Just found someone hiding in my garden shed

Supercell

I'm a bit shook up.
I heard some noises outside the house so had a look out the front and found nothing. I then turned on the back garden light and looked out the kitchen window and could see that the shed door was a little bit open.
I was in the shed earlier today and was certain I had closed it behind me.
I got my wife out of bed and told her to get the phone and pre-dial 999 and stand at the kitchen door as I went out.
I shouted at the shed and a man came out, about 21 years old or so would be my guess and about six foot tall and wearing a grey tracksuit.
He started shouting that he was hiding from someone that had threatened to kill him.
I asked why, and he said because of a phone he had, he showed a cardboard box with a phone in it. I asked him if he wanted us to call the Guards but he said no, he had already called them and they were not interested. Now I was seriously doubting his story and started shouting at him to get out (he had climbed over the side gate of the house) which he did eventually.

Our house is halfway down a cul de sac in a very quiet area so to say the least we are a bit shaken up by it.

Would anyone here bother calling the Gardai after that?, he seems to be gone now so not much for them to do.

I'll get a big lock for the shed tomorrow and put some barbed wire around the top of the side gate to hopefully prevent a re-occurrence of this.

My main fear is that we were being scoped out to be robbed so my wife is a little scared (as am I truth be told).

What would you do?

dubscottie

Call the Garda asap.. In you shed hiding?? If true someone could be running round with a gun after him.

Change the lock on your shed asap also and move any stuff of value out of it.

More than likely being robbed..

rsl1976

Yes call the guards

vicwatson

Deffo call them now, fecker could be scoping out other houses now in your area, get on to the gardai

ted1

Deffo call the guards, what area are you in?

handbagmad

I‘d call the gardai tbh. Phone he had could be stolen.....

Like above a good lock on the shed, I wouldn't want strangers on my property like that

Supercell

Thanks guys, just called the local station and they said they will send a car over and will have a look around the estate.

happyoutscan

If he had a phone in a cardboard box that wasn't the origin as l phone packaging then that's a bit unusual surely?

RebelButtMunch

Deffo call the garda. Hiding in your shed me hole.

Supercell

happyoutscan wrote: »

If he had a phone in a cardboard box that wasn't the origin as l phone packaging then that's a bit unusual surely?

That's exactly what I thought too, who carries a brand new phone around at this time of night in a box without its orignal wrapping? I suspect it was robbed from under a xmas tree earlier

RebelButtMunch

Supercell wrote: »

Thanks guys, just called the local station and they said they will send a car over and will have a look around the estate.

What general area? I'm thinking of my own shed :-)

Supercell

Loughlinstown.

dubscottie

Supercell wrote: »

That's exactly what I thought too, who carries a brand new phone around at this time of night in a box without its orignal wrapping? I suspect it was robbed from under a xmas tree earlier

Thinking the same.. Watch out as there is lots of thefts going on around South Dublin in general. My own, usually crime free street has had 3 break-ins and numerous thefts of parts from cars etc (reg plates off cars and in my case half my motorbike)

Take note of anything unusual as it may come in handy later!

Gran Hermano

Scum will often break in to sheds to get their hands on tools/ladders they can use to break in to a house.
Better than getting stopped on their way by garda and being found equipped for burglary.
(They'll also rob anything of value in the shed.)

Quazzie

Was this him?


http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/crime/pictured-dangerous-prisoner-run-after-4829532

GHOST MGG

Ring the police and report it.there has been a spate of burglaries lately,comes with time of the
year when the scumbags need to buy presents for their hellspawn.
A couple of houses in my area have been done in the last 2 weeks and in broad daylight as well.

wylie

Call the garda, give the best description you can. chances are he won't be back soon but you never know. they might keep a look out for him.

Supercell

Quazzie wrote: »

Was this him?


http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/crime/pictured-dangerous-prisoner-run-after-4829532

Jesus no thank god!!

Kristopherus

Supercell wrote: »

That's exactly what I thought too, who carries a brand new phone around at this time of night in a box without its orignal wrapping? I suspect it was robbed from under a xmas tree earlier

He was probably after nicking it. You should have bolted that door & then ring the cops.

MarkAnthony

Easy to say but my response (probably with something large and heavy in my hands) is "well now I'm gonna kill ya".

Ring the guards now.

Supercell

MarkAnthony wrote: »

Easy to say but my response (probably with something large and heavy in my hands) is "well now I'm gonna kill ya".

Ring the guards now.

When you have a wife and two small kids in the house, its not time to be a hero, I just wanted him gone away as soon as possible.
I've since rang the garda and given them a description of him, hopefully that will be the last we see of him.

wylie

You can't beat a good dog. Best alarm ever. It just discourages them altogether.

hfallada

Quazzie wrote: »

Was this him?


http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/crime/pictured-dangerous-prisoner-run-after-4829532

Why write a fairly large article about a prisoner and not mention his height or weight?

davidrowe

Gran Hermano wrote: »

Scum will often break in to sheds to get their hands on tools/ladders they can use to break in to a house.
Better than getting stopped on their way by garda and being found equipped for burglary.
(They'll also rob anything of value in the shed.)

Sometimes people might hide Christmas presents in a shed too. It pays to have them locked up as securely as possible.

Gran Hermano

Whilst its still fresh in your mind, write down as full a description of him as you can for the gardai.
I reckon the fact you interrupted and can identify him would mean you house is safe.
No harm in taking extra precautions. Ensure all doors locked at all times and house perimeter alarm on even when you're home. Lights and TV/radio on when out as well. Get a large sensor light for gardens.

MarkAnthony

Supercell wrote: »

When you have a wife and two small kids in the house, its not time to be a hero, I just wanted him gone away as soon as possible.
I've since rang the garda and given them a description of him, hopefully that will be the last we see of him.

Two kids fair enough but my wife would probably be the one he'd want to worry about. :pac:

Never be afraid to call the guards. Better they get the call and prioritise it than not get the call.

MarkAnthony

hfallada wrote: »

Why write a fairly large article about a prisoner and not mention his height or weight?

TBH there are two fairly good pictures of him, I think that'd be enough to IH him without me getting my tape measure and scales out :pac:

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime

That's not the nicest of areas tbh l. Would've called the guards straight away and got him caught.

But tbh a 21 year old in a gray tracksuit in luoghlinstown is about half the population down there so won't be much hope there

cathalj

I can't believe you would take the (lengthy) time to write your very long and detailed post wondering if you should ring the guards....and not just ring them straight away and see what they have to say ?? ..... first point of call finding someone in your shed is Boards ??.... seriously ?? .....is social media/forums the new 999 ?

Supercell

cathalj wrote: »

I can't believe you would take the (lengthy) time to write your very long and detailed post wondering if you should ring the guards....and not just ring them straight away and see what they have to say ?? ..... first point of call finding someone in your shed is Boards ??.... seriously ?? .....is social media/forums the new 999 ?

Well it wasn't a 999 situation , the fella was gone by the time I wrote it.

Supercell

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime wrote: »

That's not the nicest of areas tbh l. Would've called the guards straight away and got him caught.

But tbh a 21 year old in a gray tracksuit in luoghlinstown is about half the population down there so won't be much hope there

I think it was you in my shed what with your disparaging remarks about the fine area that is Loughlinstown (that's spelled with a capital L-o-u-g-h-l-i-n-s-t-o-w-n by the way)!!

cathalj

Supercell wrote:

Well it wasn't a 999 situation , the fella was gone by the time I wrote it.

I'm really not meaning to be smart, but that's exactly a 999 situation - you finding someone in the act of breaking into/trespassing your property.

Supercell

cathalj wrote: »

I'm really not meaning to be smart, but that's exactly a 999 situation - you finding someone in the act of breaking into/trespassing your property.

I'm from "luoghlinstown" [sic] the toughest part of Ireland.

runswithascript

Phone in box = stolen Christmas present.

braddun

the horse already bolted,should called guards straight away,he was looking to steal stuff

runswithascript

OP I am surprised your wife did not call the guards, with 999 predialled, and her seeing you had a trespasser. If it ever happens again go outside with a bat as these guys carry screwdrivers etc. If I were you I would invest in a guard dog also. We have two labs and although they bark if they hear someone, they are more watch dogs as I would not expect they would attack. We have been researching bulmastiffs and may even get a bitch, as they are supposed to be much more intelligent, if there is anyway we could tolerate two years of a female dog going into heat, as to mature properly, before neutering her. German sheperds are also good but I have heard it said are 10% mental 90% physical, making them more impulsive, where as bulmastifs are 60% mental 40% physical, thinking more and only acting when they have thought something through. A pure bred bulmastiff costs in excess of €1000, many cheaper off Done Deal etc are often supposed to develop health problems later on. You should also research a good alarm system and go with a monitored one if funds will allow. I have read radio monitored alarms are best as phone lines can be cut and some burglars here use GSM jammers to block alarms that take SIM cards. Burglar lights also good.

poeticmakaveli

something similar happened in my garden around 1 am in the summer! heard something in the garden..looked out the top window and this gaunt looking guy with a hoodie sat on the fence between me and my neighbours house right beside my kitchen window..no hesitation I grabbed my gold club and ran straight down and he ran across the gardens..me still in my jocks I ran back in and put on some clothes and rang the guards.. got into my car and drove around the estate! down the road a little was another young family outside the door where they had seen the same.. They had rang the guards just before me! no exaggeration,it took the guards 30 mins (station is only 3 or 4 minute drive and especially at 1 am at night) to get down to us where 3 of them arrived in a guards car shaped like something clark griswald drove in the national lampoons, asked me and the other family a couple basic questions,drove around for 5 mins and back to the barracks! now I know the thief which what he was could have been well gone but me or that other young woman and man could have been murder and buried well before the guards arrived!! Although they could have been bothering people for road tax at that hour and making the effort for that!

Supercell

Supercell wrote: »

Cherrywood, Loughlinstown.

Seriously, I can't believe that you spoke to an intruder in your back garden and didn't call the guards!

I'm not sure how people can give out about gardai not doing their job when they don't ring them when a crime is in progress!
Why didn't your OH ring when she saw you outside with them??

Guards could have photos of local criminals they could show you to identify thus person.

Chinasea

dusf wrote: »

If I were you I would invest in a guard dog also. We have two labs and although they bark if they hear someone, they are more watch dogs as I would not expect they would attack. We have been researching bulmastiffs and may even get a bitch, as they are supposed to be much more intelligent, if there is anyway we could tolerate two years of a female dog going into heat, as to mature properly, before neutering her. German sheperds are also good but I have heard it said are 10% mental 90% physical, making them more impulsive, where as bulmastifs are 60% mental 40% physical, thinking more and only acting when they have thought something through. A pure bred bulmastiff costs in excess of €1000, many cheaper off Done Deal etc are often supposed to develop health problems later on.d.

Oh please NO. Dogs Are NOT burglar alarms. As for DOGS and Donedeal. Please no.

rubberdiddies

Always always call the guards if you suspect a crime. If you don't do it by calling 999 then be sure to get an incident number when ringing the Garda station to ensure it has been logged.

We wouldn't want the government happy that no one is calling in crimes thus making the crime figures lower than tue actually are!

Tabnabs

OP, it would be worth having the number of your local Garda station on predial/contacts in your house and mobile phone too. Also recommend getting a torch with a very high intensity beam for just this kind of thing.

If you think barbed wire over your side gate is too much, get a tub of cheap grease in a car accessories shop and smear it all over the top of the gate and anywhere they could jump a wall or fence, re-do it every 4-6 months.

A lucky escape, he could have been downstairs. It's now time to go over your security to protect your family and property.

Kenny Logins

One of your neighbours has probably reported a brand new phone as stolen.

runswithascript

Chinasea wrote: »

Oh please NO. Dogs Are NOT burglar alarms. As for DOGS and Donedeal. Please no.

No where in that post did I suggest dogs were burglar alarms, or a replacement for burglar alarms, in fact I went on to recommend an actual burglar alarm. Also, I cautioned AGAINST getting a dog from done deal and instead paying more for a pedigree from a breeder.

You should really read posts properly before deciding they are contrary to your own opinion.

davidrowe

We should get the law clarified here the way it was recently done in the UK: that is, that's it okay to use "reasonable force" against an intruder. I wouldn't hesitate myself anyway, as I'm sure a judge worth their salt would always come down on the side of the victim in a home-invasion.

mrolaf

call the guards

Chinasea

dusf wrote: »

Also, I cautioned AGAINST getting a dog from done deal and instead paying more for a pedigree from a breeder.

Good.

Dogs are pets, not security devises IMO.

Quazzie

Chinasea wrote: »

Dogs are pets, not security devises IMO.

Not all dogs are pets. Some are, but many dogs do invaluable jobs that no one else can do. A guard dog who is treated well and cared for by their owner can be very effective in crime prevention.

runswithascript

Quazzie wrote: »

Not all dogs are pets. Some are, but many dogs do invaluable jobs that no one else can do. A guard dog who is treated well and cared for by their owner can be very effective in crime prevention.

Very true.

A dog can also be both a pet and a guard dog. If I had to choose between dog and alarm I am not sure which I would prefer but it definitely cannot hurt to have both.