Any tips on dealing with antisocial kids?

[QueenPaw]

Yes, I've rung 101 just wondering if anyone has any bright ideas. It's pretty much daily, and around 3 times a day
I'm being tormented by the little brats to the point I can't open my blinds so I am a little.. riled tonight
They're opening the gate, coming in the garden and banging on the windows or throwing mud/sticks/stones at the window. Because of the layout I can't chain the gate (elderly neighbours can't cope with a padlock and need access)
Can't afford CCTV
If I open the blinds it makes it worse, and haven't been able to get a pic again due to the layout as they run off around a corner. Have a vague description
So far it's been months and they're still going and I'm WFH. When you're washing up in front of a window with the blinds shut and then get someone pounding on the window it's a little frightening at 9pm!
So far I've ignored but tonight I've screamed after them some choice words

@UseYourIllusion sadly I'm an apartment (ground floor) which is why it's more annoying as I can't even move my desk upstairs to work from there. It's pretty peaceful until after school so usually starts around 3.30pm (I work until 6.30pm)

Try getting your local councillor and MP involved and be a real thorn in their side.
Local elections are coming up and suddenly local law and order is a priority round here.
Our own idiot nuisance gang is now being dealt with.

You say that your neighbours can't manage a lock on the gate, but surely you can put one on at night and take off in morning. If elderly neighbours are frail they won't be going out in the evening?

Black boot polish or axel grease on the railing tops (not the gate) once you've locked the gate in case they try to hop over?

@Ringsender2 they have visitors a lot too, family I think
The short version is, the gate was only access for my garden as it's the back of the property
About 10 years ago the neighbours built a back door so they cut the chain off the gate that I had on as they now needed access to use their new back door (they don't have a garden so no door previously)
The gate is kind of a misleading thing really as the entire fence is so low they can get over it so if I chain the gate it is pointless really (see pic) and it runs the whole way along. Permission for a higher fence refused. At some point I'm looking into running a hedge along but of course that takes time

Looking at the height at this stage I don't think a lock would make any difference. Could your elderly neighbours family help by also going to the council/police?

I've just looked at the notes the past few days and I can see a bit of a pattern
So 15.30 - 16.00, 17.00 - 18.00, then around 20.00
I reckon if I am near a window today and keep an eye out I might be able to get some pics at the 15.30 time...

I think you've just got to keep writing down and reporting, make a nuisance of yourself until they do something.
Send a copy to your local MP as well maybe?

The scary tattooed guy might also be useful if you can hire him on a regular basis.

The gap between fence and window, has plants already I see but can you get something especially spiky in there? Hawthorn etc would stop them leaning over to the window, though would be a year or two before it was fully useful.

That sounds horrendous. In all honesty, I don’t think any low level measures will help prevent this, they must be finding it funny knowing you are upset by it. You absolutely ring the police every time, as well as keeping a diary. The police will get bored of taking your call. Tell them you are scared in your own home, feeling threatened and intimidated.

Could you buy a car dashcam? You can get them for under £30. Then you'd have footage to send to the police and it might also act as a deterrent.

Sorry you are having to go through this.

@ChinesedragonTeapot

Could you buy a car dashcam? You can get them for under £30. Then you'd have footage to send to the police and it might also act as a deterrent.

Sorry you are having to go through this.

You'd be better with something like a Neos Smart Cam at £23.99

www.amazon.co.uk/Neos-SmartCam-Vision-Camera-Warranty/dp/B07JY7K3SZ/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&crid=2NSNIIQ89QLF3&keywords=neos+smartcam&sprefix=neos%2Caps%2C192&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1616602490&sr=8-3

If you had a camera the windows side of the blind looking out of the window they might think twice frankly. The Neo one looks pretty good for that. And I think ring door bells have a fisheye lense which would give you a 180 view.

Police have just been, had a look at the layout and said they see what I mean
They're stepping up patrols as apparently they're causing issues at the local shops too, and want me to report it every single time
They can supply me with a CCTV poster but said sometimes it makes it better, sometimes worse so it's up to me
Said as many descriptions/incidents/pics as I can get are great and they have an idea which kids it is

This sounds horrendous and the police sound utterly useless in this instance. As its been going on so long I think you need to up the ante and be a thorn in police side and say you feel unsafe in your own home as they don't seem to be getting bored which is pretty odd. I would write to my MP and contact the council and any other local community groups who might help. Do you have any clue as to why you are being targeted or whether you are the only one. Might be worth talking to a few near neighbours to see if anyone else is experiencing anything similar.
I am so sorry you are having to put up with this, I hope you can find a solution soon.

Sounds awful. Whereabouts in the country is this? Have you got a scary friend? Get them to go out & shout & scare the shit out of them. Or there’s a device that emits a sound only audible to youngsters that might put them.

That sounds horrendous OP do you have any idea why your being targeted?
I was having issues a while back but found out who they were & went to their parents & now it seems to have stopped - is that something you could do?
Apparently it started because they heard if they banged the window they would get a chase - they wouldn’t!

@SoLongFurlough because they can. I'm the closest to the road so easy to run off
They also shone the laser at a security guard, have climbed on the roof of a primary school and are causing issues at the shops too

Honestly they don't usually have a reason, 3 years ago we had a group messing with buses. Then one of them stepped out behind the bus and got hit by a car and broke both his legs. That solved that

I recommend growing a lovely rose hedge along the fence or something equally prickly and horrible to land in.
Don't the police have a duty to do something about anti social behaviour? I suppose it is, as people have said, that you have to be a thorn in their side.

I have a friend that has some kind of gadget that sends out a high pitched signal, that only young people can hear (similar to one of those rodent deterrent plug in things)
It is annoying to the ones that can hear it, and thus stops kids congregating near her house.

I had never heard of such a thing before for humans.

I would purchase a low level animal (cat/fox) deterrent as often children young people report they can hear the noise and it's rather unpleasant but adults can't hear anything.

Its like the children are playing a game and you are their target. Honestly you must not show any anger or distress (even though I know its stressful) that will encourage them. You need to show them that they are not bothering you at all. Open your blinds they cannot break in your home if you see them smile and ask if they are ok. Be their kinda friend. You are exactly where they want you to be mentally. Don't let them make you their target for fun to annoy you.

@Tomyoneandonly opening the blinds encourages them full stop
I don't have time to smile and ask if they're ok because they're running off, and I'm working on the phone so I'm tied to my laptop
Also I'm not smiling at anyone who is repeatedly causing issues and harassing me
I did not react for MONTHS, the lights can be off, blinds down and I'll be in the bath and it still happens

Also they're not playing a game, they're feral little thugs that steal mopeds, put fireworks through the window of a nursing home and generally do nothing but distress people. They don't come from families who care, their parents have criminal background and are either too drunk to care or don't have the energy or are proud

Ex Royal Marine Sean Ivey spoke out publically about antisocial behaviour and was targeted by yobs. Two men aged 22 and 25 have been arrested, so it sounds as though the yobs in his area were much older.

Your antisocial behaviour seems to be centred around school times.
Ask the big scary tattooed guy to move in for a while.

Very sorry to hear this! You are sounding upbeat and cheerful posting here but I’m sure it must be miserable. I would feel very stressed.
I lived on a road as a child where an elderly neighbour was targeted for years (relatively harmless, banging on her door at night etc but still very annoying) by some of the local wannabe hard chaws - simply because she was more likely than the other neighbours to come out and remonstrate. There was almost a myth about her - she’s evil, she’s a monster etc - that was passed from older kid to younger kid and so the cycle went on.
If you do just ignore them it could take a long time for it to end - until the current lot move on - but you might break the cycle if your name doesn’t get passed on to the next lot of upcoming delightful young men. It’s not right but you’re unfortunately in a difficult situation. And in the meantime do keep hassling the police and council but ask that they don’t publicise your name for the above reason. I feel for you. Hope you find a solution.

It's basically because it's convenient, I live on the road to the shops. Police said it's because they want to show off to their mates basically and because it's there...
my dad has just had a dig around in the loft at his and found a hive outdoor camera?
I think it's this one, so I'm thinking of putting it on the windowsill
https://www.hivehome.com/products/hive-view-outdoor