A man was left baffled after spotting a stranger mowing the grass outside his house, initially believing it to be a kind act - until he discovered the truth. The homeowner first noticed the stranger parking outside his home daily over two months ago, assuming he was working on a "nearby construction site" and didn't question his parking habits.

However, things took an "odd turn" when he saw the man mowing a section of "public grass" outside his home. While this might seem like a neighbourly gesture, there was a catch.

The stranger had trespassed onto his property and used his outdoor electrical outlet to power his lawnmower, inevitably increasing his energy bill. Sharing his experience on Reddit, the man wrote: "I noticed this man using my house's electrical outlet to power a lawnmower. He was mowing the grass in the public area in front of our community."

He added: "When I approached him to inquire about his actions, he claimed he was 'doing us a favour' because no one else was maintaining the area. He then became aggressive, cursing and accusing me of trying to make him leave, even though I was simply trying to understand his motivations."

The man recounted how he had a word with his neighbours about the mystery man's grass cutting antics, and they revealed that earlier that day, the man had offered to mow their lawn for free. After they turned him down, he reportedly responded by "giving them the finger and cursing at them."

Stranger parking in front of my house and mowing public grass without permission
by u/linlaw0229 in neighborsfromhell

Now, the plot has thickened as the man continues to frequent the neighbourhood, just "walking around" the communal spaces. The bewildered resident shared: "I'm at a loss on how to handle this situation."

Fellow commenters on the post have been quick to offer advice, suggesting the homeowner secure any outdoor power sockets with a lockable cover to prevent a repeat performance. They also cautioned against confronting or engaging with the man further.

One commenter advised: "Figure out which one of your circuit breakers controls that outlet and cut the power if he tries to do it again," while another chimed in with: "Get a locking cover for your outlets."