AITA for filing a police report after a close friend stole my boyfriend’s $1,800 camera and refused to replace it?

My boyfriend lent a Canon G7X to me for a night out, a long-time friend was caught on hotel security video taking it, then lied and refused to help replace it — the camera later “went missing,” and I pressed for accountability.

We were at an expensive hotel for dinner and my boyfriend let me borrow his Canon G7X (about $1,800) to take photos with friends. After dinner I went upstairs and discovered the camera was gone. Hotel security review showed a friend — someone I've known since college who has traveled with me and benefitted from my generosity — clearly taking the camera from the table and putting it in her purse. Initially she denied it, then confessed when confronted with the footage, claiming she lost it at a club later that night when she and the other friends went out without me.

I was given a high-end camera to borrow for one night; a close friend took it on camera, lied about it, then refused to help replace it — I pushed for her to pay or I’d file a police report, and after threats and a tracking number the original camera was eventually returned, but she blocked me.

After I confronted her with the footage she admitted taking the camera but insisted she lost it later at a club. I asked her to contribute to replacing it; she refused to pay or agree on any fair resolution. I gave her three weeks to help and then warned that I would file a police report and hand over the footage and her identifying details to the boyfriend if she didn't act. It became a strain on my relationship because the camera belonged to my boyfriend and he expected me to either replace it or pursue the matter.

"Security footage clearly shows her swiping the camera and putting it in her purse."

She first lied and denied having it, then confessed when shown the video. She refused every fair resolution I proposed — even splitting the cost — and said she would do nothing. I didn't want to involve police initially because she's a close friend and I've done a lot for her over the years, but with no cooperation and pressure from my boyfriend I felt I had no choice. I sent a final deadline: either pay the full cost or provide proof a replacement was shipped, or I'd file a report the next morning.

"I gave her three weeks to help resolve this and she insisted she would do nothing."

She eventually sent a FedEx tracking number that showed "awaiting package" and later provided tracking that ultimately led to the original camera being returned via FedEx. The camera was given back to my boyfriend, but afterward she blocked me on all socials. I still resent that she appeared to expect me to quietly replace the camera for him while she kept the device, and I struggled with whether filing a police report was fair once the camera was back.

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🏠 The Aftermath

The original Canon G7X was eventually returned through FedEx and the camera is back with my boyfriend. My friendship with the woman is effectively over: she blocked me after the return and refused all attempts at accountability before that. The relationship between me and my friends has been damaged, and my boyfriend had to wait to get his camera back and was unhappy with the delay and lack of immediate resolution.

At home: the immediate loss is resolved, but trust is broken. With friends: I lost what I thought was a close ally who had benefited from my generosity in the past. Legally: I prepared to file a police report to protect myself and my boyfriend, but ultimately handed over the footage and pursued the recovery route when tracking showed the camera coming back.

Consequences include estrangement from the friend, awkwardness with mutual acquaintances, and lingering frustration that I had to escalate to threats of police involvement to get a result — even though the camera was returned in the end.

"She confessed only after I showed the video, then refused to help replace it and later blocked me even after returning it."

I'm relieved the camera was returned, but I'm also angry and disappointed that it required pressure to get there. The friendship feels irreparably damaged and I’m left wondering whether I did the right thing by threatening legal action to recover what was taken.

💭 Emotional Reflection

This is a betrayal wrapped in small-step selfishness: a friend chose to take someone else's property, lied about it, then expected forgiveness without making amends. My hesitation to immediately involve the police came from the history and the fact I didn't want to ruin someone’s life, but accountability mattered both morally and practically — it was my boyfriend’s camera and his property needed to be protected.

There's also complexity: we had a shared social history and I’d helped this friend before, which made escalating painful. But accepting theft and doing nothing would have sent the wrong message. The return of the camera solves the immediate cost issue but doesn't repair the breach of trust; blocking me afterward made clear this friendship had little integrity left.

Reasonable people may disagree: some will say involving police over a returned item was harsh; others will argue that pressing for accountability was the only way to get results and protect property. Both sides touch on fairness, boundaries, and what we expect from close friends.

Here’s how the community might see it:

“NTA — you had footage and tried to resolve it privately. Threatening a report to recover stolen property is reasonable when someone refuses to compensate or cooperate.”

“ESH — theft is wrong and she should've paid, but threats of police can escalate things; you could've tried mediation before the ultimatum.”

“INFO — did you verify the returned camera is fully functional and the original, and consider small-claims if anything is missing?”

Responses will vary, but common themes are accountability, proportional response, and making sure property is actually recovered and functional rather than leaving the situation unresolved emotionally.

🌱 Final Thoughts

You were put in an awful spot: a close friend stole from you, lied, refused to help, and only returned the item after you threatened formal action. Pressing for accountability protected your boyfriend’s property and set a boundary about acceptable behavior.

At the same time, the return doesn't erase the betrayal. If the camera is fully intact, consider whether you want to pursue any further action, or simply cut ties and move on. Trust that was broken this badly may not be worth repairing.

What do you think?
Would you have filed the report sooner, or handled it privately and let it go once the item was returned? Share your thoughts below 👇