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AIBU?

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Original poster

Loft hatch wifi burglar/poo leaver? Help me through the night please.

358 replies

Thattwatoverthere · 05/04/2018 22:43

There was a thread similar to this a while back that I can't find now but I promise I'm not a copy cat troll!

Last night i noticed that the loft hatch was open in the babies room. I definitely didn't do it, OH says he didn't do it. The cupboard under the TV where the electric and wifi box are was open yesterday, again, neither of us had opened it.
I called the police to report this last night and explained that I'm often alone with an 8 week old baby and that the house is really not secure (rental). Their next steps were to raise with their team manager and to contact me within 24 hours if they felt they needed to take it further, put it on record if not. Presumably this would be useful when I've been murdered in my sleep but whatever.
I've called the lettings agent who would get someone round to look at the locks that aren't locking.
I've heard nothing back from either. My life has no value clearly.

I've been blamed twice in the last fortnight for leaving a poo in the toilet by OH when I definitely, definitely haven't. Clothes have gone missing presumed lost somewhere and the wifi speed has dropped significantly over the last few weeks.

I'm concerned.

I have a CCTV style baby monitor that wasn't being used that I've set up in the living room to monitor anyone getting in which I thought was a pretty genius idea but forgot that you can talk the other way too. Tonight I'm pretty sure someone was talking through it. OH is working away but swears that it wasn't him. I need to be brave enough to get close enough to unplug it now.

There is access through the lofts from the other houses and only one key was given from the lettings agent so presumably another key is somewhere else out there. I can always hear footsteps from the houses either side of me which used to be reassuring when I was by myself. NOT ANY MORE!

Tomorrow I'm permanently closing both loft hatches, changing all locks and learning self defence. In the meantime help me get through the night. What can I do to make it as safe as I can? or channel Kevin from Home Alone And can I do anything on the wifi to see if someone else has signed up to mine?

I was a lot braver in the daylight...

I've got my baby asleep on me and I don't think she'll be much use if I'm confronted.

OP posts:
DagenhamRoundhouse · 07/04/2018 19:12

Put a bolt on the outside of the loft hatch door.

difficultpickle · 07/04/2018 19:34

Re the baby monitor. It could be that someone near you has their baby monitor on the same frequency. I used to hear clear conversations (mostly rows) from a neighbour on the other side of the road and a few houses down, ie not next to my house. I also live in a terrace where you could walk from one end to the other before neighbours did loft conversions. It didn’t bother me (and I lived on my own) because I knew the neighbours in the terrace. When the other end of the terrace was burgled there was no attempt to access the other houses via the loft. It’s not something that most people would know exists unless you live in a house with an open loft. I see phantom poos have been explained. Open cupboards could be either of you and you’ve forgotten. WiFi speeds very hugely depending on time of day. I understand that plausible explanations may not be reassuring so I hope the police may be able to give you that.

KitKat1985 · 07/04/2018 19:37

Any news OP?

IronicWittyUsername · 07/04/2018 19:43

Any more poo

NettieW65 · 07/04/2018 19:50

This reply has been deleted

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

Original poster
Thattwatoverthere · 07/04/2018 20:06

No news yet, police are now coming tomorrow 🙄. On a plus note it gave me chance to tidy up a bit!

No sign of anything else happening but we've been at home all day. I'm going to set up little traps after the police have been so I can tell if someone has been in. Not quite at blowtorch on doorknob level but any suggestions welcome!

OP posts:
Queenofthestress · 07/04/2018 20:20

Hang string from edge to edge of the loft hatch, when they jump down they'll break it

sillyoldowl · 07/04/2018 20:29

This is creepy I'm gna bolt my loft ASAP

twinone · 07/04/2018 20:34

To see if your loft hatch is being opened, just pop a bit of sellotape on the join.
You'll easily see if it's been moved and it will be impossible for it to be replaced.

MRSRUDEBOX · 07/04/2018 20:34

Any update?

PictPerfect · 07/04/2018 20:58

Thread across the opening. They won’t see it and it will break easily if moved.
Hang a few bells, empty beer cans or similar from the hatch.
Have 999 on speedial

RunMummyRun68 · 07/04/2018 21:17

so another night insecure? i dunno.....its almost as if you are stringing this one out for some reason op.....any reason you aren't addressing the issue directly?

Fletchasaurus · 07/04/2018 21:22

Hope you are ok op but I really would have checked this out already!

Faez · 07/04/2018 21:24

Another one thinking Luther...

Rachiie · 07/04/2018 21:25

I'm sure in the dark it's terrifying, but like others have said there's most likely an explanation for everything.
Just keep an eye on things over the next few days and see what happens

Betsy86 · 07/04/2018 21:37

I also want to know the outcome of this.... hope nobody has been in your house op x

Tinkobell · 07/04/2018 21:38

Bullshit. I don't believe about the neighbouring loft spaces being shared. This would make your property uninsurable surely as it is not secure! To test, go to diy Store and fix an external bolt. Piss easy job with a step ladder and a braddel. Problem fixed.

Twiggyy · 07/04/2018 21:43

Years ago my friend had a squatter in her loft. Her family wouldn't believe her until one day her dad saw him while he went to the loo in the night.
Things like the kettle was warm when it shouldn't have been and feces in the toilet.clothes and money went missing.
Definitely lock the hatches and keep the police involved

Tinkobell · 07/04/2018 21:43

If someone was in the loft, you would here them! We had a mouse in the loft a while back...sounded like King Kong!
What's the motive ...a free toilet crap, voyeurisitic perversion.....mmm, maybe - it's someone with ALOT of time on their hands! Bah !!

GnomeDePlume · 07/04/2018 21:51

Tinkobell are you doubting shared lofts exist? You are mistaken. They are not uncommon at all in older terraced houses.

Ginkypig · 07/04/2018 22:01

tinkobell

My brother lived in a flat that had a flat across from it. Totally separate and high turn over so you wouldn't necessarily know each other except when you went in to the loft there was an almost door sized hole between the two. My brother only found out because a weird guy moved in and creepily casually said if I wanted to I could just pop in to yours through the hatch.

ferntwist · 07/04/2018 22:11

I never knew that so many flats/terraced houses had joined lofts. Scary.
Hope you’re okay OP?

mumof3boys33 · 07/04/2018 22:15

Can you put something on the floor in the loft that you’ll be able to see footprints in?
I like the comment about mice...we get them in our loft and they are so loud 😂 they can’t get into the actual house though, thank goodness.

InternetSchminternet · 07/04/2018 22:24

We also have a shared loft - in a row of three houses that used to be one bigger house. Between ours and the nice old lady next door's loft is a rope with a sign saying "Number 96's loft. Do not cross this line"

SimonBridges · 07/04/2018 22:25

I don't believe about the neighbouring loft spaces being shared. This would make your property uninsurable surely as it is not secure!

Had it in my last house. I sold it 5 years ago. I never had a problem with insurance or when I sold it.

I had a tiny loft hatch though. You could only get your head through it. The hatch had bolts on the inside.