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Original poster

Someone is turning on our outside tap

332 replies

SpacePug · 07/07/2020 10:24

I think someone is coming into our back garden. Today and Sunday morning , the garden tap has been turned on and the hose adaptor pulled off so it is spraying on the floor until we notice.
On Sunday I thought that we had left it turned on (with the hose attached we wouldn't know ) as the hose and adaptor were on the floor nearby and maybe the pressure made it come off. But its happened again and I know for sure we have not turned the tap on, and the adaptor seems to be missing.

What's going on?! We have had a new fence and gate recently so it is high and sturdy. The only other way someone could get in is via next doors garden, then climbing on things to get over that lower fence

We have known of 2 occasions in the past (we have lived here a year) where someone has 100% been in the garden because the plastic shed lid was left up. But we had our old rickety fence and broken gate back then. Someone kicked it in we think as it was hanging off anyway so we had no gate for a couple of weeks. We haven't had that problem since getting the new fence up as they wouldn't be able to get in now. (There was a footprint on the gate when we first had it put up, so some one tried to kick it down, but had nothing of the sort for a few months.
We also put up security lights In that area.
Next step, we will get a camera! Why would someone do this?

OP posts:

Thread gallery

draughtycatflap · 07/07/2020 11:16

@Handsoffisback

I wouldn’t put a tap lock on in case it was a homeless person needing a drink but obviously completely understand why you are creeped out by someone coming into your garden.

😂 Whoever it is OP, the kindest thing would be to let them move into your house so that they can access the tap without dying of thirst. You wouldn’t want that on your conscience.

mumwon · 07/07/2020 11:26

I have visions of a family of foxes coming in to play & mummy fox turning the water on because they have got thirsty
(I blame covid )

Rainbowshine · 07/07/2020 11:28

Could it be something to do with the previous occupants? We have someone down the road who thinks that our house is still owned by the previous occupants due to dementia, we’ve lived here 8 years. Can your neighbours shed any light on this?

WhatHaveIFound · 07/07/2020 11:31

I've always turned ours off from inside the house since our neighbours had a hosepipe stuck through their letterbox one night (it flooded their hall)

hellsbellsmelons · 07/07/2020 11:32

Camera and lock for sure.
How bloody odd though.

Rainbowshine · 07/07/2020 11:34

Are you on a route back from a pub? Might be a drunk person who is doing this.

labyrinthloafer · 07/07/2020 11:35

@WhatHaveIFound

I've always turned ours off from inside the house since our neighbours had a hosepipe stuck through their letterbox one night (it flooded their hall)

Oh god, something else to worry about!

Lightswitches · 07/07/2020 11:42

Even if someone was "coming into the garden for a drink" if they can turn the tap on, surely they can turn it off again?

OP isn't complaining about a missing glass of water are they. If the tap was turned on for a drink then turned off again as is standard, OP would be none the wiser and I don't think there's many who would begrudge a drink of water from the tap!

OP have you checked the tap is securely turned off and there isn't any sudden surge of pressure that alongside a faulty washer could cause it to run freely? I would place something over the tap handle such as tape or bluetack and take a picture for reference, so if someone does use the tap it's clear they really meant to use it as your marker would be altered or damaged. (very amateur detective of me!)

FudgeBrownie2019 · 07/07/2020 11:45

@WhatHaveIFound

I've always turned ours off from inside the house since our neighbours had a hosepipe stuck through their letterbox one night (it flooded their hall)

I've genuinely in all the years of nonsense I've spent worrying about thought of this. Duly added to my List of Worries.

AnnaSW1 · 07/07/2020 11:49

My first thought is foxes.

JosephineDeBeauharnais · 07/07/2020 11:50

Nothing to add except that this thread has potential for classics...

SirGawain · 07/07/2020 11:53

I wouldn’t put a tap lock on in case it was a homeless person needing a drink but obviously completely understand why you are creeped out by someone coming into your garden.
In that case OP shoud leave a ham sandwich out as well in case they are hungry.

IwishIhadaMargarita · 07/07/2020 11:57

@WhatHaveIFound

I've always turned ours off from inside the house since our neighbours had a hosepipe stuck through their letterbox one night (it flooded their hall)

DH was worried about this and I said ‘surely that doesn’t happen?’ Seems it does!

ProseccoBubbleFantasies · 07/07/2020 12:03

It's clearly a thirsty ghost

ginandrum · 07/07/2020 12:04

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Lightswitches · 07/07/2020 12:05

Anna foxes?!

We have foxes. They have the daintiest, most slender forelegs, and paws that are probably the same size or smaller than my cats'. There is no wild animal in the UK who could turn on a firmly turned off garden tap.

(Actually maybe squirrels tenacious little feckers )

Somanysocks · 07/07/2020 12:14

Let me just say that no way would foxes be able to turn on a garden tap.

A plastic taplock, which I have on my garden tap, would not stop someone who would kick at your gate as they are plastic and therefore rather flimsy, you would need a metal one.

Original poster

SpacePug · 07/07/2020 12:17

Some of these replies 😂😂
We have a toddler so it's not our child doing it. It seems to happen overnight as far as I know as I've spotted it in the morning and we didn't use the hose the night before.
Will get a camera on the case. I wouldn't mind if someone was genuinely just thirsty but I don't think that's the case, I mean why come in our garden specifically, why pull the adaptor off and take it, why leave it on all night spraying everywhere, why so many unanswered questions? I might do the suggestion of leaving something there to see if it gets changed/moved like tape or blue tack for now. I'm also gonna get DH to check it early before work each morning. If ever find out I will come back and update 😂

OP posts:

portocristo · 07/07/2020 12:20

Put super glue on it or marmite

overweightcat · 07/07/2020 12:20

Camera is a v good call op!

I'd try and make it as inconspicuous as possible to see who's doing it rather than just deter them but I'm nosey like that.
I think with the fact you clearly had someone in your garden in the past &I the fact your new gate/fence had a footprint showing someone was trying to kick it down get that camera on next day delivery!

My bet is a neighbour with a grudge or some teens who think it's "hilarious".

Placemarking for update!

Somanysocks · 07/07/2020 12:23

Marmite???

gotothecooler · 07/07/2020 12:24

@portocristo

Put super glue on it or marmite

Yeah, because gluing a person to your house is the best idea ever

PuppyMonkey · 07/07/2020 12:25

So basically, it’s a homeless thirsty fox cub with a penchant for placing hosepipes through letterboxes in order to flood your hallway. It’s the only explanation OP.

Crosswithlifeatm · 07/07/2020 12:26

Smearing with marmite would be fun if you had a camera on it too.

daisychain1620 · 07/07/2020 12:36

@portocristo, love it lol😂. I was thinking more like paint or grease but you're on a different level!

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