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AIBU?

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Original poster

Found a knife in garden

25 replies

G172125 · 23/07/2025 23:14

After hearing some noise in the night I checked my cctv cameras and saw a man standing on my garden wall looking like he was hiding from someone. When I went in to my garden this morning I found a knife in one of my plant pots. It has some sort of liquid on the blade so I phoned 101 in case it was blood and was put through to my local police force. They just told me to dispose of the knife. Would I be unreasonable to phone back to check if that advice is correct?

Found a knife in garden
OP posts:
BudgieHammockBananaSmuggler · 23/07/2025 23:18

Bizarre. I would call again. If they are not bothered about a dodgy sounding bloke in the middle of the night with a knife, then I doubt they will be too bothered to arrest you for wasting police time.

practicepracticepractice · 23/07/2025 23:19

A man in your garden then a knife found. Even without the liquid on the knife I think they should have sent someone out.

UsingAMansNameInAWomensWorld · 23/07/2025 23:19

Yeah, they've given you their advice over the phone

But I'd suggest picking it up with gloves, wrapping it in a bag and taking it to the police station. Hand it over and keep a copy of the recording too, let them know you have it and can send it over.

Bramble88 · 23/07/2025 23:21

phone back, and save the cctv x

ninjahamster · 23/07/2025 23:21

That’s not good enough imo. After all, he could have stashed it intending to return. I would call again.

thishouseisashittip · 23/07/2025 23:27

Yes I definitely wouldn't leave it at that. I wouldn't be happy leaving it in the garden or disposing of it so taking it to the police station and showing cctv sounds like the best plan

YellowStook · 23/07/2025 23:29

100% phone back.

Sound extreme, but what if it’s a murder weapon or was used in assault. Weird that they’re so content for you to “dispose” of it. Also retain the CCTV.

angelinawasrobbed · 23/07/2025 23:30

I had exactly the same experience. Except that I didn’t see the owner. Just found the knife in my hedge. Police could not have been less interested

Original poster
G172125 · 23/07/2025 23:35

I’ve saved the cctv and put the knife in a plastic bag. I’ll drop it off at the police station in the morning.

OP posts:
AnSolas · 23/07/2025 23:39

Lazy police
Sorry OP but
.
.
.
a NDN could be dead and not discovered for days and you have been told dump the proof that links the killer to the attack🤪

Tbf if flies have not discovered it this morning its unlikely to be blood🤞

CalicoPusscat · 23/07/2025 23:40

Bit surprised police were dismissive. It's not normal to jump on someone's wall with a knife at night.

Sounds like you've made a good plan @G172125.

Fairyflaps · 23/07/2025 23:52

When I contacted the police about a knife I found while litter picking, they asked for me to call 101 and arrange for an officer to collect it. I do live in a bit of a rough area, but there isn't much knife crime here.

We once found a baseball bat hidden in our front garden, just tucked behind the wall. There were members of a notorious local family living on our street at the time, so we assumed it was theirs.

MyQuirkyTraybake · 23/07/2025 23:54

I don't know what the police are so busy with that they don't have time to deal with crime.

Utterly baffling.

spiderlight · 23/07/2025 23:54

I've just watched two series of Murder 24/7 so I'm shocked that they aren't interested in it! Glad you've bagged it up anyway.

opportunisticcaketheif · 23/07/2025 23:55

When I found a knife in my garden the police came with a plastic tube for it and took it away.

SaintGermain · 24/07/2025 00:19

If he was hiding from another bad person then he wouldn’t want to leave the knife behind and leave himself unprotected.

He would only leave the knife there if he was worried the Po Po would stop him and he’d get done for carrying a knife.

So he must have seen the police in the area, or maybe they were looking for him.

I would go into a police station and kick up a stink.

a222 · 24/07/2025 00:24

a knife with some sort of residue on it and a dodgy man in your garden??!!!! the police have dropped the feking ball here. i would genuinely complain about this.

im gobsmacked!

TY78910 · 24/07/2025 10:16

Yes bizarre advice from police! From the photo it looks like it could be blood? When you put it in the plastic bag the liquid would have smeared on the inside of the bag - was it blood in the end?

I echo what PPs have said - call back, or if you’re near a police station I would just bring it to them. They can dispose of if they wish.

if this did turn out to be an assault weapon, that’s a massive oversight by the force

TheBuffetInspector · 24/07/2025 11:21

Absolutely call back! What a crap response!

I was walking home from shop once, late 30s, it was dark but only 8.30pm.

A guy drove up in a car, opened the passenger door over the path, reaching the hedge on other side blocking my route.

'jump in darling, I'll take you home darlin'

I lived 300 yards straight ahead, but wasn't telling him

'What's wrong darlin?'

I walked quickly into the road, around his his car and stood with a lady at the bus stop which was 10ft from the blocked pathway.
She asked if I was okay and who was he. I said no idea and not really but do you mind if I stay with you until the bus comes? No.

Bus came far too quickly, I walked the 300 yards to my house, looking everywhere. I even walked straight past my house as didn't want him to know where I lived.

When safe, got in, called police...
Response was ahh, he probably just fancied you...

This was when young women were being abducted in my town.

I just said yeah, I'm in my 30s, I'm clearly not used to this new approach where path is blocked and a stranger is trying to get me in his car.

—--

Anyway I'm so sorry for that rant @G172125 Don't bin the knife. Push on this. They should have at least said bring it to them to dispose of.
Where is the first place knife owner is going to look for their knife? Well first garden, second your bin.

lunaswand · 24/07/2025 11:41

definitely take it to the police station, he may have just stabbed someone & hiding the evidence

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 24/07/2025 11:41

TY78910 · 24/07/2025 10:16

Yes bizarre advice from police! From the photo it looks like it could be blood? When you put it in the plastic bag the liquid would have smeared on the inside of the bag - was it blood in the end?

I echo what PPs have said - call back, or if you’re near a police station I would just bring it to them. They can dispose of if they wish.

if this did turn out to be an assault weapon, that’s a massive oversight by the force

If you can find a police station that is open, that is... 'Front desk' opening hours have been cut dramatically along with interest in helping the public

Dr13Hadley · 24/07/2025 11:47

We had the same, knife found in front garden after middle of the night helicopters had been going on the night before. We called the police and they came and collected it. I think they had a good idea of the suspect so hopefully got some DNA evidence from it but we never heard anything else about it.

Original poster
G172125 · 24/07/2025 17:32

I dropped it at the police station and they logged it and sent me a link to send the cctv. Whatever was on it didn’t smear when I put it in the bag. It looked like it was dry maybe sticky.

OP posts:
Allseeingallknowing · 24/07/2025 17:57

OP shouldn’t carry it to the Police station, they should collect it

Missedthis · 24/07/2025 18:01

The police need to watch more Silent Witness. That team would’ve been down there within the hour with one of their tents.

They’d probs dig up your garden mind.

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