Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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
Namepound · 24/04/2020 21:58

Glad to hear that the police came out but doubt they’ll let you know what’s on it.

If I was you I’d be making sure all the doors are locked and try to forget about it - I wonder how it ended up there. If you’ve got teens who have limited screen time I’d put my money on it belongs to them.

bloodyhellsbellsx · 24/04/2020 21:51

Difficult to say if the poster is being OTT when you can’t picture the layout of the property or know if there is a bridlepath passing by etc but taken at face value if I lived rurally, in a place walkers rarely pass and I found a phone in my garden I’d be freaked out too! Maybe look into CCTV if the house is really isolated, I think it’s quite reasonably priced now!

Original poster
ScarredBunny · 24/04/2020 21:50

Hi sorry had dinner too! Thank you all for your thoughts about this-
I was amazed the police turned up, how good is that?

They said they had trouble finding our place so it give you an idea as how isolated we are, they seemed very surprised when I showed them the exact spot where I found the phone.They took the phone and said they will let us know what they find, I wouldn't have thought they would disclose any info, but we'll see.

I am really happy to not have this thing at home anymore.

OP posts:
FlamingoAndJohn · 24/04/2020 21:48

I’m amazed that the police came out for this.

CeibaTree · 24/04/2020 21:47

I hope you get to the bottom of this OP and it is nothing sinister. This does make me feel glad I don't live in a remote spot as I think I'd get freaked out a lot for things far less mysterious than this!

Sarahandco · 24/04/2020 21:45

Do you live near a recycling centre?

Imactually13 · 24/04/2020 21:44

I think you’re being worried for no reason, it’s probably nothing too serious, but you never know it could, but probably isn’t, something

TutorWoes · 24/04/2020 21:44

Perhaps an animal has dropped it there? Foxes pick things up and carry them. Has it got bite marks on it?

TheCountessatHotelCortez · 24/04/2020 21:43

I’d be a bit scared as well Op, our last house was rural, a mile from a main road as well and this would have give me the heebies. I agree with another poster Upthread, do you have oil heating? There have been warnings from our local police that oil theft is up a lot around here

lozaa · 24/04/2020 21:42

Place marking to find out what the police said

suspiciouscowboy · 24/04/2020 21:41

increase your security OP, this doesn't sound good OP, that would scare me

elQuintoConyo · 24/04/2020 21:40

Blatant place mark Grin

CherryValanc · 24/04/2020 21:40

Would you normally notice people arriving at your property @Slith?

Does seem odd, but possibly a walker. Lots of people now taking long walks all heading to the same placing thinking they'll be the only ones. The remoteness of you're place would appeal right now. Not everyone respects private property in the countryside.

Classiccar · 24/04/2020 21:39

To those who are sceptical about police coming out for ‘just this’.

We had similar & they came out. This could be the final piece of a jigsaw that you don’t know about. In ANY scenario....

Someone that has gone missing. Someone that was ill and tried to seek help. Someone that was scouting the area. Open your minds a little.

Don’t be so narrow-minded.

Yes, the police DO come out ‘just for a phone’. There is a hell of a lot of information on one.

SirVixofVixHall · 24/04/2020 21:37

Gulls can be massive. Black backed gulls eat rabbits whole. Easy for them to carry a tiny dog as flesh and skin is something they are able to get a grip on.

TheGreatWave · 24/04/2020 21:35

Was there not a seagull who picked up a dog or something like that?

You will probably never know the answer though op.

Teddy1970 · 24/04/2020 21:32

People up thread saying you need power to emit a signal, I lost my Samsung for well over a week and O2 helped me trace it.

OscarWildesCat · 24/04/2020 21:31

Is OP coming back?

browzingss · 24/04/2020 21:30

I’m surprised the police came round over this

Noconceptofnormal · 24/04/2020 21:30

I can't believe the number of people who want to believe this is a crow, seagull, fox or drone etc. Ffs, unfortunately the only plausible explanation is that a careless intruder has been in the OP's garden so the police are absolutely right to take it seriously, I'm glad to hear they have visited.

I'm sorry OP, but I guess at least you've had a warning I guess. I live somewhere similar to you and get freaked out about the security of the house, but my husband won't invest in additional security. If this happened to me I'd make upping the security a deal breaker in our marriage.

SirVixofVixHall · 24/04/2020 21:29

I still disagree about a crow. When I said shape, I did mean the smoothness etc, but also they are really heavy. I have a plus sized iphone, it weighs a lot. To carry it and fly, it would need to be grippable far back in the beak, and equally weighted both sides. I really don’t believe a crow could fly a mile or so with an iphone plus !

Leftque · 24/04/2020 21:26

If you live remotely do you have an oil tank? Could someone have been casing out that.

Imboredinthehouse · 24/04/2020 21:26

Police just turned up i'll be back

For a lost phone? Or some other reason op?

SirVixofVixHall · 24/04/2020 21:26

OP do you have a footpath near you ?

SanFrancisco49er · 24/04/2020 21:26

We lived in the middle of nowhere until recently and had a night camera we would leave outside to pick up animal activity. It was big, much bigger than an I phone. My husband didnt secure it one night and it disappeared. Found months later in the middle of the adjoining field (not used by humans) so obviously picked up by an animal and dropped. Just another option as random things do happen.
I get it, it's very scary when things like this happen and I suspect a lot of remote properties will be possible targets at the moment due to the circumstances.