A four year old stealing from windows. Who's to blame?

[Wouldntyouliketoknow90]

So I was bathing my DD last night and heard a noise in the kitchen.

I go out to see a big bag of Juice Plus shake disappearing out the window. Anyone who has done it knows that these are really expensive.

I lean out to see a kid I know from the area, who I know to be four years old. I ask for it back and he looks at me, as an older kid passes, I ask him to pass it in.

DH goes outside to speak to the parents, big shock... No parents outside. This is at about 7pm!

There are other children but none older than 10 as they all go to the same infants and junior schools.

I was so shocked at such a young child outside, unsupervised and reaching into people's windows!

I called the police as a non emergency and explained and they sent officers out. I don't know what happened after they left our flat. AIBU by calling them? I don't know the parents or where they live and we keep alcohol, medicines and blender blades on the windowsill as it is out of reach of our DD!! If he'd have grabbed a bottle of vodka, it could have been very dangerous! ):

[ineedamoreadultieradult]

Does your window open onto a public area or private? Obviously he shouldn't be reaching in but if your window opens onto the street I would reconsider what you keep on the windowsill. Do you know his parents? I would probably have spoken to them first and if it carried on perhaps involved the police. I think calling the police on a 4yr old without trying to talk to his parents first a bit ott but it's done now.

[Wouldntyouliketoknow90]

The window opens onto a back area where there is a path and a few bike racks, as I said in the OP, I don't know the parents, I've never seen any parents and I shouldn't really have to monitor the contents of my own flat.

I didn't call about the stealing, I called because a four year old child is outside on his own, reaching into windows. I know everybody in my building and he is not even from our road apparently, suggesting that his mum wasn't watching from a window. The police said they were glad I called as its illegal for a four year old to be outside without any parental supervision. Maybe I'm being old fashioned but my daughter turns four next week and I couldn't imagine letting her gallivant on a road where I couldn't even see her.

[ineedamoreadultieradult]

Ok then your right and I'm wrong, why bother asking AIBU if you are not willing to accept others people may have another point of view.
You didn't state you didn't know the parents, you stated you knew of the child and knew they were 4.
He may not be from your street but could have been visiting someone there, one of the older children could have been supervising, an adult other than his parents watching from a window etc. It is also simply untrue to say it is illegal for a four year old to be outside without parental supervision.

[SpeakNoWords]

No, YANBU, I would be concerned about a 4 year old wandering about with no apparent supervision. Presumably you wouldn't have called the police if one of the older 10 year olds had said that the child was with them, and said sorry.

[Wouldntyouliketoknow90]

Of course SpeakNoWords

My husband went out to ask the kids and they didn't even know him.

There's about 48 flats on the two roads where I live so he could live in any one of those. The week before, the kid was out and crying because he needed a poo and was not allowed into his house, I asked where he lived but he didn't know so we had him in to use the loo.

I'm not by any stretch saying this kid is a devil child - he clearly didn't know that he was doing wrong. But there are some funny characters out there and I would be worried that at 7-8pm, someone could walk off with him.

[Salene]

I think a 4 year old left to wonder streets and not allowed in house to pop is a issue for social services. So yeah calling the police was a good idea hopefully someone investigates the boys home situation ASAP

[kitchenunit]

The fact that the older kids are evidently persuading the younger one into a bit of light thieving should be evidence enough that none of the kids are being properly supervised.

I think you did the right thing. Even if I thought it was ok for my four year old to be out with older kids, I'd want to know if he was bungling houses!

[SpeakNoWords]

The law doesn't specify an age where it's ok, but I would be amazed if anyone would consider a 4 year old who can't even explain where he lives is able to deal with being on his own.