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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I just been accused of THEFT - the guy is bonkers!!!!

50 replies

LittleTree1 · 27/08/2017 20:22

I walk my dog a similar round trip most evenings. One of the country lanes is bordered by lovely huge pine trees. My children love making craft things out of natural objects so I've been meaning to collect a few of the huge pine cones these trees drop for some time (they are just left there to rot otherwise). Today I remembered to take a small bag and proceeded to collect a few. I was on the lane, then there is a little embankment (prob 5m wide) then there is a fence and a horse place. I was on the edge of the road and just collected a few next to the road (there were about 30 or 40 on the floor). As I was walking away a man came up to the fence and shouted 'hey, what do you think you are doing?' I assumed he had misunderstood something so I said I was just collecting a couple of the fallen pine cones. He then proceeded to tell me I was stealing his property and I needed to put them back. He was being quite aggressive in tone and marching over towards the fence, so I just said they were on the road and walked off. The trees were my side of his boundary fence and I believe are maintained by highways. Was IBU - and if so where does this leave blackberry pickers, children picking up sticks, etc, etc! Have to say I'm tempted to find a different walking route!

OP posts:
PastysPrincess · 27/08/2017 20:24

He is bonkers.

CasperGutman · 27/08/2017 20:27

YWNBU

PeterBlue · 27/08/2017 20:27

No YWNBU. If he'd carried on like this you could have pointed out that since the trees are outside his fence, the only reasonable assumption is that they are on the public highway and not his land.

FallingOrbit · 27/08/2017 20:28

No, it's NOT theft under UK law. But I don't know where you live. Under most jurisdictions it would technically be theft if you reached up to take the pine cones, but if they are fallen then NO it isn't.

c3pu · 27/08/2017 20:31

Pah.

I uprooted some burdock earlier from my local park. That's actually a criminal offence, it's illegal to uproot a plant without the landowners permission... But if I can remove a few annoying weeds from where the kids play, I'm sure you can pick a few pinecones without getting your collar felt Grin

Whatslovegottodo · 27/08/2017 20:35

Oo is blackberry picking illegal?
I've just got a bag full of the first ripened ones near our local woods.
Don't want to be on crime watch ShockGrin

iklboo · 27/08/2017 20:36

What was he planning on doing with them?

Original poster
LittleTree1 · 27/08/2017 20:38

iklboo no idea - they rot there every year - he just struck me as an miserable middle aged man with two much money and arrogance - but that was simply on my short view of him.

OP posts:
ivykaty44 · 27/08/2017 20:39

Interesting as I had police leave a note asking could they collect pine cones on pavement from my tree

I said yes fine no problem

But I guess they asked for a reason ( other than they wanted them for a craft project)

Also if you cut a neighbours tree aren't you supposed to put it back over their fence and not keep it?

WooWooSister · 27/08/2017 20:45

I guess it depends if the trees are on his property. Sometimes boundaries don't match fences. But he sounds like an arse.

MissionItsPossible · 27/08/2017 20:45

He needs to sort his priorities out. Even if they were on his property I could understand and sympathise with him if they were flowers or fruit and people were picking them but it's a pine cone! He needs to get a grip.

peepoo · 27/08/2017 20:50

Oh dear. He's YU.

LaurieFairyCake · 27/08/2017 20:51

I'd tell him to call the police

You can pick up stuff on the road no problem at all

Hiphopapotamus4 · 27/08/2017 20:54

Fwiw we have had people come into our land and picking our fruit crops, assuming they are just "in nature" and there for the taking - no, they are our livelihood and you are stealing our stock!!

However, pine cones are a different story and even if the trees belong to him he is being a miserable git!

kaitlinktm · 27/08/2017 20:54

Also if you cut a neighbours tree aren't you supposed to put it back over their fence and not keep it

Yes, but if fruit from their tree falls onto your garden, I think you can keep it - not sure if it's on the public highway though.

Just watch out for the police helicopters OP. Wink

listsandbudgets · 27/08/2017 20:55

Ivykaty - the police left you a note about pinecones???? Really!!! (Please tell me this is autocorrect at its best [grin

becotide · 27/08/2017 20:55

two sides here

yes you are within your rights

but

Do you want to have a confrontation with someone who is CLEARLY deranged? No. leave his imaginary property alone, it's clearly important to him and you don't know what lengths he will go to protecting the items he imagines are his.

BattleaxeGalactica · 27/08/2017 20:57

If they are his (and it doesn't sound as if they are) he should be collecting them himself if he's that arsed about it. He sounds like a complete knob a dog in the manger. Barking. Literally.

ItsNachoCheese · 27/08/2017 20:57

What happens during conker season then? Lol

user1489675144 · 27/08/2017 21:04

He is bonkers ...

You are right - pick them up

NeedsAsockamnesty · 27/08/2017 21:04

I expect there will be a huge manhunt for you and you will go down for 180 years

ScarlettDarling · 27/08/2017 21:09

How very odd! I took my 2 dc out collecting pine cones and sycamore seeds for my class to use in craft activities. Little did I know I was encouraging them into a life of crime!

keeponworking · 27/08/2017 21:12

OP'll be doing pine... Grin

Don't worry, we'll all come and visit you inside - and when we next come, can we each have a 32" wreath ready for, say, the second week in December??? Thank you.

SouthPole · 27/08/2017 21:18

Tell him to call 999.

The dumb cunt.

Bettyspants · 27/08/2017 21:20

Miserable old cunt.