Pin The Devil

[Kyle123]

Does this work if the item was stolen from you or only if you lose it. Thanks in advance

[Buenchico]

Given that there's no logical reason why it should ever work at all, asking if it will work in particular circumstances doesn't seem to make a lot of sense to me.

However, irrespective of whether you're sticking pins into things or not, there's clearly a much better chance of a lost item turning up within three days (e.g. because it's simply been misplaced around one's house) than there is of a stolen one similarly reappearing (as it could be thousands of miles away by then and/or, unlike a lost item, being deliberately concealed by someone).

A thread from 17 years ago:
https://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Phrases-and-Sayings/Question305900.html

[Cloverjo]

Never heard of ‘Pin the Devil’, before.
I do ask St Anthony and my (deceased) mum to help me find lost things, though. I know it’s nonsense but I do it anyway.

Kyle, try ‘Pin the Devil’, if you like. It doesn’t matter whether the item was lost or stolen.

[Old_Geezer]

I have no recollection of ever hearing of that until now. Another ridiculous superstition. This one seemingly religion based.

So, no, it doesn't work whehher the item was lost or whether it was stolen. Obviously, coincidently, there may be occasions when whatever you're looking for turns up anyway, but it would have done so ritual or no ritual.

[barry1010]

I do wonder how old this practice is as everything I have read about it involves a sofa

[douglas9401]

Hence the expression.