Please help ........what can be done?
Discussion
My 70 year old Mum is having trouble with damn kids, every day they throw milk bottles, eggs and stones at her windows. The have vandalised her garden wall and keep going into her garden. We can solve some of this and have had a new gate fitted and we will add a good lock too. She is an end house and an easy target and the kids just don't care if anyone sees them. These random attacks have left her frightened and feeling like a prisoner in her own home.
The kids are aged between 10 and 13. The police have been involved months ago but they say there is little they can do, the anti social behaviour / community policing lady tried to help too but nothing has changed, in fact it is now worse. Being a 70 yr old pensioner moving house isn't so easy.
I can't not go into work and lay in wait for them as they have been known to not come back for a day or two.
Mum said she is going to the police station today and I have asked her to tell them that if they say they can't do anything, then I will .....and one of them may end up getting hurt in my pursuit.
But what can we do, I don't want to resort to any physical stuff and I know people will read this and say they are just kids and boys will be boys and that I am no better than the kids if I try and get hold of them ......but this goes beyond a practical joke, it's not jolly japes on the way home from school. These kids have been coming back again and again, even at 1am to cause more damage and inflict more terror on a 70 year old. They have even tried smashing her gas supply pipe off her outside wall, would they have then ignited it, possibly?
As I say, this is now getting to be serious victimisation and terrorising her. She has done nothing to them and doesn't even know them.
Would I be justified in getting hold of them and warning them off and warn them that if it continues I'll be back to do a lot worse?
Should I just try and follow them and give the details to the police and then wait for the retaliation to start again?
Should I follow them and then give their parents a few things to think about?
I really don't know what to do for the best.
The kids are aged between 10 and 13. The police have been involved months ago but they say there is little they can do, the anti social behaviour / community policing lady tried to help too but nothing has changed, in fact it is now worse. Being a 70 yr old pensioner moving house isn't so easy.
I can't not go into work and lay in wait for them as they have been known to not come back for a day or two.
Mum said she is going to the police station today and I have asked her to tell them that if they say they can't do anything, then I will .....and one of them may end up getting hurt in my pursuit.
But what can we do, I don't want to resort to any physical stuff and I know people will read this and say they are just kids and boys will be boys and that I am no better than the kids if I try and get hold of them ......but this goes beyond a practical joke, it's not jolly japes on the way home from school. These kids have been coming back again and again, even at 1am to cause more damage and inflict more terror on a 70 year old. They have even tried smashing her gas supply pipe off her outside wall, would they have then ignited it, possibly?
As I say, this is now getting to be serious victimisation and terrorising her. She has done nothing to them and doesn't even know them.
Would I be justified in getting hold of them and warning them off and warn them that if it continues I'll be back to do a lot worse?
Should I just try and follow them and give the details to the police and then wait for the retaliation to start again?
Should I follow them and then give their parents a few things to think about?
I really don't know what to do for the best.
Edited by Kentish on Monday 2nd July 12:50
Get her to keep a diary of everything that happens, and I mean everything times, what exactly happened, which kids they were, how many of them what they were wearing basically as much detail as she can manage and take it to the police. Or have a word with the parents.
Alternatively buy her a mahoosive dog or borrow Gorvids dogs.
Alternatively buy her a mahoosive dog or borrow Gorvids dogs.
This is a result of the "results driven" poilce force we have now. If the problem cannot be sorted quickly, then they won't bother, as it would mean a black-mark of the force's numbers. As reported in a recent post, the police forces in this country are becoming a disgrace. If you're a law-abiding citizen, then beware!
FishFace said:
Don't let the truth get in the way of a good rant ^^
The Police are obligated to have "safer neighborhood teams", which are there specifically to tackle "nuisance youth problems". They are directed by the council more than the Police.
Get in touch with them.
Tried that and it did work for a short while but probs are now much worse and this unit is staffed by one lady who is currently on holiday.The Police are obligated to have "safer neighborhood teams", which are there specifically to tackle "nuisance youth problems". They are directed by the council more than the Police.
Get in touch with them.
Kentish - not sure where you live but your Council in collaboration are obliged to take action.
In my Parish we had a similar situation so the resident kept a log, the police "had words", the council "had words", the kids got "ASBOs", hte parents "got fined" all to no avail.
The harrassment continued, so did the record taking.
A few months later the parents of the children were evicted.....end of story the harrassment was over!!
In my Parish we had a similar situation so the resident kept a log, the police "had words", the council "had words", the kids got "ASBOs", hte parents "got fined" all to no avail.
The harrassment continued, so did the record taking.
A few months later the parents of the children were evicted.....end of story the harrassment was over!!
1) Try and find out who the parents are, and have a word with them ?
2) Do you have a camcorder ? if so lend it to her to gather evidence. This can then be used to show the police, or a local councillor if they aren't interested.
3) Try crimestoppers, they are an independent charity who have been known to give the police a kick up the backside on occasion.
I feel for you, I'd hate it to happen to my mum.
2) Do you have a camcorder ? if so lend it to her to gather evidence. This can then be used to show the police, or a local councillor if they aren't interested.
3) Try crimestoppers, they are an independent charity who have been known to give the police a kick up the backside on occasion.
I feel for you, I'd hate it to happen to my mum.
Edited by gshughes on Monday 2nd July 13:46
Escalating the problem usually leads to a much worse situation, as has been documented lots of times. However, I understand your feelings, and my mother also lives alone, and if it were her, let's just say I'd find it hard not to hang around her garden with one of my antique japanese swords...
however - how about this - try to appeal to (any) sense of community in her area, and perhaps shame the parents into wondering what their kids get up to...
You could post a letter to everyone in her orad along the lines of
'dear resident, my elderly mother, who lives at No.XX, has recently been targeted by some kids in the area who have (fill in details). While I realise that 'kids will be kids', she is now very frightened, and is feeling like a prisoner in her own home. (If you want to lay it on thick about any actual or made upo medical conditions, do so). i'm asking you if it's possible for you to keep an eye out for her, as I''m not able to be there for her all the time.'
It might work, it might not, but at least it makes no threats/acusations, and it may make the parents think twice.
however - how about this - try to appeal to (any) sense of community in her area, and perhaps shame the parents into wondering what their kids get up to...
You could post a letter to everyone in her orad along the lines of
'dear resident, my elderly mother, who lives at No.XX, has recently been targeted by some kids in the area who have (fill in details). While I realise that 'kids will be kids', she is now very frightened, and is feeling like a prisoner in her own home. (If you want to lay it on thick about any actual or made upo medical conditions, do so). i'm asking you if it's possible for you to keep an eye out for her, as I''m not able to be there for her all the time.'
It might work, it might not, but at least it makes no threats/acusations, and it may make the parents think twice.
Edited by TTwiggy on Monday 2nd July 13:57
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff