A married couple, Mike Keeling, 56, and Leanne Smith, 45, were shocked to find their home enveloped in scaffolding that they had not requested. Surveillance footage from a doorbell camera captured three unidentified construction workers unloading scaffold tubes at their residence while the couple was away. The workers arrived in a van without any company logos, and when prompted by the doorbell’s automated voice, one worker humorously replied, “Hello, Chinese takeaway.”
Upon returning home, Mike Keeling was surprised to see scaffolding adorning his property, initially mistaking it for work being done on another house. He mentioned feeling bewildered by the situation, as he had not authorized any construction work. Despite his efforts to investigate by contacting local scaffolding companies and neighbors, no leads have surfaced regarding the mysterious scaffolding.
The absence of any identifying information on the scaffolding or the workers has left the couple uncertain about how to proceed. Offers from other companies to dismantle the structure in exchange for keeping the materials have raised ethical concerns for Mike, who believes removing the scaffolding without permission could constitute theft.
Apart from the aesthetic inconvenience, the scaffolding has posed practical challenges, such as hindering Leanne from charging her electric car at home and raising security issues due to its proximity to their bedroom window. Mike hopes that media attention will help locate the rightful owners of the scaffolding while contemplating using it for inspecting gutters before winter sets in.
The couple remains unsure about their next steps, given the lack of information to trace the workers responsible for the unauthorized scaffolding installation. They are concerned about how long to wait before taking further action.