[Buck]

So a couple years ago an empty fire extinguisher, sitting upright, just appeared on my side driveway. I thought that very strange, but took the empty up to the fire hall and left it there.

Just yesterday, a broken vacuum cleaner showed up on the edge of the front lawn, as if it had been neatly laid there. I am utterly at a loss to explain where that came from, or why.

Seriously thinking about getting a Ring video camera. Nothing about this seems malicious; if people were just dumping garbage in this suburban neighborhood, I feel like it would be a lot more haphazard. Anyone ever have any odd appearances like this?

Discussion

[Samuel J]

It is possibly a case of mistaken identity or a return of your stalker that has possibly internet privileges and posted an add for used appliances somewhere on the net.

[TJ]

Maybe a really polite trash dumper? Or someone who thinks you should be prepared for a fire and need to keep the house a little cleaner. Think a Ring idea is a good one or a game camera.

[David]

The fact that a couple of years have passed since first incident makes it seem unlikely that mischievous youngsters are at work. It also would tend to rule out “being probed” by a criminal element to help determine your response pattern. Are there any mentally challenged neighbors of whom you're aware? Just as a precaution, I'd file a report with local law enforcement, so that in the event that a personal confrontation resulted from any future “gifting”, there would at least be a formal record of a technical trespass. Multiple surveillance cameras are a wonderful thing – perhaps a local surveillance equipment/security provider is dropping items trying to drum up some business from you – junk might be cheaper and arguably more effective than business cards! Nothing quite as worrisome as the unexplained. I'd get the cameras rolling!

[Author]

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