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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 Confused

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
9
dexterslockedintheshedagain · 07/07/2020 12:40

Have foxes somehow developed opposable thumbs?

GreyGardens88 · 07/07/2020 12:41

@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.
I bloody would. That doesn't make any sense anyway, I'm assuming the garden tap isn't visible from the road. I wouldn't want any stranger breaking and entering my garden whether they're homeless or not. Besides they could leave any sort of drug paraphernalia behind and the OP mentions they have a toddler Hmm
Namechange2020onceagain · 07/07/2020 12:42

@PuppyMonkey Grin Grin Grin

When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.

rottiemum88 · 07/07/2020 12:44

@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.
I can't actually believe I just read this Confused
YorkieTheRabbit · 07/07/2020 12:45

I have friends who had their hosepipe pushed through the letterbox, and the tap turned on Shock they were away for a few days. It caused terrible damage.

FunTimes2020 · 07/07/2020 12:46

OP you have a civil duty to report with an update! Grin

daisychain1620 · 07/07/2020 12:46

If/when you get cameras up hang a sign on the tap saying "I can see you!". You can watch their reaction while trying frantically to un glue themselves from your tap while licking off marmite

UncleShady · 07/07/2020 12:46

PuppyMonkey it's like the conclusion to every 'what's that beeping noise in my house?' thread where the answer is the running low battery in the pacemaker of the dead an boarded up in a false wall in the attic along with the also-beeping smoke alarm he was installing when he died.

PigletJohn · 07/07/2020 12:47

Most likely a naughty child or a barmy, vindictive neighbour.

You ought to have an internal stopcock so you can turn it off in winter to avoid freezing, and at othertimes to frustrate silly people.

This one is particularly good. Big handle to turn by hand, and it does not restrict flow. a plumber or a competent handyman can fit it. Much better than the cheap ones you turn with a screwdriver in a slot. Pegler is a top brand.

Topseyt · 07/07/2020 12:51

@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.
I couldn't help wondering if you are the same poster who several years ago recommended to and OP that donating her house to a person who kept trespassing on her land was the right thing to do.

We used to have an outdoor tap at the front of our previous house and it was within very close reach of the road. We didn't put the lever on it (the bit that you grip with your fingers in order to turn it on/off). We kept that in the house and just took it out with us when we wanted to use the tap.

thekaratekid · 07/07/2020 12:55

You mention that you have only lived there a year OP? My bet is something to do with the previous occupiers. Year ago, relatives of ours kept getting someone breaking into their garden after they had moved house. The trespasser kept moving things around their garden, upturning garden furniture and would often leave the gate swinging wide open. They also meddled with their car (windscreen wipers pulled up....things like that). They got a gate padlock, but they then just jumped over.

In the end it turned out the previous occupier's teenage son had some sort of dispute with other local youths....and they thought he still lived there. Hmm It all suddenly stopped when word got out that the son had moved.

Relatives were freaked out for a while and thinking back it did seem quite sinister. Confused

Jeremyironsnothing · 07/07/2020 12:55

Just posting to read more barmy responses Grin

growinggreyer · 07/07/2020 12:57

Are you on a water meter? If you are, then definitely turn the water off inside the house. It will be costing you a fortune!

xolotltezcatlopoca · 07/07/2020 12:58

I would think it maybe some drunken neighbour doing some silly things. Fox would be funny though. Family of foxes quietly waiting for mummy/daddy fox to turn the tap on to have a drink or splash fun in the hot weather.

Fanthorpe · 07/07/2020 12:59

Surely anyone coming in to get water would turn it off again? Leave a dish of water in case it is foxes looking for a drink.

safariboot · 07/07/2020 13:05

If your garden is reasonably secure then it's got to be vindictive neighbour I think. So I say put up a hidden camera.

MrsWombat · 07/07/2020 13:10

Magpies? My ones are obsessed with my tap. It wouldn't surprise me if they managed to force the hose off. Turning the tap on (and off again) would be impressive though. Grin

ThickFast · 07/07/2020 13:10

I reckon it’s a creepy neighbour.

MaggieFS · 07/07/2020 13:11

Still don't buy that a fox could turn a tap on. Any thirsty local Orang Utans, OP?

0blio · 07/07/2020 13:17

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

I can't stop laughing at this Grin

OP I hope you find out who or what is turning on your tap (foxes?!) and let us know as I love this thread!

FluffyKittensinabasket · 07/07/2020 13:19

There was a post on Mumsnet ages ago where a woman was told to give somebody their house. So letting someone climb over fences to drink from their tap is probably seen as acceptable!

GertrudeCB · 07/07/2020 13:20

Do you have a dog or could you borrow one ?
New neighbour and his mates deceided to " borrow" our garden chairs last summer - our dozy labrador turned all Rambo and tried to smash through the back door to stop him. He never tried again.

  • disclaimer, if he HAD of got out ddog would have most likely either licked him to death or given him a ball to throw for him.
DrinkFeckArseGirls · 07/07/2020 13:21

I’d still order the camera it sounds either malicious or foxes. Either way I’d like to know in your shoes.

GiveMeAllTheGin8 · 07/07/2020 13:23

Homeless person Grin
Foxes turning taps onGrin
Glueing the person to the tapGrin
Has the world gone bonkers ?!!!!!!

lifesalongsong · 07/07/2020 13:24

@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.
In true MN style better leave out a full meal and some clothes tonight just in case Grin
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