Not sure if I just saw someone cut off their ankle tag. Do I ring police?

[reallifeboogie]

In public toilets, I was washing my hands when someone came out of toilet next to the one I was in and put what I think was an ankle tag in the bin then they left. Very shifty looking person.
I glanced in the bin after they left and saw what looked like a black strap with a small grey box attached to it.
I've googled ankle tags and pretty sure that's what it was.
Do i call the police??

Won't some kind of message or notification go to the police @WinterMorn ?

I would have thought that an alarm of some kind would go off if a tag is broken/damaged. I don't know, I am just guessing. But surely something must warn the police, otherwise everyone may as well just take them off and leave them in their house while they go out til midnight every night!

Love how everyone's assuming it's a bloke.

They have tamper alarms on them don't they, so the necessary parties will already know it's been fucked about with? Otherwise what's the point of them, if they can just be cut off and left at home?

Love how everyone's assuming it's a bloke.

In the women’s toilets 😆

They're probably hoping it’s a man identifying as a woman. All talk of tags will be forgotten then. They’ll be drooling like starving dogs over a sirloin.

@HeySummerWhereAreYou It depends on what sort of tag it is, or it certainly used to. There are various types with different purposes.

I don't think they are? One 'he' and one 'she' and they from everyone else.

Or he might try to make contact with the victim.

Well based on odds on Mumsnet she rather than he. And she might just be on tag for being a drunken twat who smashed a car window or two rather than a crazy ex out to hunt down their victim.

Ah more likely a tag off something a shoplifter has nicked than an ankle tag.

I think you need to recount 😂

I think it's more likely to be a security tag from a shop.

Yes call the police.

Actually, you’re absolutely right. Actual ankle tags are very difficult to get off (I gather…)

Counting not your strong suit?

I wouldn't. But then I wouldn't have looked in the bin either!

I absolutely would report. They could be an abuser, paedophile or stalker... or even just a thief planning to go to someone.

I don't understand the mentality of PP of not being bothered.

They have cut it off for a reason, and it is unlikely because they want to volunteer at the puppy shelter.

I didn't give the sex of the person as in all honesty, I'm not sure which it was. Ladies toilets but this person was wearing a dark hoody with hood up and jeans.

I have no idea how the tags work. It was in a shopping centre and as i was leaving I saw a security guard so I told him.

Bin was an open bin with no lid and I was putting paper towel in it

Obviously not! What gives you the right to interfere? If there is any offence, it will be dealt with. It's not for random members of the public to get involved.

Unless you fancy robbing a bank Op? In which case you could take it with you and have the perfect fall-guy for your crime!

this is super weird advice. So if you saw someone nicking a car you'd just look the other way and whistle? they're breaking probation by removing their tag and and couldn't have an innocent reason for doing it.... I'd certainly report.

Ridiculous post.

The offence will be dealt with afterwards. If OP reports it now, it could prevent an offence happening.
Would you not report an accident or a hit and run if you saw one happening?

I think @SoupDragon is likely to be right, that someone emerging from a shopping centre loo cubicle next to the OP, who didn’t hear noises of something breaking and sounds of effort, is far more likely to be a shoplifter getting rid of a garment’s security tag than someone on licence having managed to break off an ankle tag.

Have you phoned the police yet? Time is ticking

I didn't know those tag monitors were still in existence.