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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Found a phone in my garden - isolated property - shit scared

791 replies

ScarredBunny · 24/04/2020 19:12

Name changed for this - Sorry if this seem trivial, I know people are dealing with far bigger things at the moment.

I found a phone lying on the ground, about 5 yards from my house.

We live in an isolated property about a mile away from the first road. We have not have any visitors , maintenance people for many weeks (obviously). Delivery drivers, yes, but they would not have any reason to go to this part of the garden/couldn't access it during daytime without us seeing something.
At first I assumed it belonged to one of us, but no! Confused
Phoned the police, have a ref./case number, etc. but they're busy and will get back to us when they can.
The police said to take the phone indoors and wait for their call/visit.

I am worried that the next visit is going to be from whomever the phone belongs to.
The phone is dead as a dodo but I assume it still can be found?

What should do?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
8
FlamingoAndJohn · 26/04/2020 11:47

On icloud I can see which part of the house the phones are in, it's that precise. Maybe educate yourself before you argue.

Mine seems to think my iPad is next door and my Mac book is the other side of town.

safariboot · 26/04/2020 12:20

The house is remote enough that, if the phone was dropped by a person, that person almost surely had no legitimate reason to be there.

Why do people find this hard to understand? Have we lost all ability to imagine that other people don't live the same way we do?

GiveMeAllTheGin8 · 26/04/2020 12:46

I think the biggest mystery op is when do you sleep?!!!!

VanGoghsDog · 26/04/2020 15:36

Mine seems to think my iPad is next door and my Mac book is the other side of town.

Quite. My bil had his phone snatched out of his hand, someone who was with him called the police, they tracked it with his iPad, he went with them in the police car and they could track it to a block of flats, but not to the exact flat, let alone the room it was in.

They did crack a criminal gang though, they had a helicopter follow the motorbike that had grabbed it, and then they got them when they arrived and found loads of stolen phones and tablets.

teqcar · 26/04/2020 15:43

You must live in a bloody great mansion for your iCloud to be able to pin point which part of the house your phone is in.

Mine is regularly at No 17/19/21/23/25/27/29/ 14/16/18/20/22/24/26/28/30 and occasionally it shows up at number 44 next street over.

TheMotherofAllDilemmas · 26/04/2020 16:19

ICloud precise? Ha, my phone has taken long walks of the fields a mile away while sitting outside my office and even appeared to be walking into a residential area and back to the office as I checked even when I was the only one with keys to my office (it was sitting on my office)

SoupDragon · 26/04/2020 16:41

PMSL at "iCloud" being precise 😂😂

TheMotherofAllDilemmas · 26/04/2020 16:51

Probably that’s why I couldn’t find itGrin

Find my phone I meant to say Wink

VenusTiger · 26/04/2020 17:30

OP, hope you're all okay - I lived in the middle of a field growing up - 800 metres to nearest house (a farm) and 400m from road. One summer evening, with all windows open, we heard commotion, and my brothers and parents all ran out of the house to chase off the lads (on mopeds)... I suddenly realised I was all alone in the house with all the windows open, and freaked out that it was a trick to lure us out Shock I was terrified!!
Next summer we were burgled whilst on holiday- they approached the house via a field of oil seed rape, smashed up the alarm box (connected to police as well, but that's a whole other story!) and ransacked our outbuildings, our cellar and everything!! Police said they would have been there several hours getting stuff (esp the big outdoor equipment they took which was chained and bolted down!) They even stole my school bag containing some coursework (the days when it was hand written) - we eventually installed cctv and signs on our boundaries which must've helped.

I was going to suggest a drone may have dropped the phone, even though that's still suspicious behaviour to send a drone over - but from your description of the iPhone, it would likely be too heavy.

Hope you're doing well anyway - just wanted to let you know, I understand where you're coming from being frightened and you did the right thing reporting it to police, if not for your sakes, for the sake of local community who may also have been visited - wonder if any have cctv footage?

Bettysnow · 26/04/2020 17:34

Absolutely would doubt they'll be back as they must know by now they dropped the phone and realize theres a possibly they dropped it on your property. Also if they think theres a possibility you have found the phone then this would make you hyper vigilant and likely contacted police therefore increasing their likelihood of being caught should they return to look for it. A huge risk with little gain for a burglar.
They know the police can do virtually nothing even if they do gain a name as this still doesn't prove who was actually on your property. The safest bet for them is to stay clear and swear to police the phone was previously lost should they show!
Absolutely time to get a lovely ole German shepherdSmile Something good out of something bad an all that!
We were lucky as my sons friend got a new job and wasn't able to keep his gs pup so we took him. Best decision ever and seven years later he's an absolute pleasure and very much loved. We like you also had another dog (spaniel) and after a few days got along great.
As your kids are grown you possibly could take in a slightly older dog needing rehomed? Am certain this is a decision you won't regretSmile

taxiforme · 26/04/2020 17:41

Are you anywhere near a prison? Could be booty dropped from a drone.
If there is anything criminal happening here I would be astonished if the culprit came back given that he has now left a nice trail of evidence.

ichifanny · 26/04/2020 17:48

Could have been addressed already but could it have been a postman or delivery couriers ? And they dropped it while doing a delivery ? Have you had anything delivered ?

Jeeperscreepers69 · 26/04/2020 18:04

What exactly are you worried about. Are you a child? So what someones dropped there phone. If they come back for it and introduce themselves as the local axe murderer then maybe be alarmed. Otherwise man up.

GinnyStrupac · 26/04/2020 18:14

I understand why the OP would be scared in this situation. Similar rural here - we found a discarded pair of gloves on the wrong side of our high fences and gate.

FelicisNox · 26/04/2020 18:52

It's probably broken and whomever owned it probably ditched it out the window as they were passing.

No need to overthink it.

Kingston74 · 26/04/2020 19:00

I once found a violent video in my back garden and a pair of women's underwear (both not mine). You do get drunks who stumble past in the evening. Could that be the answer?

nannygoat50 · 26/04/2020 19:00

I would be scared too . I see your point totally and as you say nobody has been near you for weeks plus you are isolated. I would dry it out on salt and try to recharge and check that Boone in your house could have a secret phone

TheMotherofAllDilemmas · 26/04/2020 19:01

exactly are you worried about. Are you a child?

... because she lives 2-3 miles away from the nearest house, in a lane that is not a though road and the phone was found under the window?

Obviously, if you have neighbours and live in a city you can scream for attention, call the police, but being so far away from anyone/help you are pretty much on your own with a burglar or a peeping Tom

VenusTiger · 26/04/2020 19:19

@FelicisNox read the OP's posts - your suggestion is impossible

Jeeperscreepers69 · 26/04/2020 19:41

There is no axe murderer ladies. Over thinking and a portion of drama in the mix

AntennaReborn · 26/04/2020 19:49

I can't believe how many people comment who haven't RTFT (or even the OP).

How many times does the OP have to explain that due to the distance of the house from the nearest road, and the layout of the garden, it simply cannot be a passers-by who just dropped it???

Tistheseason17 · 26/04/2020 20:08

Hope you hear back from police

StoneofDestiny · 26/04/2020 20:26

The police should be able to trace it - hope you hear soon

ThistleTits · 26/04/2020 20:48

A mechanic left his phone on the roof of my car once, half a mile I drove before it fell off. It could have been a delivery person, they may have done a similar thing

CorianderLord · 26/04/2020 21:35

Well there are two options: someone was in your yard and dropped it.

Or a bird stole and dropped it (gulls, jay, possibly bird of prey)