Found an unattended rucksack.

[Moofreemum1]

Found a plain black unattended rucksack in a children park a min ago. I was with my toddler and didn't want to touch it. Didn't know what was in it e.g. drugs or now adays who knows what's in there. So I called the non emergency number and they said they don't have resources to go and check it.
Was I being unreasonable calling them? She said may be you could go back and check? Made me feel stupid for ringing. It prob is the case someone left it there but you can never be too careful now adays. So was ibu?

A rucksack was left on a bus in town a few weeks ago. Bomb disposal squad was called, town centre ground to a halt for 3 hours. They blew it up. Was someone's shopping.

I live in tourist area but I wouldn’t have touched the bag, 99% chance it’s not a bomb or anything suspicious, but after Salisbury nope I’m not touching

A children's playground with a toddler and mum in really are not.

Why not? Can you imagine the utter horror and fear in the general population if an ordinary children's park was targeted?

Terrorists want to spread fear in ordinary people, if I were as sick and twisted as them I'd go for ordinary places which also have zero security.

I wouldn't touch it in a million years and I'd ring the police.

@evilspiritgin oh yea forgot about the sailsbury incident

@thehappyegg my thoughts exactly

I’m in London. No way would I have opened it or gone near it.

I work in a busy supermarket and almost every single day, bags and rucksacks get left behind. If we called out security for every single one we would be closed for a couple of hours every single day.

I spotted a suitcase in an abandoned shop doorway once when I was taking a short cut - it was an alleyway in central London. I saw a couple of police officers and mentioned it. When I went back that way an hour or so later the alleyway was cordoned off. Never did find out what was in that bag

Most likely in a small village it belongs to a child or even more likely an adult who was sitting on the bench and got distracted by their DC and simply forgot it I've ever left my rucksack in the park - really!!

Just to add, I probably wouldn't have touched it either. If its innocent or drugs they'll come back for it. If its a bomb (unlikely) then you're best leaving it yourself you did the right thing though by letting police know

I live near Salisbury and I would have looked in the bag, I think what happened here was such a random bizarre happening that it so unlikely to ever happen again.

But it did happen. And a woman died.

What annoys me are people are like it will never happen or unlikely but tell that to the people who have been in these incidents. E.g. sailsbury or random bombs. Bet they thought the same "oh it's nothing"

That's not how risk works.

Yanbu. Can't imagine if it were something indeed very serious and you've ignored all the advice which is to rightly inform security personnel or police or whatever. Not just let curiosity get the better of you and end up with a potential threat on your hands. FGS!

If it was full of kittens I would call RSPCA

If it was full of kittens I'd have taken it home!

I wouldn't touch it but I doubt I'd have phoned the non-emergency number - maybe the council department who look after the parks?

People generally think things like this will never happen to them.

When things like this have happened to you, you aren't quite so cavalier with your own and other's safety.

Thing is OP, if you had of opened it and it had been a bomb that had exploded and killed you, the very same police you contacted who were too busy, would have been putting out statements after your death advising people to contact them if they see any unattended packages.

You can't win.

thehappyegg But you have to be sensible and take a risk based approach.

No terrorists will not post a bomb in a playground with 1 kid and mum. To spread fear you get the maximum number of casualties and preferably filming of the incident.
Near me anti terrorist measures have been installed. I am not surprised. Before they were installed I was worried there would be an incident as although it is outside London, it is an obvious target. It would have been very easy to kill lots of people including lots of kids. I am reassured since effective measures have been installed.

Go around fearing terrorism everywhere if you want to. But it simply isn't realistic.

But you have to be sensible and take a risk based approach

Your 'risk based approach' is just another version of thinking that it won't happen to you (because you are not in the same places as previous victims).

I found a bomb in the early 90s. It was in a shop in the back streets of Manchester. It can happen anywhere.

I wouldn’t touch it. Although I’m a Londoner I would think drugs rather than nail bomb. 99.9% it’s innocent however why take the risk?

I'm in London and I would've done the same as you. Pretty shocked at their response and irresponsible advice,

I was in London the day of the bombings and I wouldn't go anywhere near an unattended bag after all that, thanks very much.

I don't think you over reacted at all and can't believe people saying you did!
I'd have done exactly same thing

I once rang 101 and reported a large, unattended bag I'd seen tied to a lamp post in the centre of town. It's a garrison town.

Police checked it out immediately and turned out to be nothing dodgy.

Better safe than sorry.