AITA for telling the police my brother robbed me and took my car?

Imagine the panic: a dad, ready to rush to his kids’ school after a sudden emergency, finds his car gone—hijacked by his own brother, who’s been crashing in the basement. The sting of betrayal hits hard, not just from the missing keys but from a pattern of disrespect that’s been revving up for weeks. This Reddit tale from a 32-year-old father pulls us into a sibling saga where boundaries are floored, and a police call shifts gears in their rocky relationship. It’s a drama that resonates with anyone who’s ever had a family member test their patience one too many times.

The urgency of fetching his young daughter and son from a school hit by a last-minute leak fuels the tension. Readers feel the dad’s frustration as his brother’s flippant “wait your turn” brushes off a critical need. This isn’t just a car theft—it’s a clash over respect in a shared home. Let’s peel back the hood and see what Reddit’s got to say about this family feud.

‘AITA for telling the police my brother robbed me and took my car?’

I (32m) have a little brother Kyle (28m) we did get along quite well when we were younger but not much now (we manage each other). for now he lives in my basement because he can’t afford a house (but can easily afford a car. He f**ked up his car somehow and he took it to get repaired. I’ve offered him to use my car as I can just bike to work.

Only let him use it for 2 days until his car was fixed, that was a week ago. He keeps using my car when he has his own. I needed to pick my daughter (6F) and my son (4M) because their school had a leak that they found last minute. So I went to go to my car when it wasn’t their. I phoned my brother to bring the car back now and he said “I’m using it wait your turn”.

This isn’t the first time he had done this. I took his car to get the kids, when I got back I phoned the police saying my brother stole my car, gave them all the details and they found him at a McDonalds. They asked if I want to press charges I said not now but if it happens again I will.

Got back to my house and he yelled at me with my kids behind me. I told him to go to the basement and stay there. He took my car multiple times he has his own car that’s fixed now, I pay for my car not be used by him. So aita?

Sibling squabbles over shared resources can stall even the tightest family bonds, and this car theft tale is no exception. The dad’s police call was less about the car and more about hitting the brakes on his brother’s entitlement. As Dr. Joshua Coleman, a family estrangement expert, notes, “Boundaries are essential in family dynamics, especially when one member takes advantage of another’s generosity.” The brother’s repeated car use, despite having his own, signals a disregard for agreed limits.

The dad prioritizes his kids’ safety and property rights, while the brother acts like the car’s a communal toy. This reflects a wider issue: multigenerational living, common in 25% of U.S. households per a Pew Research Center study, often sparks conflicts over resources. The brother’s yelling in front of the kids further muddies the road, showing emotional immaturity.

Dr. Coleman advises, “Clear consequences reinforce boundaries without severing ties.” The dad’s police report was a fair consequence, though not pressing charges keeps the door open for change. He should now secure his keys and consider a formal eviction notice if the disrespect persists. This balances family loyalty with self-respect, nudging the brother toward accountability.

For readers in similar jams, experts recommend written agreements to clarify expectations and third-party mediation if talks stall. This story underscores that family doesn’t mean free rein—respect drives the relationship forward.

Here’s the input from the Reddit crowd:

The Reddit squad revved up for this drama, dishing out a mix of cheers and jeers with their trademark spice. Here’s the unfiltered scoop from the crowd:

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[Reddit User] − NTA. Your brother sounds like a leech and I would recommend kicking him out of your house if he can't follow simple rules like using his own f**king car.

Unusual_Season_7196 − So, NTA, but why does he have access to your keys?

rossvmx − NTA. 'Wait your turn?' wtf? You're adults, and your children needed to be picked up. Your reaction was entirely reasonable; From here, get him out of your home. Clearly he doesn't respect you, your boundaries, your property, and definitely not your children if he's going to scream in front of them.

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Meltedwhisky − NTA ~ and serve him eviction papers. Yelling at me in front of my kids, deal breaker. That’s their safe place.

[Reddit User] − NTA for calling the police, but you are the AH for not pressing charges, for not getting your car keys back, and for letting him disrupt your family life and yell in front of your kids. Give him 30 days notice or whatever is required where you live and let him find his own way.. Edited: Sorry for the typo, guys. Accidentally had two “nots” in the first sentence.

Mango_Juice10 − 'Wait your turn' Is he 9? It's your car, not a choo choo train he got from Tots for Tots. He sounds like he'll argue with a little kid for taking the last cookie from the jar. Kick him out before that becomes a reality.. NTA

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coppeliuseyes − NTA and I would evict him

Throwjob42 − NTA. He is not a good influence to be around your kids. Y W B T A if you do not remove him from their home.

sethra007 − NTA. 1. Time for brother to find another place to live. Get an attorney and start the eviction process.. 2. Get the keys to your car back. Hide any extra keys.. 3. I understand why you didn't want to press charges, but honestly you probably should have.. 4.

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Regardless, don't hesitate to have a police officer present to make sure he moves out without incident. 5. Make sure your family and friends understand why he's being evicted and why you called the police on him.

[Reddit User] − NTA your brothers become entitled. He's just taking anything he can get & more and he's not respecting boundaries. If you have to call the police to get those boundaries enforced those boundaries so be it. Don't let him turn this around and blame you. You did not overreact.

He is not respecting the boundaries you've said, he's changed them and thinks he's entitled to do that. (I think in cases like this the charge is actually something like taken without permission because it's something you've lent him in the past and continue to do so but he doesn't relinquish it when he's supposed to. I could be wrong but I think it's a slightly less serious charge.

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When you think about it there has to be a distinction because you would want someone who broke into your house at night took your keys and stole your car to be sentenced much more seriously than someone who you lent your car and they didn't bring it back, or someone who's generally/occasionally allowed to use it but used it at a specific time they weren't allowed to.

These Redditors backed the dad, roasting the brother’s “wait your turn” line as playground-level nonsense. Calls for eviction flew fast, especially after the yelling scene near the kids. But do these hot takes capture the full road map, or are they just burning rubber? One thing’s clear: this sibling clash has Reddit’s engines roaring.

This tale of a car, a brother, and a police siren leaves us idling at the crossroads of family loyalty and personal limits. The dad’s bold move sparks questions about how we handle relatives who overstep. What would you do if a family member pushed your boundaries this far? Drop your thoughts below and let’s keep the conversation in high gear!

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