hours throughout the night for several weeks, unwittingly causing chaos in his living space.
Man covering his face with his hands | Source: Getty Images
The revenge saga unfolded further when it was revealed that Kevin had a penchant for younger girls. Seizing this information, someone took the opportunity to plaster flyers on telephone poles featuring a picture of him along with the caption, “I like to meet young girls.” The content, while not untrue, left him dumbfounded.
A woman sitting indoors during the holiday season | Source: Getty Images
A mutual friend later shared that Kevin was under immense stress, unable to comprehend why all these incidents were happening to him. OP, reflecting on the situation, couldn’t help but laugh and casually remarked “[He] must’ve [expletive] the wrong person. Every once in a while, I think about it and chuckle. LOL,” OP concluded.
Comments from Readers
What are your thoughts on this story? Do you think OP was right to take revenge on the guy who stole her Christmas gift, or should she have let things go? In your opinion, was her revenge plan a little too overboard?