Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

I think someone has been in my house

96 replies

ALittleBitWorrriedNow · 06/10/2021 19:11

I came down this morning and a side table had been moved about a metre and a half across the room. The phone socket, tv aerial etc is behind the table.

It’s fairly heavy and was wedged into a corner so the dog couldn’t have moved it by mistake.

I initially thought it may have been one of the kids fiddling with the WiFi box but they say they haven’t moved it.

Trying not to freak out here but thinking it could be some kind of surveillance operation due to the phone socket behind it.

There have been people outside over the last few days in unmarked vans installing “community fibre”.

Am I being totally unreasonable and paranoid?

OP posts:
Original poster
ALittleBitWorrriedNow · 06/10/2021 23:34

Ok the van has gone now but was there in till at least 9pm…it had a wide-angle thing on the side window. A bit odd but if it was someone doing some kind if surveillance they’d soon work out they’re wasting their time.

I think what’s freaked me out was that Community Fibre were working outside at 9pm last night, just not normal! I’ve not seen any of them today.

I have a camera on the back door and will check it but I think the table thing was just a coincidence…there’s a chance I even moved it myself last night when I was tired, I was folding up some towels and the flannels had fallen behind the table, they were still there this morning so maybe just a half-finished job… but I wouldn’t have moved it that far just to get the stuff they had fallen behind 🤔

The kids are certain they didn’t move it but one of them did mention their phone was on data last night which must have been late as I was watching Netflix until at least 11 so the internet was fine until then. So maybe just lying because of being up late on their phone.

Anyway, I’m sure there’s a logical explanation. Yes, I’m v tired at the moment, physically and emotionally so I’m sure I’m just being silly and jumping to stupid conclusions. I don’t feel at all worried about it now and if it was a real threat I would most definitely be.

And yes the dog would totally freak out if a stranger broke in…unless they bribed him with sausages!

OP posts:
Original poster
ALittleBitWorrriedNow · 06/10/2021 23:47

I don’t think it was burglars. Nothing is missing, there’s not much to steal other than the telly and a bit of cash - all still there. The dog would have scared them off anyway.

OP posts:
neveradullmoment99 · 07/10/2021 00:38

What about your ex? Has he got a key?

blameless · 07/10/2021 00:39

The plastic front-doors with a handle you raise to 'lock' them must be secured by key, or anyone can open them from the outside in 5 seconds.

SudokuWillNotSaveYou · 07/10/2021 00:59

but one of them did mention their phone was on data last night which must have been late as I was watching Netflix until at least 11 so the internet was fine until then. So maybe just lying because of being up late on their phone.

Ta da. The answer.
And I’d imagine whatever caused phones to go on data might explain what Community Fibre was doing there at 9pm.

fashionSOS · 07/10/2021 02:26

If you genuinely think someone might be messing around with the inside of your home - that's what a locksmith is for.

TBH, if other people used to have keys to your home (your ex?) and you haven't changed the locks already, you're overdue to change them. It's amazing how many people don't bother to do this. Totally worth it for the peace of mind!

GummyBearWhere · 07/10/2021 03:04

Is there a m&m trail leading to your front door?

birdglasspen · 07/10/2021 03:12

You have a dog? wouldn't the dog bark if someone had been in moving your table?

MacMahon · 07/10/2021 04:03

The plastic front-doors with a handle you raise to 'lock' them must be secured by key, or anyone can open them from the outside in 5 seconds

Isn’t this true of any door?

Kanaloa · 07/10/2021 05:11

How old are your kids? Is it possible one of them is harbouring a little telekinetic girl fugitive who has escaped from the local secret CIA laboratory? And then the local bad guys have bugged your house in order to find her?

Or the wacky outside option, which is that one of your kids moved it and forgot/lied because they worried they’d be in trouble for messing with the wifi.

Pikamoo · 07/10/2021 05:20

If the WiFi was down might one of your kids have moved the table to try and do something with the sockets behind to make it come back? Then they wouldn't want to tell you they'd done it cause you'd know they'd been up really late on their phones.

I'd take comfort in the fact you have a dog who would have barked if anyone came in.

tempester28 · 07/10/2021 06:13

You are stressed and not thinking rationally. Lots of vans have tinted windows. My own car has tinted windows - I was given the car by a relative. You are not under surveillance.

StrongTea · 07/10/2021 06:16

Hope you feel better about things today.

Rugsofhonour · 07/10/2021 06:41

This reply has been deleted

Withdrawn at the user's request

Talith · 07/10/2021 06:47

Following my separation I found myself very easily spooked by being on my own with the kids and yes I did get sort of paranoid so I sympathize OP. I ended up changing the locks and that did help me feel more secure.

AdelindSchade · 07/10/2021 07:16

Hope you are feeling better today OP.

Peppaismyrolemodel · 07/10/2021 07:31

@ALittleBitWorrriedNow

Thanks you’re all putting my mind at ease a bit but there is a strange black van with tinted windows outside. It’s been there all day and still there now.

Only thing I can think of is exDP moved out a while ago and I’ve had to claim universal credit so they might think I’m committing benefit fraud (I’m not).

He’s got some mental health probs and is majorly behind on his tax returns. It’s a mess and he will most likely be paying fines etc. But surely that’s not a reason for surveillance? That would be court summons etc

One of my neighbours is an arse, he may have reported me maliciously to anyone who’ll listen. He took offence to me having another child (not that it’s any of his business) I suspect my toddler has ADHD and has frequent meltdowns etc - it does get noisy so I would be surprised if he’d reported me for child abuse. But surely they would be looking for evidence from school, other neighbours, interviewing my older kids etc instead? I am not abusing any of my kids, just to make it clear to any doubters out there.

It’s so weird. Tempted to go and take a pic of the van outside.

That’s a lot of things you’re worrying about - lots of low level stress can really impact people, it becomes as damaging as the big stuff! I wounded if anxiety might’ve making you over focus on figuring this out?
irishoak · 07/10/2021 07:33

It sounds like you're going through a massively stressful time OP, and your mind has picked this is fixate on as an outlet. I've been the same this year - bad breakup, abusive ex with mental health issues, live on my own - and I've often found myself getting anxious about this kind of thing (the latest was a car I didn't know turning around near the house) when I'm at my most tired/stressed/emotionally worn out. When I'm feeling okay, I wouldn't even notice something like this, but when you're already ground down it's like your mind needs to find something to keep it alert.

NotTerfNorCis · 07/10/2021 07:50

If it was surveillance, would they make it that obvious? Wouldn't they have put the table back in place?

toocold54 · 07/10/2021 17:45

Make sure you’re getting enough sleep OP and taking care of yourself. If you’re still stressed out it might be worth making an appointment to see the gp.

myheartskippedabeat · 07/10/2021 21:15

@ALittleBitWorrriedNow

I'd get the registration plate of the van and then phone the police

New posts on this thread. Refresh page