Petty vandalism from youths
Discussion
We have an elderly neighbour who lost her husban recently so lives alone.
Over the past three months or so there have been ever increasing amounts of vandalism against her (and our) house by a group of lads around 16/17 years old.
It's things like very hard and repeated kicks against the front door as they walk past, they have also smashed one of her side windows, and thrown eggs against the outside walls. They go around in a group of 6 or 7, and have absolutely no fear as they will stand and look at her if she tells them to leave, and I wouldnt put it past them to get violent if they chose.
After one incident I followed a group of 5 of them up the road, where they met up with another group, and where I realised that Id best not say anything as Id end up getting kicked in by a large group of the s
ts. It sucks, she has involved the neighbourhood police etc but they always rock up half an hour after they've gone past and then nothing seems to get done anyway. It's also a case of the threat of retaliation should anything be done to them, as they're the sort that woudlnt take it too kindly.
She is now looking to move, but I think it's disgusting she has to leave her home because of these youths. The randomness and different times of the attacks makes it very difficult to be ready for them, we've had various things thrown at the house as they walk by, and the front door kicked as well (not lightly, like they're trying to knock it off its hinges!!), but it's much worse for her as she's on her own, and obviously feeling threatened by this.
She has said she wont bother repoting it now as nothing gets done, but I think that's the worng idea, I think if we both keep on at the police they will eventually get around to doing something, or is the general concensus that she is right and it's better not to face the concsequences of being labled a grass by these scum?
Im not aftr "track them down, kick them in" etc scenarios, this isnt a movie and Im under no illusions that they wont fight fair one at a time, just any experiences that people may have ahd or ideas of where to go with helping her out and also stopping it being done to us.
Over the past three months or so there have been ever increasing amounts of vandalism against her (and our) house by a group of lads around 16/17 years old.
It's things like very hard and repeated kicks against the front door as they walk past, they have also smashed one of her side windows, and thrown eggs against the outside walls. They go around in a group of 6 or 7, and have absolutely no fear as they will stand and look at her if she tells them to leave, and I wouldnt put it past them to get violent if they chose.
After one incident I followed a group of 5 of them up the road, where they met up with another group, and where I realised that Id best not say anything as Id end up getting kicked in by a large group of the s
ts. It sucks, she has involved the neighbourhood police etc but they always rock up half an hour after they've gone past and then nothing seems to get done anyway. It's also a case of the threat of retaliation should anything be done to them, as they're the sort that woudlnt take it too kindly.She is now looking to move, but I think it's disgusting she has to leave her home because of these youths. The randomness and different times of the attacks makes it very difficult to be ready for them, we've had various things thrown at the house as they walk by, and the front door kicked as well (not lightly, like they're trying to knock it off its hinges!!), but it's much worse for her as she's on her own, and obviously feeling threatened by this.
She has said she wont bother repoting it now as nothing gets done, but I think that's the worng idea, I think if we both keep on at the police they will eventually get around to doing something, or is the general concensus that she is right and it's better not to face the concsequences of being labled a grass by these scum?
Im not aftr "track them down, kick them in" etc scenarios, this isnt a movie and Im under no illusions that they wont fight fair one at a time, just any experiences that people may have ahd or ideas of where to go with helping her out and also stopping it being done to us.
can you help her pay for a security light and cheap CCTV?
might be some deterrent.
any idea how old these kids are?
they need to stop and evaluate how tough they are to be ganging up on an old lady
not even 1 on 1 with an old lady, a gang of them.
find out who they are? print of some posters to name and shame, stick them up but when no one can see you.
get local press involved.
might be some deterrent.
any idea how old these kids are?
they need to stop and evaluate how tough they are to be ganging up on an old lady
not even 1 on 1 with an old lady, a gang of them.
find out who they are? print of some posters to name and shame, stick them up but when no one can see you.
get local press involved.
This is why I am voting Tory next time, too. They are Labour youths. With a bit of luck someone bigger will show them right from wrong. Sadly, it won't happen for a long time. The only thing you can do is keep pestering your MP and the police until they start doing something more useful than planning their Christmas parties.
The following them idea is a decent one, but when I followed them they congregrated and hung out, so no idea what time they head home, there is a CCTV camera nearby but the Police did say the night capabilities of it wouldnt allow identification, so not sure what the point of it is then.
I might get my own CCTV camera and try catch them in the act, but it'll lead to a lot of hassle and who knows what sort of consequences, they'd only get a slap on the wrist no doubt.
I might get my own CCTV camera and try catch them in the act, but it'll lead to a lot of hassle and who knows what sort of consequences, they'd only get a slap on the wrist no doubt.
Edited by Tokoloshe on Wednesday 1st December 15:38
Conian said:
can you help her pay for a security light and cheap CCTV?
might be some deterrent.
any idea how old these kids are?
they need to stop and evaluate how tough they are to be ganging up on an old lady
not even 1 on 1 with an old lady, a gang of them.
find out who they are? print of some posters to name and shame, stick them up but when no one can see you.
get local press involved.
Security light is a good idea, Ill sopeak to her about that, I just dont think they'd be intimidated, they're the "new" youths who are blatantly unafraid and unconcerned about any consequences.might be some deterrent.
any idea how old these kids are?
they need to stop and evaluate how tough they are to be ganging up on an old lady
not even 1 on 1 with an old lady, a gang of them.
find out who they are? print of some posters to name and shame, stick them up but when no one can see you.
get local press involved.
I'd definately report it. If nothing ever got reported how would police even know there was an issue to resolve? It's a very difficult one to resolve mind but still not reporting it would probably do more damage in the long term as these kids start to think they're invincible. We had a group round our way granted they were doing a bit more than petty vandalims, breaking in etc, but eventually they got caught and about 6/7 of them marched off to jail/youth offenders whatever it is they go to and the rest placed under curfew.
Maybe I should speak to people on the road, we cant be the only two affected, maybe get a posse togetehr and intimidate them, just not sure anyone else would do it unless they are being badly affected, the catch 22 is that if you do anything you're likely to get in trouble, and we're the ones with jobs, families, houses, things to lose, they have nothing to lose.
Edited by Tokoloshe on Wednesday 1st December 15:42
It's a sad symptom I'm afraid. For too many years now our governments have ignored the 'broken window effect'.
Zero-tolerance might sound draconian, and the 'broken window effect' might sound a bit Daily Wail, but it's a genuine, well-researched sociological concept.
Basically, a few scrotes break some windows, spray some graffiti, kick some doors in. Nothing effective is done about it.
As a result, it becomes clear to anyone observing that this is a neighbourhood in which you can get away with petty crime, so it starts to attract wrong'uns. Gradually, bit by bit, you edge towards street violence, drugs and prostitution.
It might sound fanciful but think about your local 'no-go' zones. I bet they all started off as fairly agreeable family neighbourhoods until a few windows got broken and no-one could be bothered to do anything about it.
Everything starts somewhere. We should have policing policies that nip this sort of thing in the bud.
Zero-tolerance might sound draconian, and the 'broken window effect' might sound a bit Daily Wail, but it's a genuine, well-researched sociological concept.
Basically, a few scrotes break some windows, spray some graffiti, kick some doors in. Nothing effective is done about it.
As a result, it becomes clear to anyone observing that this is a neighbourhood in which you can get away with petty crime, so it starts to attract wrong'uns. Gradually, bit by bit, you edge towards street violence, drugs and prostitution.
It might sound fanciful but think about your local 'no-go' zones. I bet they all started off as fairly agreeable family neighbourhoods until a few windows got broken and no-one could be bothered to do anything about it.
Everything starts somewhere. We should have policing policies that nip this sort of thing in the bud.
Soovy said:
Revolting scum.
Do you know anyone locally who is a bit "handy" - this happened near me, and questions were asked in the East End "locals" pub owned by an ex boxer - a few days later the miscreants left town and haven't been seen since.
Similar story here, a group of young lads were vandalising cars weekly and the police could not catch them in the act. They soon stopped and disappeared after encountering a bunch of gentlemen who allegedly removed their fingernails with pliars Do you know anyone locally who is a bit "handy" - this happened near me, and questions were asked in the East End "locals" pub owned by an ex boxer - a few days later the miscreants left town and haven't been seen since.
Tsippy said:
Soovy said:
Revolting scum.
Do you know anyone locally who is a bit "handy" - this happened near me, and questions were asked in the East End "locals" pub owned by an ex boxer - a few days later the miscreants left town and haven't been seen since.
Similar story here, a group of young lads were vandalising cars weekly and the police could not catch them in the act. They soon stopped and disappeared after encountering a bunch of gentlemen who allegedly removed their fingernails with pliars Do you know anyone locally who is a bit "handy" - this happened near me, and questions were asked in the East End "locals" pub owned by an ex boxer - a few days later the miscreants left town and haven't been seen since.
Tokoloshe said:
Tsippy said:
Soovy said:
Revolting scum.
Do you know anyone locally who is a bit "handy" - this happened near me, and questions were asked in the East End "locals" pub owned by an ex boxer - a few days later the miscreants left town and haven't been seen since.
Similar story here, a group of young lads were vandalising cars weekly and the police could not catch them in the act. They soon stopped and disappeared after encountering a bunch of gentlemen who allegedly removed their fingernails with pliars Do you know anyone locally who is a bit "handy" - this happened near me, and questions were asked in the East End "locals" pub owned by an ex boxer - a few days later the miscreants left town and haven't been seen since.
Pretty sure it'll be sorted out for you.
Edited by Soovy on Wednesday 1st December 15:49
Depending how much you want to get involved, then you could do more than just keep reporting it and pursue it face-to-face with someone more senior at the local police station. Keep plugging away and they will do something.
The problem is that these kids eventually grow up and either get bored (and then replaced by the next generation of scum) or become even worse as they hit late-teens / early 20s.
The chances of you doing a Charles Bronson and walking away unscathed are pretty slim, so not worth heading down that route.
The problem is that these kids eventually grow up and either get bored (and then replaced by the next generation of scum) or become even worse as they hit late-teens / early 20s.
The chances of you doing a Charles Bronson and walking away unscathed are pretty slim, so not worth heading down that route.
Yeah, when I followed them I was seriously pissed off, but came to my senses pretty quickly, it's so frustrating, but if I did end up getting into a fight with them, not only would I lose as there are too many of them, Id probably lose my job as well, and be marked as even more of a target by them, plus have a young family to think of.
Ill dig out the old Bruce Lee movies, if they attack one at a time in slow motion I may just have a chance.....
Ill dig out the old Bruce Lee movies, if they attack one at a time in slow motion I may just have a chance.....
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