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AIBU?

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Original poster

Found a phone in my garden - isolated property - shit scared

791 replies

ScarredBunny · 24/04/2020 19:12

Name changed for this - Sorry if this seem trivial, I know people are dealing with far bigger things at the moment.

I found a phone lying on the ground, about 5 yards from my house.

We live in an isolated property about a mile away from the first road. We have not have any visitors , maintenance people for many weeks (obviously). Delivery drivers, yes, but they would not have any reason to go to this part of the garden/couldn't access it during daytime without us seeing something.
At first I assumed it belonged to one of us, but no! Confused
Phoned the police, have a ref./case number, etc. but they're busy and will get back to us when they can.
The police said to take the phone indoors and wait for their call/visit.

I am worried that the next visit is going to be from whomever the phone belongs to.
The phone is dead as a dodo but I assume it still can be found?

What should do?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
8
Original poster
ScarredBunny · 25/04/2020 02:20

@kingofkings I've never felt the need to locate my phone, it's here.

OP posts:
Original poster
ScarredBunny · 25/04/2020 02:15

@Geepipe Yes! there is a wood. Very close.

DH said not to worry and nothing will happen, he is an eternal optimist. It's already happened in a way. How weird to think that if they hadn't left their phone behind we would have never known they were here.
At least we have the dog to warn us and if it was bad I think he would actually defend. I also have DH old golf club with me.Grin
Going forward there are a lot of things we need to do to look be a little less of an easy prey.

OP posts:
kingofkings · 25/04/2020 02:03

I have an iphone . Haven't a clue whether it can be located.

Original poster
ScarredBunny · 25/04/2020 02:02

@VanGoghsDog you can charge a phone when it is in an aga when there is a plug near the aga: plug charger in the plug, plug the phone to the charger, put phone in aga, close door.

@serilavrov Thank you so much for your post. So many good suggestions for someone who's just realised their little corner of paradise is actually quite a vulnerable place. It sounds like a lot of hard work at first, but I suppose that after a while you get into the habit of observing your environment and being alert.
I thought we would be more of a target now, since built up areas' houses are full 24/7, and surely the proportional risk of being caught/running into trouble is less in an isolated place?

@Greenlynx, thanks, I really hope too.
You wouldn't come to our house. to get to another house, anyway you look at it, you are out of your way if you are anywhere near our hous.

OP posts:
PutYourBackIntoit · 25/04/2020 02:01

Weird. Hope the police put you out if your misery.

c0ffeeandcake · 25/04/2020 01:48

Shameless place marking

Geepipe · 25/04/2020 01:48

Do you live near any woods op? No reason im asking that would just make it spookier.

fallfallfall · 25/04/2020 01:46

Foxes carry items all over, certainly 1mile or more. Where I use to live they packed shoes all over the place and particularly liked golf balls. Another idea is a flight path. Phone flushed down an airplane toilet...as those things then spray to the ground below.

Original poster
ScarredBunny · 25/04/2020 01:40

@Angelegna yes, that's right. Maybe you can tell me what it is that's going on then?

OP posts:
tumpymummy · 25/04/2020 01:38

Place marking. Hope you get some sleep tonight and do not worry.

LilacTree1 · 25/04/2020 01:37

PS I’d have thought peeping Tom unlikely, given your location.

Is it possible someone fancied a wander during lockdown? Is it obvious they’re crossing on to private property?

Now the police have got the phone, I’d try not to worry, though I know it’s easily said than done.

LilacTree1 · 25/04/2020 01:35

OP I was just about to say that about iPhone!

Original poster
ScarredBunny · 25/04/2020 01:33

For goodness sake an apple charger can charge any iphone as far as i know. I have an ancient iphone 5, our other phones are also iphones, second end, bottom of the range, happy?

OP posts:
ItsGoingTibiaK · 25/04/2020 01:32

@Angellegna @notsuchasmugmarriednow1

Apple introduced the Lightning port 8 years ago with the iPhone 5. They’re now on the iPhone 11. It’s pretty conceivable that someone has some model of iPhone but can’t afford the latest one. The Lightning cable also fits iPads other than the latest iPad Pro models. Again, perfectly conceivable that the family has an iPad.

Original poster
ScarredBunny · 25/04/2020 01:30

@Senetti, interesting that you are ex-officer. There were other questions. I found them a little too...pointy and didn't want to give details of layout, sequence of events, etc. still don't, sorry.
Let's just say that you wouldn't be in that precise location near the house if your intents were straightforward, you just wouldn't come by that way, or end up there.
Yes to bungling amateur for dropping/losing their phone but you don't have to be a genius to be a criminal.It's very odd that it was left there as surely they were using it as a torch?
Peeping Tom a possibility. How do you put them off?

OP posts:
NotSuchASmugMarriedNow1 · 25/04/2020 01:20

OP sorry you've been frightened by this but I also wondered why you happened to have a spare charger for a phone that's out of your league?

Angellegna · 25/04/2020 01:17

So the phone is out of your price range but you had a charger for it?

You have an Apple charger but you don’t realise that it doesn’t share its location when it’s turned off

The police are going to hack the phone and tell you what’s on there?

Oh please!

greenlynx · 25/04/2020 01:08

I wonder if someone wanted to get to your neighbors across the field for a secret meeting (e.g to sell drugs to a youngster while parents in bed) but turned up at your house by mistake, took out his/her mobile to text “I’m here” and then dropped it when your dog started barking as wasn’t expecting this.

Hope you won’t have any surprises this night and in the future.

Original poster
ScarredBunny · 25/04/2020 01:06

@PerfidiousAlbion It was 10am when I called the police , so no they didn't turn up an hour later! I am glad they came if only to take the thing off my hands and out of the house.

OP posts:
BanKittenHeels · 25/04/2020 01:00

If this type of phone is out of your league, why did you have a charger for it

I suppose my mum would say the same with her iPhone 5, but her charger would still fit my more current phone.

sergeilavrov · 25/04/2020 00:59

I’m so sorry you’re going through this, and I hope it turns out to be an animal.

A few notes on security. Microwaves are poor faraday cages, because they only protect against a specific frequency. If people do wish to stop most amateur attempts at tracing, purchasing a faraday bag is probably the best way to proceed.

In terms of securing your property to deter further observation and impregnation, I’d recommend a few basic measures. Make it clear you’re aware you’re being watched. This will force a change in behaviour: changes are easier to notice, and will allow you to get a clearer idea of what is happening. You can do this by observing your garden more frequently from vantage points and taking photographs or taking notes. Look around noticeably as you walk from your car to your house. Check under your car, the wheel arches and the engine regularly, make yourself seem surveillance aware even if you don’t know strictly what to look for. If you ever feel you’re being followed, subtly tease out your pursuer - culdesacs are your friend. Lure them down a route that they either expose themselves off, or they have to regroup later - again, change exposes surveillance. If possible, make it such that your car interior lights turn at unlocking. Always, always, always check the back seat before getting in your car.

If you are worried about theft in an empty home more generally: Move valuables out of the master bedroom. Put security cameras (or fakes) around entrances except the one you’d want them to break through. Lead the thief through the house as you want, they can’t stay forever - particularly if an alarm goes off - so pushing them to follow a route that carries the least loss for you is a good idea. For example, Utility room to kitchen to hallway keeping them away from the stairs. Don’t overdo obvious security, it can suggest you have a lot to steal. Even lay traps; time heavy commitments to get what look like valuables. Slow them down. Keep a radio on in the upstairs bathroom, just loud enough to be heard after breaking in, to suggest someone is home. Vary your weekday schedule if possible. Landscape defensively: wide rose bushes beneath fences will at least slow a thief down. Get movement based lights in your garden.

Original poster
ScarredBunny · 25/04/2020 00:48

Lachatte OMG brilliant thank you!

OP posts:
tensmum1964 · 25/04/2020 00:46

Intrigued by Avalanche. Come back and tell us your story Avalanche.

VentureCommunist · 25/04/2020 00:42

Who are all the people voting YABU? I'd be scared too OP.

Presumably they're the people who would not be particularly scared.

Sennetti · 25/04/2020 00:33

There was a thread similiar to this before. Can’t remember what was happening in it.... picked flowers left on a wall rings a bell

Turned out it was the locals trying to get them to sell up and move on as they were not from that village ....