Neighbor threatens to call cops after homeowner refuses to pay for 8-year-old kid's bike after his sprinkler got it wet: 'Maybe don't leave your stuff on other people's property'

Author image for Isabella Penn
Isabella Penn
Aug 24, 2025 12:00 PM EDT

When you're a kid, your bike isn't just transportation, it's pretty much an extension of your body. You ride it hard, jump off without a second thought, and usually toss it straight onto the ground the second you arrive somewhere. The handlebars might get bent, the chain might pop off, or the seat might tear, but none of that really matters because you'll still be back on it the next day. It's only as adults that we start to realize how fragile and expensive our stuff can actually be, and how little control we have over what other people do with it.

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  • So imagine being a homeowner who went out of their way to install an automatic sprinkler system—on a fixed schedule for years—only to be told you’re suddenly responsible for your neighbor’s eight-year-old’s bike. That’s exactly what happened here. 

    The homeowner says their sprinklers have gone off every morning at 6 a.m. for the past three years. One day, their neighbor storms over, furious that her child’s bike got wet after being left overnight on someone else’s lawn. She demanded payment for “water damage,” threatened to call the cops, and now refuses to let it go. 

    Sometimes, entitlement really has no limits.

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    via Jawhar ben abdallah For Unsplash+

  • "Neighbor demanded I pay for her kid's bike after my sprinklers "ruined" it"

    I have automatic sprinklers that go off every morning at 6am. Been the same schedule for 3 years since I moved in. Yesterday morning I'm
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  • getting ready for work when my neighbor storms over banging on my door. Apparently her 8 year old. left his bike on my lawn. overnight and my sprinklers got it wet. She's
    via DifficultShower
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    via Paul Moody For Unsplash+
  • demanding I pay to "fix" it because the water damaged the seat or something. I told her maybe don't leave your stuff on other people's property?
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  • She goes "well you should have warned us about the sprinklers!" Lady what?? It's MY yard with MY sprinklers on a schedule that's been the same for years. Plus I saved up for months to install that
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  • irrigation system specifically so I wouldn't. have to hand water everything. She threatened to call the cops and I said go ahead. Obviously they told her she was being ridiculous
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  • but she's still giving me dirty looks every time I leave the house. Some people really think the world revolves around them.
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  • Melodic-Dark6545 I'd tell her you pay for the bike...after she pays you for the damage to your lawn
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  • HUNGWHITEBOI25 So...to confirm...HER kid left his bike on YOUR lawn...and she thinks YOU should pay cause the bike got water on it...okay
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  • tazjas OP should charge the neighbour for the overnight bike storage.
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  • MDJR20 So if it had rained would she blame you as well because it's on your lawn.
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  • 2mankyhookers Tell her you can fix those dirty looks for her, just lie on the grass here!
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  • Sunny_Deelit3 Uhhh yeah she's kinda wacko bro. Her kid left THEIR bike on YOUR lawn, if anything. THEY should pay for any damages to your grass plus she knows the sprinklers always go off so why would it be different on one single day? She's crazy
    via Sunny_Deelit3
  • fresh-dork oh no, a bike got wet :)
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  • Cfwydirk Bicycles are designed by engineers. They know kids leave their bikes out in the rain. Bicycle seat cushions are wrapped in plastic before they are covered so the foam does not absorb water.
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  • baahk "Maybe you should teach your child responsibility instead of leaving their things everywhere."
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  • DaRusty_Shackleford Bikes get wet. They're fine. It's fine. The neighbors not fine but she's also an idiot. Cops actually showing up would have been hilarious though.
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  • Substantial Steak723 Let her call the cops, any InSIST she calls the cops (she s bluffing) and out her as a timewasting b if she does.
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  • A saddle is not a whole bike, and the water ain't exactly corrosive. Tell her you will be charging storage for the bike if left there again,
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  • and even a tow service (lol) if she persists in this manner of stupid you shall be forced to respond in kind..so why doesn't she teach her kid and self manners and common sense.
    via Substantial_Steak723
  • (You could pretend to faff about by where a pedal "dug in" your lawn and Bill her for invisible repair, seeding and nutrient spreading if you like, at a cost a small claims court would deem acceptable) ..just to ram
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  • it home, likely it would be more than the bikes monetary value.
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  • ArdenJaguar "I'm going to call the police on you because I'm a lousy parent who didn't teach her kid to be responsible and put his bike away at night".
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  • DaDuchess-1025 Thanks for calling the police and admitting that your neglected property ruined mine. Here's a bill for top soil and grass seed!
    via DaDuchess-1025
  • Xtay1 Send her a $19,001 bill for overnight storage fees. If she refuses to pay the storage fee, then
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  • gift her the balance and send her a 709 tax gift form. She has to pay taxes on the gift. Let her deal with the IRS.
    via Xtay1

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neighbors bicycle lawn lawncare kids sprinkler neighborhood-drama parenting entitled people karma bike Bad Neighbor mom children
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