Someone is turning on our outside tap

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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?

@PanamaPattie He was one hell of a CF!! He kept saying well what am I supposed to do now? When we we're out on the front he would give us evil looks and stare us out when going past in his van He soon stopped when my brother came to visit large rugby playing physique (soft as a brush) Fireman who warned him off it pays to be his favourite little sister who he still sees as that defenceless speccy eyed 6 year old

@daisychain1620

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

Peeing myself here 😂😂😂

Peeing myself here

That'll be the running water...

I thinks it’s obviously a ghost.

Or a baby elephant with a paddling pool. Maybe ring the zoo to see if any are missing?

The most likely and most boring explanation is a fault with the tap, surely?

I neeeeeeeed to know OP!

Could just put a zip tie between spout and tap if you can and pull tight. Snip the tie off when you want to use the tap. It's not an animal unless there is a primate roaming about. Tap requires an opposable digit ie thumb unless it's a lever tap. I imagine an older style one with the spoke things sticking out

@kay1bee you've scared the bejeezus outta me but great to know- there's some nasty people out there.

Is your stopcock outside? Ours is handily in the kitchen.

@MoonlightDancer bloody hell, the extreme fucking cheek! I’d be fuming! Did he think he had rights to your water?! Nutter!

I am lying in bed crying with laughter in response to this thread. It's made my night

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 this case, leave a clean glass filled with ice outside too in case they prefer ice cold water 😎

@Alongcameacat

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 this case, leave a clean glass filled with ice outside too in case they prefer ice cold water 😎

What if they are cold and need a hot drink, I suggest a flask with a little amenities tray like in hotels to cover all bases.

Camera and a lock on the tap.

Put sand on the ground underneath the tap and see if they leave any footprints!

In that case OP shoud leave a ham sandwich out as well in case they are hungry......but what if they are veggie?

After suffering nearly four months of Dementors v AntiDementors and a shit ton of armchair epidemiologists I feel that I have finally got my old Mumsnet back, so many thanks OP!

But please no-one repeat the phrase “foxes with opposable thumbs” again, or I might “literally” die laughing

I knew a horse once who could turn on taps, open latches etc. Other people would get blamed for leaving the tap on until someone caught him the act.

How odd. Have you upset a neighbour? any other weird/odd behaviour from a neighbour or teenager ? If you cant afford a camera you can buy on Amazon, a driveway detector , not sure what its called but you plug the beeper into an ordinary socket inside and drill 2 holes on outside and attach detector, (like a camera) its small and discreet. If anyone walks near where the camera is pointing it rings very loudly inside. Gives you a warning that someone is there they cant hear it outside Approx £26. Just an alternative. As others have said can turn off your tap from inside usually a tap under the sink. Leave a bowl of water outside in case its animals, perhaps a small bottle of water see which one goes may be a clue.

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

I was holding it together really well until I read this 🤣

@Neves7 my horse used to do this. Never turned them off after mind 😂

A clue, perhaps?

Typical, just when you've ruled out the foxes and magpies, it turns out it could be a horse.

https://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/images/large/8850189000/886955_1f76a822324b7b897b2edb9b9181e73c.jpg?w=2