Snowballs - always innocent?

[Matt UK]

A mate was telling me this afternoon that he is having some bother with local teenagers throwing snowballs at his front windows.

Turns out that they threw a couple, he went out the front foor and told them to move on and went back in. 30 mins later 6 of them stood outside and volleyed the windows for 5-10mins and him and his family felt really threatened, the kids were quite upset he said. He didn't want to go out as there was so many of them - all dressed up with hoods on and scarves over their faces.

My view was, it's only snowballs, don't lose sleep over it - they are probably looking to get a reaction from you.

But the thing is, it's happened 3 nights in a row now. He's not a 'physical' and violence is not his things at all - by his own addmission it scares him and he has no experience of it.

So, he's asked what to do? Call the Police and say "kids are throwing snowballs"

I've said just stay in and ignore them, they'll get bored (and cold) soon enough and nove on but he's concerned he is becoming a target for the local yoof.

I can't help thinking it's just snow. Yes it's rude, but teenagers often are, and it hardly seems worth storming out of the house and either escalting the situation or doing something and ending up in a court where the opening line is "so, the child threw a snowball at your house?".

Any views on this?

[TubbyTommy]

IMO i would just leave it, like you said they will get bored and bugger off. We have had kids throwing snowballs in the showroom all week. 1 was actually quite a good shot and covered the Saab Convertable. If you say something it'll only get worse.

[Penny-lope]

Power washer?

[tenohfive]

Ignore it. They are looking for a reaction, and whilst its a nuisance at the end of the day it is just snowballs.

[elster]

Matt UK said:

He didn't want to go out as there was so many of them - all dressed up with hoods on and scarves over their faces.

He does realise a majority of the population will be wearing hoods and covering their faces up, does he run scared of all these?

Why did he feel threatened by someone throwing snowballs at his window? Why not just go out and join the fun if bothered?

[Stevenj214]

Matt UK said:

So, he's asked what to do? Call the Police and say "kids are throwing snowballs"

Call the police and say a gang of teenagers are harrassing him and his family. Do it every time it happens.

[tenohfive]

elster said:

Matt UK said:

He didn't want to go out as there was so many of them - all dressed up with hoods on and scarves over their faces.

He does realise a majority of the population will be wearing hoods and covering their faces up, does he run scared of all these?

Why did he feel threatened by someone throwing snowballs at his window? Why not just go out and join the fun if bothered?

Because theres a fair chance its the local junior scrotes, and whilst I wouldn't be quaking in my boots if I saw them (I spent my days dealing with more intimidating types than johhny stebag) I can see why he might well be wary of confronting them.

[chimera40]

Would leave it, or believe it or not best defense would be to go out and throw some back. Kids HATE what they consider to be old gits (nanley anyone that gives them grief for something they consider just fun). The more you react the worse it will get. If he goes out throws a snowball or two back at them and strikes up some banter it will turn the situation around very quickly.

[elster]

tenohfive said:

elster said:

Matt UK said:

He didn't want to go out as there was so many of them - all dressed up with hoods on and scarves over their faces.

He does realise a majority of the population will be wearing hoods and covering their faces up, does he run scared of all these?

Why did he feel threatened by someone throwing snowballs at his window? Why not just go out and join the fun if bothered?

Because theres a fair chance its the local junior scrotes, and whilst I wouldn't be quaking in my boots if I saw them (I spent my days dealing with more intimidating types than johhny stebag) I can see why he might well be wary of confronting them.

I am sure the same would happen with any teenager if some miserable fker came and had a go at them after a couple of snowballs hit his window.

[cool hand fluke]

I'd imagine that the novelty will wear off sooner rather than later.

If not, there'll be a thaw shortly!

Edited by cool hand fluke on Sunday 10th January 19:57

[mrmr96]

chimera40 said:

Would leave it, or believe it or not best defense would be to go out and throw some back. Kids HATE what they consider to be old gits (nanley anyone that gives them grief for something they consider just fun). The more you react the worse it will get. If he goes out throws a snowball or two back at them and strikes up some banter it will turn the situation around very quickly.

+1

[plg101]

Call the police and say that he thought some of them had knives?

[matt1269]

This has been happening to our house for the last few days. It is really annoying, would a bit of VBRJ be too much?

[Matt UK]

elster said:

Matt UK said:

He didn't want to go out as there was so many of them - all dressed up with hoods on and scarves over their faces.

He does realise a majority of the population will be wearing hoods and covering their faces up, does he run scared of all these?

Why did he feel threatened by someone throwing snowballs at his window? Why not just go out and join the fun if bothered?

I totally agree with you. I did mention that a majority of the population were out throwing snowballs because - it's a bit of fun.

He didn't really agree, hence my advice to just stay in.

Edited by Matt UK on Sunday 10th January 20:56

[Alfanatic]

mrmr96 said:

chimera40 said:

Would leave it, or believe it or not best defense would be to go out and throw some back. Kids HATE what they consider to be old gits (nanley anyone that gives them grief for something they consider just fun). The more you react the worse it will get. If he goes out throws a snowball or two back at them and strikes up some banter it will turn the situation around very quickly.

+1

That's worth a shot. Turns you from a target into the cool old dude or OK geezer or whatever it would be today. Meanwhile have wife in house watching through window and ready to call the cops if it turns out the kids don't find it at all funny...

Edited by Alfanatic on Sunday 10th January 20:17

[mikechandler]

matt1269 said:

This has been happening to our house for the last few days. It is really annoying, would a bit of VBRJ be too much?

Yes, I suspect that would be a tad too much

[B17NNS]

Get Mylene round. She'll soon sort em.

[Matt UK]

Gaz. said:

From first hand experiance (the trigger was something far more serious than snowballs, with more serious consequences but I'm not going into it now) of being harresed by a group of youths, do nothing. If you want to see just even the playing field is and how powerless the police are then go and stand up for you and yours. The plod can't/won't do much until comparisons between yourself and Garry Newlove are being made.

I'm fully paid up member of the 'have a go hero' squad but trust me, pick your battles wisely.

If it were stones, or bottles or they were causing damage then yes, somn sort of action needs to be taken - be it the police, or yourself or mates, or whatever. But I don't think this situation even merits considering a next course of action.

He did mention that his family were feeling 'harresed', but the point I tried to make to him was no matter how many snowballs they throw a) it's not really that much of a worry and no damage is being caused b) kids will have fun throwing snowballs. I told him that the fact that when he first went out they all scarpered tells him all he needs to know that these are just kids having fun and got a rise out of the fact that he opening his door to them.

[lightningghost]

I would be tempted to empty a bucket of water on them from an upstairs window, but I expect this breaks some kind of law or other.

[Uhura_Fighter]

lightningghost said:

I would be tempted to empty a bucket of water on them from an upstairs window, but I expect this breaks some kind of law or other.

One supersoaker + meths = teenage toaster.