Thinking someone may have been at my flat when I was away. What to do.

[RougeGum]

Went away on Friday afternoon. Was the last person to use the loo and the bathroom bin at home. Came back Sunday later afternoon, DD goes to wee then asks have I had any gum (as in I had some and didn't share). I said no, why. She says there is some gum in the bathroom bin. I said it must have been one of the sitters we had that week. She says the last one never chews and the one before just wraps it in the little paper and takes it home. I roll my eyes and go to have a look at the bin. Indeed there are two pieces of chewed gum, smelling quite strongly, on top of the panty liner back paper that I put in the bin last Friday.

I think it odd but there must be a sensible explanation. We do not chew gum almost ever so must have been the sitters. It's all a bit funny so I text the one from Thursday saying - silly question, etc. blah blah, did you leave the gum in the bathroom bin. Answer: no. So I ask the other one - nope.

Right so then I'm starting to panic slightly. The panty liner was the last thing I put in the bin, underneath was a petrol receipt from Thursday night - I must have put it there after the babysitter went home. So the receipt, my pantyliner and then the two pieces of gum.

Also the timer for the water heater was pushed in when I went to turn it on. I had checked twice that everything was off before we went away: all the radiators, the cooker, the bathroom heated rail, the water heater - ran my fingers around the dial that the "teeth"(?) were not pushed in. If this happened on its own I would have thought that I had already mindlessly went to the cupboard and turned the water on and then tried to do it again but I don't think so??
Also the water was so hot when I opened the tap - it wouldn't be so hot after 2,5 days of no heating and me turning it on 40 minutes earlier or so. It was as hot as if it was on once per day. I can stress enough how I am sure the timer was off before we left .

What I'm asking - do I just assume it a non-event or would you be worried. Change the locks? Would insurance cover it? 101 would be an overreaction (just to log it and say I kept the gum)? I know I nor DD put that gum there .

Name changed as I had to ask the managing agents if they sent anyone here plus the sitters obviously know the story.

golddustwomen Was it found though??

Wrap the liner and chewing gum in cling film or a plastic bag and seal well.
IF - and I really hope not, but if this becomes more serious, it's DNA evidence.

Could it have been your landlord?

Have any of your neighbours got cameras or Ring doorbells that might have footage of him/her walking past.

Tork one tootbrush was left, it’s waiting to be rinsed with boiled water.

Really didn’t notice anything in my knicker drawer - but it’s not that neat that something would jump up at me straight away. Nothing sexy there anyway

No balcony. The flat’s front door was locked like I left it - Yale lock higher up and bolt lock lower.

The paper with the gums is in an bubble wrap envelope, will take it to work tomorrow.
will set up the camera tomorrow evening.

I tried one neighbour but she wasn’t in. It’s flats here jo one has ring doorbells or anything, I’m not sure what are are legal implications if I wanted to install it outside my door so it’ll have to be inside the flat.

How bizarre

Q

I'd change the locks, just for my own peace of mind

My money is on the contractor.

The chewing gum has been stuck on that paper. Not exactly hiding that they were there.

My first thought was that the gums look very deliberately placed. If it is somebody being dodgy, they wanted you to notice them. They look slightly unnaturally evenly spaced. I think if someone had chucked them in, they would have rolled off the liner wrapper. Can you think of any other unusual things you've noticed around the home in the past few months?

How about maybe one of the neighbours ? Perhaps had a key from a previous tenant and also knew you were away ?

They just didn't want to admit to spitting gum into your bin and lied about it?

This all does seem a bit far fetched OP, who knew you were away? Just seems like the sitters probably used the flat- they're obviously not going to admit it. Makes quote a bit more sense than the odd narrative of a contractor who has probably forgotten you exist, staking you, copying your keys on a random job so he can pop in to your (by your own admission not that tidy) flat to chew two buts of gum and turn the hot water on . I doubt the managing agent stopped using someone entirely anyway based on you calling up to say he had been rude, though I imagine they probably told you that. Letting agents are hardly known for their upstanding behaviour or honesty are they.

It sounds like you dole out quite a few keys to your property. Making a copy takes a few mins in the supermarket so as you're legitimately concerned ask your la slots if you can change the locks but as you rent there will always be people with a copy of the keys and if you are going to give them out again to sitters anyway it seems like a total waste of money.

don’tgo What do you mean “by my admission mot that tidy” flat? Yes, I said it was not tidy because I was going away and had to pack in rush so didn’t have time to tidy plus didn’t think anyone would be seeing it. Doesn’t mean that it’s not tidy at other times. What a strange point to make that if contractor would want to break in here would be based on whether the flat is tidy or not It’s a very nice flat

please point me to the bit where implies I dole out keys to quite a few people? Two sitters and obviously the flat owners have keys.

There’s no letting agents. If you’re planning on having a pop at me, please read the thread so that you get a chance to make a correct point. Yes, I believe the managing agents (they’re not estate agents) stopped using him because him let them down by behaving like him did - not turning up and then turning up unannounced. They don’t want to risk it with other properties. I’ve been here several years and have had great relationship with the landlords.

To me the gum looks carefully placed on the paper to avoid it sticking to the bin although I would have wrapped it in toilet paper. Sorry, no help in working out who left it.

The gum looks placed on the liner... which is weird.

And I’d be throwing out that toothbrush, I think.

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One of the babysitters - knew you were away, came round for a shag. They won't be doing it again anyway because you called them and they know you're onto them!

Yep, sneaky opportunity for sex.

Did the rumpled bed look rumpled in a different way to how you left it?

Chewing gum to freshen up before 'activities'...

@GoatyGoatyMingeMinge

Breach of trust

Any updates OP?

Only just found this thread. That's worrying.

I’d change the locks. If somebody was trying to be covert, why would they leave a clue? Don’t get that bit...