A homeowner has expressed fury after discovering their neighbour entering their property without permission to use an outside tap to fill a swimming pool. The incident, which was captured on camera, has sparked a debate about boundaries and theft of resources.
Caught on Camera
The homeowner, who shared their story on Reddit, explained that they had left their house for a short time and returned to find the neighbour in their back yard. The neighbour had hooked up a hose to the outdoor tap and was filling a swimming pool. The homeowner noted that the neighbour used the water for approximately 30 minutes without asking for consent.
“I popped out for a bit and, literally minutes after I left, my neighbour wandered into my back yard, hooked up his hose to my outside tap and started filling his pool,” the homeowner wrote. “Got the whole thing on camera.”
Confrontation and Denial
When confronted, the neighbour initially denied the act but later changed his story and offered a weak apology. The homeowner described the neighbour as “entitled” and expressed disbelief that anyone would think such behaviour was acceptable.
“When I went round later, he first denied it, then changed his story and apologised with a pretty rubbish excuse,” the homeowner added. “Honestly, I couldn’t believe someone would think that was okay.”
Extreme Measures Taken
To prevent a recurrence, the homeowner installed a padlock on the outdoor tap, despite acknowledging it was an inconvenience for themselves. They asked the Reddit community for advice on handling similar situations.
“Anyone else dealt with neighbours like this? What would you have done?” they inquired.
Public Reaction
The post quickly garnered attention, with many commenters supporting the homeowner and suggesting legal action. One person joked about using the neighbour’s pool in retaliation, while others emphasised that the act constitutes theft.
“This is theft. Call the police and file a police report. They will take it seriously,” one commenter advised. “I’d demand reimbursement from the neighbour. If he refuses, take him to small claims court. It’s the principle.”
Another added: “In many jurisdictions, this is an actual crime. You can call the non-emergency line and report it. To be clear, your neighbour stole something of value. They did this so you would pay the water bill for their pool.”
Similar Experiences Shared
One user shared a comparable incident where their neighbour used their faucet to fill a pool, resulting in a water bill of 22,000 gallons. The user contacted the city, which removed the charge after confirming the homeowner did not have a pool. They subsequently locked the faucet.
The homeowner’s story highlights the importance of securing property and the potential consequences of unauthorised use of resources, including legal and financial repercussions.
