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Post by utmr on Oct 24, 2014 15:40:34 GMT
This is my first new topic on the new board, so bear with me..,
We have small trees in our front yard. The punk kids from the nearby school have been pulling fruit off, damaging branches, etc. they are also throwing rocks at the neighbors dogs and generally being little jerks. We knew this was going on but today was the first time we caught then red handed.
DH told them to stop. They called him a cracker and gave him lip. I called the school (since we have a description) and they basically said off school property, not their problem. I also called the constable and they are going to increase the before and after school patrols.
Our kids go to magnet schools, as do all the other kids in the neighborhood, so these kids are all walking in from outside the immediate area. We don't know them, or their parents. We also don't have any contacts at the school who could help us.
Short of standing out there every morning being the grumpy old people yelling "you kids stay out of my yard", any suggestions? I don't object to being grumpy old woman but I've usually left for work by the time the hooligans head to hooligan school.
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Post by myshelly on Oct 24, 2014 15:43:19 GMT
Sounds like you need a fence around the front yard.
Other than that I really don't know what you can do.
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freebird
Drama Llama
'cause I'm free as a bird now
Posts: 6,927 
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Post by freebird on Oct 24, 2014 15:44:42 GMT
motion activate sprinklers.
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Post by SnowWhite on Oct 24, 2014 15:46:55 GMT
motion activate sprinklers. Better idea: motion activated cameras. Catch the little shits on camera and turn it over to the police for destruction of property. They make pretty reasonably priced wildlife cameras that would work for this purpose. |
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freebird
Drama Llama
'cause I'm free as a bird now
Posts: 6,927
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Post by freebird on Oct 24, 2014 15:50:31 GMT
motion activate sprinklers. Better idea: motion activated cameras. Catch the little shits on camera and turn it over to the police for destruction of property. They make pretty reasonably priced wildlife cameras that would work for this purpose. Or both. |
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Post by bwife on Oct 24, 2014 16:13:20 GMT
I would suggest a motion activated camera too. We were having issues with some little crap heads down the street from us. Now that we have our back yard fenced ( they had a quick get away through our back yard to a major street, we live in a culdesac) and we made sure that word got out that we have cameras. Suddenly, no issues. No issues for a while now. Our camera cost less than $60 from best buy. it needs to plug in to work. but then it records on a computer in the house via the wireless internet. We have it near our front door, under our covered porch and you can see nearly the entire front yard and some of the 3 car driveway. DH bought another to go above the garage to see the entire driveway as our neighbors had some issues a few weeks ago and they think someone was in their car again, last year a bunch of unlocked cars got hit on our street, our truck was one of them, We dont drive it often, but our son used to use it occasionally, we did not know it was unlocked. :/ they took a car dvd player/tv set up we had and some cds. not a big loss, but it sucked. We are pretty sure the same crap heads we had issues with, were the same ones that did the opening of unlocked cars.
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Post by Merge on Oct 24, 2014 16:18:19 GMT
Ooh, I'm dying to know which school it is. I also vote for motion activated cameras if they don't cost too much.
Another approach would be to sit out in front with cookies a few times, make friends with the kids, and ask for their help in protecting your yard. Can't hurt and might help.
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Post by utmr on Oct 24, 2014 16:24:49 GMT
I love the camera idea. Off to check out prices.
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Post by **Angie** on Oct 24, 2014 17:07:36 GMT
Be careful with the motion-activated sprinkler idea - my former neighbor did that, one of the kids panicked and fell, broke his arm (wrist?) and the family sued my neighbor. My neighbor ended up having to pay hospital bills and for "pain and suffering"....
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Post by justkat on Oct 24, 2014 18:08:23 GMT
Sounds like you need a fence around the front yard. I vote for "electric".  Seriously though I second or fourteenth getting both the fence and the camera. Then press charges. It really sucks people can't raise their children properly any more. |
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amom23
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,338
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Post by amom23 on Oct 24, 2014 18:14:54 GMT
Be careful with the motion-activated sprinkler idea - my former neighbor did that, one of the kids panicked and fell, broke his arm (wrist?) and the family sued my neighbor. My neighbor ended up having to pay hospital bills and for "pain and suffering".... Well that just figures. WTH is wrong with people?  I tell if one of my boys pulled this type of crap a broken bone would be the least of their worries! |
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Post by utmr on Oct 24, 2014 20:00:36 GMT
Grumpy Old Woman had free time this afternoon., so I called the school district police and complained. They are going to talk to the principal and increase patrols through the neighborhood
They said if we could get pictures to identify the kids, they can file criminal mischief charges. I don't know that I want to do that, but I want this to stop.
Told DH about the cameras and he agrees, so that's on the weekend to do list.
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Post by gritzi on Oct 24, 2014 20:18:57 GMT
Good idea re the cameras. I think you were wise to contact the school & police, too. I would be vigilant about capturing photos to identify the twits. I would have the police put the fear of God into them! If they caused enough property damage I would seriously consider pressing charges.
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Post by compwalla on Oct 24, 2014 21:45:14 GMT
In Germany if you damage a fruit tree you're required to compensate the owner not just for the value of the tree but for the value of all the fruit the tree might ever produce. This is not at all applicable to your situation of course, but wouldn't it be nice if it was?
I agree you should get pics of them just in case.
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Seriously though I second or fourteenth getting both the fence and the camera. Then press charges. It really sucks people can't raise their children properly any more.
