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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
Branster · 29/04/2020 23:27

I believe you JKScott4. My current one is afraid of his own shadow sometimes, he gets by in life through good looks and a chilled personality.

joosiewoosie · 30/04/2020 00:05

Omg op, I'm freaked on your behalf. So pleased you've got more measures to deter nasties in place now.
Please forgive me as I don't want to make you question yourself as you've now done all the things you need to to feel safer but, how genuine were the police during their visit? Did you get ID confirmation before giving them a tour? (My suspicious mind went to a worrying confidence trickster entry based scenario, but I'm sure you were freaked enough to be extra wary of this anyway?)
Anyway, as you were. I was very late to the thread and skim reading have seen that this question hasn't yet been asked.
Flowers for bravery! I was burgled when I was a 24 to singleton and they left a hammer and knife on my bed (fortunately I was out) but this stuff reminds me of the fear I had after that for years!

Laslow · 30/04/2020 00:10

Wow! This has given me the willies, as my nanna used to say 👀👀👀😱😱😱

JKScot4 · 30/04/2020 00:20

@joosiewoosie
ID from the police? OP phoned them, so what? the phone leaver is tapping her phone and impersonating police officers??
Too far 🙄

Summerofloaf · 30/04/2020 00:39

The Phone Leaver

Great title.

Original poster
ScarredBunny · 30/04/2020 00:54

@joosiewoosie - thank you for your concern. Apart from first telling me why they ere her, the police could not have looked more more genuine. I even checked their shoes - no I didn't - didn't cross my mind, but seriously, no concerns there. Really pleased about that, now that you have raised the question; I'll take what I can at this stage Grin

Flowers for bravery to you too, the things left on your bed were a nasty mind trick, in case being burgled wasn't enough. I hope you're ok now about it and I'm sure you have everything in place to minimise the risks of it happening again, you've had to learn the lesson earlier than I had to.Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
ScarredBunny · 30/04/2020 01:15

Replying to your earlier post
@Branster - these people were watching waiting for us to go to bed, that’s what annoyed me most, to think I was out in the garden last thing whilst I let the dog out before going to sleep and someone was watching us I know the feeling, my dog too was barking and standing in
a different way, I hadn't seen it before.

What I find really puzzling and disturbing also, is the fact that if there was someone in that corner I stood about 3 ft away at the most my back to them, whilst I was fkg around with the scarf on the washing line, showing the dog it was nothing to worry about, taking it down.ffs

You know in a film, when someone is hidden but very close, I always thought it was unrealistic, because surely, you'd be able to feel them,
or smell them, or something.

OP posts:
LilacTree1 · 30/04/2020 01:16

OP are you getting any sleep?

Yes I know I’m up 😂
But I’m often up at this time.

LilacTree1 · 30/04/2020 01:17

Presume someone’s already suggested motion activated sprinklers but I don’t know how high they can be set in terms of detecting a human.

Original poster
ScarredBunny · 30/04/2020 01:20

Oh Hi @LilacTree1
Yes still up, no good. What is keeping you up?

OP posts:
LilacTree1 · 30/04/2020 01:22

Oh I’m always up at this time.

When I’m in work, I sometimes have to sleep when I get home!

Original poster
ScarredBunny · 30/04/2020 01:28

@LilacTree1 Cameras - and sprinklers, not too high, pp can crouch. (now imagining someone crawling around the house) Problem his it catches all the animals and then you ignore it, and the you turn it off altogether.
I was going to say why oh why do we have to worry about this, but this must one of the oldest threat known to mankind, Sad, attack or invasion.
The nights are incredibly dark at the moment it's like an inkwell out there.

OP posts:
LilacTree1 · 30/04/2020 01:38

OP

It’s weird isn’t it

I crave proper dark and consider myself much more at risk of everything, living in a rough part of London.

I am going to attempt bed! I hope you get some sleep.

Original poster
ScarredBunny · 30/04/2020 03:44

Hang on, why sprinklers?

OP posts:
GnomeDePlume · 30/04/2020 06:40

Sprinklers because it is very difficult to move quickly and quietly with cold, soggy clothes. They also make people jump if is unexpected.

GREATAUNT1 · 30/04/2020 09:09

I too always check the back of the car, they never do it in films & look what happens Shock. The house too, MrGA is amused at this but I’ve always done it.

Could it have been someone who was released from the prison having a poke around prepping for their next job?

The book shall be called iPhone Drop Grin

PenfoldsFive · 30/04/2020 13:37

Where's that new pooch, OP? I've long since given up trying to rationalise the phone conundrum, I'm just here for the dog news. Grin

MostTacticalNameChange · 30/04/2020 15:34

imgur.com/gallery/ip8aEZ2 Solved.

Summerofloaf · 30/04/2020 18:27

What I find really puzzling and disturbing also, is the fact that if there was someone in that corner I stood about 3 ft away at the most my back to them,

This does seem to be an evolving situation/ recollection. Are you sure they didn’t tie you up in the garage and rob the house?

LilacTree1 · 30/04/2020 19:00

Summer get over yourself. OP had a shock.

GinnyStrupac · 30/04/2020 19:13

Beefing up security, becoming more aware and less complacent, and listening to what your dogs are trying to tell you in future will all help. From experience - we had a scare and a real event - you will get (most of) your peace of mind back, it just takes time.

Summerofloaf · 30/04/2020 19:23

Maybe I should have punctuated that with a Grin
(I’m sure OP knew that)

AppleJane · 30/04/2020 21:30

To be fair summer I did laugh at that so I think it's obvious you was joking Smile

Original poster
ScarredBunny · 01/05/2020 04:57

Confused @Summerofloaf - It isn't an evolving situation/ recollection, I wished, re-read the thread (I dare you.)

DH, last night: 'Had it been our previous dog, instead of now wondering we would know; he would have been all over them jumping, slobbering and yapping with joy. (That dog loved meeting new people.)
Well yes, I guess we would know, DH. Confused Biscuit

OP posts:
Original poster
ScarredBunny · 01/05/2020 06:08

What is going to happen now;

  • security at scarredbunny's den is going to go up,
  • there's going to be a nice big scary dog too,
  • we'll never know more than what we already do,
  • I'm going to start sleeping again at some point,
and we're all going to get on with our lives.

To all who have given their time and opinions and shared their experience, thank you so, so very much.Flowers

I needed for my sanity to hear people's views of this little episode; you indulged me and also shown some support, always a bonus.
Everyone says it is cathartic: it is. If you can put up with a little abuse in exchange for accelerated processing of stuff, I'd recommend it.
Take care out there! Stay safe. Thank you FlowersBrewCake

now, how do you close a thread?

OP posts: