Quit stealing my water!!!

[garrett_reukauf]

Ok, I know this isn't really repair related, but I do need some ideas. My outside water faucet is being taking advantage of so to speak. I am not sure if its the kids in the "hood" being obnoxious or some neighboors helping them selves, but on 2 seperate occasions I have come home and notices the ground wet under the faucet, not just a lil wet but a lot. I had one of those styrofoam covers on it, for winter, but now that has since dissappeared. I made sure the faucet was shutoff tight, but each time this has happened I noticed the faucet wasnt tightly shutoff like I left it. Also on one seperate occasion shortly after I moved in the faucet was dripping a lil, cuz whoever it was didnt shut it off all the way.
My question is this. Does anyone know of a way I could lock the faucet somehow. The handle is metal and is removable, but if I take the handle off you can still turn the water on w/ pliers. There is not a shut-off for the outside faucet. Just the whole house.
I just need someway to lock this thing up so it can be used. I'm a nice guy and all, but I am not gonna let people help themselves to something I am paying for. Heck, I've already locked up my meter box, telephone box, cable box, and outside outlets. This seemed like nice "hood" but theres some hot hands around here I am finding out.

[Harry]

Hi

Sounds like you need a faucet lock.




Harry

[garrett_reukauf]

My thoughts exactly Harry! Where can I find 'em tho, looked at HD and Lowes, maybe not hard enough tho, I couldn't find 'em there.

[garrett_reukauf]

Nevermind.... I found them. And lookie there it's the same one you got the pic of. Im gonna look at a few different ones, but I will for sure be ordering one tonight.

[Mark]

I've added inside shut-offs to all my outdoor faucets.

Mark

[SpongeBob]

Hi, I noticed in your profile that you rent. So, the faucet lock may be your first consideration. You should not add any additional shut-offs without consent. Just a thot. But if and when you do own it...do just as Mark says and install the inside shut-off also!
Hope this helped.

=Bob

[garrett_reukauf]

Thanks ya'll! Yeah, I have already talked to the people I rent from about a few ideal improvements I'd like to make, even though the MH is brand new only 3mos old. They said they didnt care what I did just as long as I paid rent on time, didnt trash the place, and dont burn it down. A shut-off for outside faucets is a good idea, but I am not gonna tear into the belly unless its an emergency. I did do a search and find some locks that are made just for outside faucets, fairly cheap too. I think I will order one and see how it goes.
If I ever buy my own MH, I have already decided I will do lots of research on my site planning and probably pour an actual foundation like a cement slab or crawl space. Permanet set up, of course I would do this on land I have bought. Someday though, someday...... Until then I will continue my journey in dream land.....

[Handweaving]

Or perhaps: http://www.geeks.com/products_sc.asp?cat=872
Got this from another answered question on this great site.

[Koiflowers]

When I was still living in Maryland, my dad put a shutoff inside my laundry room. I'm a big gardening fan and was watering often during very hot months. Water was expensive and I didn't trust the timers actually shutting the water off and I didn't want to water during a rain storm (I've had $300 water bills during the growing season).

With the inside valve I could get up, turned on water, get a cup of coffee and get ready for work. Just had to remember to turn it off before I left. But if I did forget, I had a gizmo on the faucet that I could set to allow only a preset amount of water to flow through. And the neighbor that was stealing my flowers had to use her own water.

[Yanita]

Hi,

Thanks to everyone for your contributions to this thread...but, it's time to lock it. I believe it has been answered sufficiently.

Yanita