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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:
Whostolemymojo · 10/08/2024 18:30

What exactly do you think they are planning to do with the ducks? Serve them at the local takeaway?
I am pretty sure that catching, giblet removing and plucking a bird is far more effort that getting a frozen one from Costco.

FinalInstructionstotheAudience · 10/08/2024 18:30

Imperrysmum · 10/08/2024 18:19

Please tell me what I have broken when I enter through a missing slat in the fence 🤔

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Same as going through an open bedroom window in a house
Not your property

PlayingDevilsAdvocateisinteresting · 10/08/2024 18:29

@Imperrysmum Sorry, I have only read all of your posts.

I think that the rule about being allowed to walk your gorgeous dog on private property must be very badly constructed, as I am pretty sure that they mean
Your own private property, and not just anyone's private property, especially not a private property that the owner has NOT given you permission to enter... 🙈

oakleaffy · 10/08/2024 18:29

Butchyrestingface · 10/08/2024 15:32

Imagine what they think of you walking a restricted breed associated with multiple deaths round the park on your lonesome at 4am. 😀

In summer I wanted to walk my gentle breed of dog at dawn but was warned by someone that aggressive breeds are often walked in the 'middle of night' - in fact an XLB got into a nasty fight with a mastiff, and one of them was killed.

Clearly the XLB was not muzzled.

ListentotheButterflies · 10/08/2024 18:28

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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But you can't 'freely enter'.
The gates are locked. And there is a sign saying it's closed till 6am.
You only got in because you found a 'gap' in the fence.
If that gap was repaired, what would you do then?

housethatbuiltme · 10/08/2024 18:27

Delphiniumandlupins · 10/08/2024 15:55

Most likely reasons for them being in the park at 4am.

  1. Feeding the ducks on their way home from work - hopefully rice rather than bread.
  2. Sleeping in the park.
  3. Meeting in the park - unlikely if they work together - could be lovers or birdwatchers.
  4. Disposing of food waste/body parts in the pond.

Sleeping in the park makes far more sense, its the kind of place I slept when homeless. Walled cemeteries and locked parks are fairly safe, very few people around at night and walled areas act as windsheilding.

Vs. city centers (lots of agro and danger) or abandoned buildings (attract vandals, arsonists and drug users so used needles etc... often moldy which is great for lung infections and fire risks often with infestations and so on).

FizzingAda · 10/08/2024 18:26

Cygnets at our local disappeared a few years ago, all in one night. I don't think the OP is being unreasonable, but a little more investigation. Our council is grateful for reports of suspicious behaviour around there.

Fullyflavoured · 10/08/2024 18:23

Don't forget your binoculars.

Original poster
Imperrysmum · 10/08/2024 18:23

Boopbeepbeepboop · 10/08/2024 18:20

Next you'll be saying it's not burglary if a burglar can just open a door.

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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.

OP posts:
Shmeckel · 10/08/2024 18:23

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

ScottBakula · 10/08/2024 18:22

PLEASE PLEASE tell me that all MNers have got all their ducks in a row and have counted them and are watching out for nefarious men ( or women ) trying to rearrange them into a disorganised group !

Original poster
Imperrysmum · 10/08/2024 18:21

Thanks all! Suprised at how many people think my suspicions are far fetched tbh.

Anyway, I am going on a surveillance operation tomorrow morning in the arboretum next to the pond and will hopefully find out what they are up to once and for all.

OP posts:
Shmeckel · 10/08/2024 18:21

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Boopbeepbeepboop · 10/08/2024 18:20

Imperrysmum · 10/08/2024 18:19

Please tell me what I have broken when I enter through a missing slat in the fence 🤔

Show quote history

Next you'll be saying it's not burglary if a burglar can just open a door.

GingerScallop · 10/08/2024 18:20

FinalInstructionstotheAudience · 10/08/2024 18:17

So technically you are breaking and entering

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@FinalInstructionstotheAudience , I find OP's behaviour suspicious. Likely more serious than breaking and entering. Either hunting for a dog to cooking in a restaurant or ducks to feed her illegal XL bully.
Am reporting you@Imperrysmum 😂😘

Original poster
Imperrysmum · 10/08/2024 18:19

FinalInstructionstotheAudience · 10/08/2024 18:17

So technically you are breaking and entering

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Please tell me what I have broken when I enter through a missing slat in the fence 🤔

OP posts:
Welldarn · 10/08/2024 18:17

titchy · 10/08/2024 15:35

Count the ducks tomorrow. Count them the next day. If any are missing report them.

First you need to get them in a row 😁

FinalInstructionstotheAudience · 10/08/2024 18:17

Imperrysmum · 10/08/2024 18:15

No, I mentioned my dogs breed because I knew people would ask why I am walking my dog at 4am 🙄 and it’s to avoid judgy people like those on this thread

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So technically you are breaking and entering

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.

Original poster
Imperrysmum · 10/08/2024 18:15

Cliedi · 10/08/2024 17:55

OP you knew fine well that the breed of your dog would get this thread trending so well played. It’s completely irrelevant obviously. You can anonymously report but then you’d have the risk of a police presence if you plan to continue your 4am break-ins. You’d have to weigh this up with how much you want to apprehend the duck thieves.

No, I mentioned my dogs breed because I knew people would ask why I am walking my dog at 4am 🙄 and it’s to avoid judgy people like those on this thread

OP posts:
BobbyBiscuits · 10/08/2024 18:15

@Floatlikeafeather2 I guess you could be right. But she doesn't need to say what breed of dog does she?

Ghostofborleyrectory · 10/08/2024 18:15

Waffle78 · 10/08/2024 17:50

Poaching this has been happening a lot lately. My DD likes feeding the ducks I get her the floating duck pellets. At one of the canals we go to a local told us you won't find any duck's on the canal. We had been walking a while didn't see a single duck.

Went to Grange a few weeks ago there was hardly any ducks only 1 geese. To go there that early is suspicious.

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Sadly a lot of very pretty and unusual ducks were stolen from Grange a few years ago.

Robyn847 · 10/08/2024 18:11

Imperrysmum · 10/08/2024 16:18

No I mean at home. I feel safe having him at home incase someone broke in etc.

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Broke in? What do you have worth stealing? Ducks?

Saltedbutter · 10/08/2024 18:09

PiperBurrito · 10/08/2024 18:07

Go to the takeaway, ask about the provenance of their duck. If they’re vague and look awkward, order some anyway, then DNA test it against the existing duck families in the park. If they match, gather all the suspects into a room, and an amenable but skeptical police detective, explain at some length how you’ve reached your conclusion and then reveal the guilty parties.

Edited

Daft plan. You can’t realistically expect OP to do all this without posting some vague hyperbolic posts on a local Facebook page to ensure the maximum rage vs tangible facts ratio is buoyant.

FarmGirl78 · 10/08/2024 18:09

Min133 · 10/08/2024 15:39

Surely this is a joke post right?! I've wasted a good few mins sitting here wondering how easy it'd be to catch a duck 😂 I can't image it'd be very easy. Perhaps you could let them borrow your dog l, that'd do it 🤷‍♀️

You put some bread in a big black binliner and then tie it really quick when the duck wanders in.