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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
BettyBaggins · 08/04/2018 20:41

Update required op!

RunMummyRun68 · 08/04/2018 21:45

when was that op as i don't think you actually said he went up....or elaborate on what he saw

Grinandbearingit · 08/04/2018 21:57

Following - This is all getting me creeped out....cute kids toy going off on its own, I’m seriously, of all the times for it to do that, it had to be when I was knee deep into this post!! Shock

Grinandbearingit · 08/04/2018 21:59

I should have spell checked my message!! Queue kids toy going off on its own

Grinandbearingit · 08/04/2018 21:59

Cue!! Omg! Right that’s me off to bed hanging my head in grammar shame

dadshere · 08/04/2018 22:20

Call the Police again, ASAP. Tell them that you are alone in the house with a baby, and that there is an intruder in the loft. Give your name address and phone number and then say you just heard something, and hang up. Get them up in that loft and made safe.

acornsandnuts · 08/04/2018 22:36

dads bit dramatic after the last update

RunMummyRun68 · 08/04/2018 22:39

er,dads this isn't 1950! for one, op has had multiple chances to go up there, has had her partner!!

waste police time over something which is most likely nothing? when did we get so feeble that we need the police every 5 mins?

Iamagreyhoundhearmeroar · 08/04/2018 22:52

The police haven't got time to send a swat team round for a possible intruder in the loft!! They barely have time to attend a mugging in progress in the street...
Op has had weeks to sort this, yet it only appears to become a problem after nightfall; I wonder why?

Lockheart · 08/04/2018 22:59

This is freaky!

I’m so happy I am the loft dweller in my house (actually my house - the loft is converted) Grin otherwise I’m not sure I’d get much sleep!

bonzo77 · 08/04/2018 23:01

So pleased we are end of terrace. And both our and the neighbors have the lofts converted!

SomeKnobend · 08/04/2018 23:17

I think it's the landlord helping himself to an unannounced visit maybe to get something out of the loft. Explains why he felt entitled to have a shit there too (if he feels entitled to let himself in, I'm sure he'd make use of the facilities).

SimonBridges · 08/04/2018 23:27

It’s only illegal if you build it now to not have a firewall.

moofeatures · 08/04/2018 23:30

🍿

cavatron · 08/04/2018 23:38

😮🍿

DarkNightDelight · 08/04/2018 23:49

Family member works for probation and it's really common when people break into homes that they poo in the house due to nerves etc.

5plusMeAndHim · 09/04/2018 00:35

When my husband left me and I was alone with 14 month old and toddler I used to feel there was someone in the house/ I was being watched.We lived in semi detached house . Talked to neighbour who said it was probably squirrels in the attic. One night heard a noise like a radio above me for a second. Called police, they came straight away. Found my ex- he had been there for two weeks apparently
Hmm

Original poster
Thattwatoverthere · 09/04/2018 01:31

Kind of update? Oh went back up (I tried but damn you feeble upper body! Got my head through though) and can confirm that you can't in fact get through to next door. Only between the front and back loft. So phew. The light has gone since he was last there so it's hard to properly gauge if anything has moved until we sort that but it doesn't look like we have a lodger up there by torch light. It did smell like cigarettes but assuming that's from another house (you can hear both sides) so I'm sure air can get up there too.

So I feel a bit of a twat but a lot relieved. I can only assume that it's either an old tenant with keys still or that knows the weak spots to get in or the landlord who has left something behind maybe. I'm sure that someone has been in but glad that it's not from above. An old tenant did knock a little while back to ask if there was any post for them, maybe they decided to let themselves in if there wasn't an answer? My interference ridden video monitor should pick up anything if someone gets in through the doors at least.

So. Back to the agency tomorrow to arrange patio doors fixed because string round the handles won't cut it for me and locks on the side gate so people can't get into the garden because currently anybody can. And see what the policeman says re next steps if any.

Sorry for the delay, ill baby has taken up most of my night!

OP posts:
Mightymucks · 09/04/2018 04:01

Did the bulb ‘pop’ when you tried to turn it on? If not someone else must have turned it on before you did.

And was the hole to next door small enough to fit a child into?

TheFreshPrincess0fBelair · 09/04/2018 06:37

Are you thinking she could attach a camera to her baby and chuck him through the hole? Grin

Tidy2018 · 09/04/2018 07:11

DH's elderly aunt lived in a top-floor flat. There was a trapdoor at the top of the stairwell. It was padlocked and each flat had a key. One day his aunt came back home to find ceiling tiles smashed through and all cash, jewelry, and war medals gone.

MrsGB2225 · 09/04/2018 07:12

Following, hope you get an answer

Pinkprincess1978 · 09/04/2018 08:16

Not relevant but all the talk of being able to get into other peoples houses reminded me of when I lived in a flat as a child. One of my friends lived in the top floor and had a door at the back of her bedroom cupboard that opened into the hall of the flat next door! Very weird and I believe all the top floor flats did this. I think it was a fire safety thing maybe?

This wasn't in the uk, that that I think that should make a difference 😀

wonderstar1216 · 09/04/2018 09:35

Pink princess we have that and are in uk.
We are the top flat and there is a door through to next doors flat in our bedroom. Goodness knows who has a key to it!

Pettynotvindictive · 09/04/2018 09:59

Op watch Luther.

Let idris calm you.
It's not as scary as I was led to believe. It's enjoyable though.