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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to report this to the police, even though I am technically implicating myself?

769 replies

Imperrysmum · 10/08/2024 15:27

My local park is locked overnight and isn’t opened until 6am. It’s a huge park but in one area part of the fence is missing so I squeeze through and go into the park to walk my dog at 4am (he is an XL bully so I like to go the park when nobody is about)

The last few mornings when I have been walking round by the pond there have been a couple of men sitting on the benches next to the pond “feeding the ducks”. I noticed they have black bin liners next to them too. I’m pretty sure I recognise these men from working in a takeaway restaurant.

I am concerned they are trying to catch ducks. I hope i’m wrong, but I just can’t see why two adult men would sit feeding the ducks at 4am?! Especially as the park is officially closed and they have bin liners next to them.

AIBU to report this to the police, even though I’ll be implicating myself too?

OP posts:
OhMaria2 · 11/08/2024 00:27

frannygallops · 10/08/2024 15:37

You know ducks can fly, right?

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I'm dead. Dead.🤣🤣🤣 that's it, I'm leaving the Earth.

DreamTheMoors · 11/08/2024 00:14

Go to the takeaway.
Make sure it’s the same guys.
See if there’s duck on the menu.
Be casual and nonchalant.
Ask where they source the duck.
Or ask if the duck is foreign or domestic.
Just kidding - don’t talk to them at all.
Honestly, @Imperrysmum — people are so weird these days your scenario doesn’t surprise me at all. It doesn’t sound out of the realm of possibility of nefarious people everywhere.
But the police are going to need more than
”I think.” Go back and watch them. Film them.
Get “the duck in the bin bag” on your cell phone and then go to the police.
Don’t let the mean people get you down.

EliflurtleAndTheInfiniteMadness · 11/08/2024 00:12

DandyClocks · 10/08/2024 16:06

What is the OP doing that’s wrong?

If it’s sneaking into the park at 4am, then so are the two men. 🤷🏻‍♀️

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......

Lwg87 · 11/08/2024 00:05

Be careful Peking out of the bushes OP…

theleafandnotthetree · 10/08/2024 23:57

BirthdayRainbow · 10/08/2024 18:16

Report them. You have a reasonable reason for being there and tbh it's not for you to decide. It's for the police. I think them stealing ducks is much worse than you walking a dog in peace for everyone's safety.

Or she could just not have an XL bully 'for everyone's safety'

ToplessWordle · 10/08/2024 23:54

I think it sounds rather suspicious, but you'll probably need proof OP. Hopefully you can film them from the arboretum.

If you do manage to obtain proof, I'm sure the police will be interested. Regardless of who (if anyone) the ducks belong to, there are animal welfare concerns if they are being killed inhumanely, and food safety concerns - I doubt that ducks living in an urban park will be suitable for eating, as the water probably has all sorts of toxins in it.

GrumpyMiddleAgedCow · 10/08/2024 23:42
  1. you should have been well aware you would be attacked by the MN warriors against dogs 😂.
  2. if it was me I would have just went up to see what they were doing - though I’m too fat and crabbit for anyone to want to steal.
  3. wtf sort of hours do you work to be regularly walking the dog at 4am (not relevant just nosey)
  4. again irrelevant but does the dog just get up at that time happy to go a walk- I’ve a collie with all the energy in the world who would look at me like I had freshly landed from mars if I tried to take her a walk at 4am 😂
JJJxox · 10/08/2024 23:42

HongKongDreaming · 10/08/2024 23:35

🙄🙄 back to you. It’s a revolting dangerous dog!

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🙄
oh so you know the dog?
or your just judging the breed!!?

EatTheGnome · 10/08/2024 23:41

You best bet is to report the hole in the fence to the park owner and flag that you've seen suspicious activity and would be grateful for them to prioritise it for public health and safety.

JJJxox · 10/08/2024 23:41

VJBR · 10/08/2024 20:21

Pretty sure it is trespass. Maybe the guys by the duck pond have already reported you for having an illegal dog.

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It’s not illegal if she is following new laws! She has already stated her dog is muzzled!

EatTheGnome · 10/08/2024 23:40

Do you realise how many are bred and released purely for shooting? Animal Aid reckon about a million.

Thesecretingredientiscrime · 10/08/2024 23:38

Only four hours and 23 minutes to go.

HongKongDreaming · 10/08/2024 23:35

JJJxox · 10/08/2024 23:33

🙄

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🙄🙄 back to you. It’s a revolting dangerous dog!

Allfur · 10/08/2024 23:33

HongKongDreaming · 10/08/2024 23:31

Why on earth would you keep that kind of dog?

Apparently it makes the 4am park wanderer feel safe

JJJxox · 10/08/2024 23:33

HongKongDreaming · 10/08/2024 23:31

Why on earth would you keep that kind of dog?

🙄

JJJxox · 10/08/2024 23:32

Imperrysmum · 10/08/2024 18:23

But a burglar is taking items? I am simply walking around a park with my dog?

Pretty sure it’s not trespassing if you can freely enter, it only becomes trespassing once someone asks you to leave and you don’t leave immediately.

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I think it is trespassing because you are entering a park outside the opening hours? So technically could incriminate yourself…

Those questioning how the dog can still bark… a correct fitting muzzle still allows a dog to open its mouth!

YOYOK · 10/08/2024 23:31

LaraThot · 10/08/2024 23:08

Nah i'd say the OPs conclusion is more likely. 4am in a park loitering near ducks. Much more chance of something nefarious rather than something pure.

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Maybe they (the men and the ducks!) think she’s there for nefarious reasons too.

HongKongDreaming · 10/08/2024 23:31

Why on earth would you keep that kind of dog?

oneskip · 10/08/2024 23:26

Fullyflavoured · 10/08/2024 16:02

Do you suspect fowl play?

Ah very good

Allfur · 10/08/2024 23:26

Do people break into your house so much that you need a restricted breed to protect you? And isnt walking at 4am prrtty dangerous

IncessantNameChanger · 10/08/2024 23:19

Can not be arsed to rtft but how light is it at 4am? The ducks,are active then are they?

We have village geese. They have a very set body clock

krustykittens · 10/08/2024 23:17

Thesecretingredientiscrime · 10/08/2024 23:14

Obviously. Come with @krustykittens !!!

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With dodgy men hanging about with bin liners? Not without the OP’s dog!

Edingril · 10/08/2024 23:14

Stealing ducks from whom?

Thesecretingredientiscrime · 10/08/2024 23:14

MounjaroUser · 10/08/2024 22:25

What? You'd go into a dark park at 4 am on your own?

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Obviously. Come with @krustykittens !!!

LaraThot · 10/08/2024 23:12

Appledoughnut · 10/08/2024 23:11

Is it actually stealing if they take one? Who do the ducks belong to legally?

Nobody can say for sure. So many variables.

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