Late night knock in door

[Debbiep11]

Ok, I just need some advice. My 13 year old is in bed. I get a knock at the door to find 4 kids of similar age to my son. This is now nearly 9pm on a school night . They ask to use the toilet , I politely say no. They ask to use the shower and I again say no. They then ask for a glass of water. I lock the door and get them a glass of water. The larger boy then asks for my son by his name. He said they knew him from primary school, then secondary school and then he says they play an online game with him . He told them he was unavailable right now. Now, here comes the even stranger part . He says "can you thank your son for our kiss. Did he tell you he was bi?".
Nothing against people who are of course but this really knocked me off my feet and I told them bye and closed the door. I had a chat with my son and he insists he doesnt know who they were (I told them the names they gave as my son didnt see them). He says he has never told anyone where he lives either.
It just seems they were up to no good and have really got me spooked. Am I overreacting here ?
My son is autistic and has no common sense at all to be honest although he is insisting he has never told anyone where we live but how else would they know?

Maybe join nextdoor.co.uk which puts you in touch with your immediate community. It could be useful to find out if these kids are doing the same to other houses in the area.

Thanks again for the advice. If I keep my son off I will feeding his anxiety which I really want to avoid since he is always anxious and stressed anyway. I will definitely speak to the school though. Trying to get quotes for cctv as well now. I might have to borrow the money but if it helps us then so be it

I think I’d report this to 101 as well as school. It sounds like they were up to no good and would make sense to get it logged. Police can also advise on cheap security deterrents.

Check Amazon for cameras. You don't need 6 or 8, just one in the right place, I just checked and there are loads. Make sure it's a standalone and not an add on for a box (I have a box where I connect several and I can buy more to add but I also have one which is a standalone).
If the price's right, you can add one that is noticeable and one that is hidden, i.e., use one as bait which people will avoid and hide the other one to catch them. I'd hide one in a window to catch the driveway or the front of the house.

Check out this one, not too pricey but it does need a memory card: www.amazon.co.uk/wansview-Wireless-Security-Monitor-Detection/dp/B07QLRFG8T/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=camera%2Bwifi%2Bwireless&qid=1655855946&sprefix=camera%2Bwifi%2Caps%2C459&sr=8-3&th=1
You don't need to invest in a top of the range system. This one works at night and you get alarms in your phone.
Here's another one (I have one similar):
www.amazon.co.uk/ieGeek-Outdoor-Camera-Wireless-CCTV-Black/dp/B08MW5BSBJ/ref=sr_1_3?crid=31U897PN9I9JN&keywords=camera+records+wifi&qid=1655855543&sprefix=camera+records+wifi%2Caps%2C274&sr=8-3
You can put it down somewhere, you don't have to screw it to a wall and it shouldn't be too difficult to set up.

Please do report this to the police as well. You need to get it logged - esp in case anything happens again. They had some fucking balls coming to your house like that! What utter twats.

They asked to use the shower?? After you said no to them using the toilet?! Come on. I don't know why you stood there, entertaining their games with you.

I'm sorry but that's intimidation. If they knock again take their photo and call the police. And get CCTV.

Do you really think I need to report this to the police? Scared they will laugh at me for being ridiculous because of some kids

I paid £20 for a doorbell off Amazon. It take a picture of every motion passing & sends a snippet to your phone. Much more affordable than cctv

Check his snap maps on Snapchat - that shows a very accurate location.

Sounds like bullies and really nasty ones at that if they can get through all of that without falling about laughing or running off. I remember how cleverly some of the boys at our school psychologically bullied others.

I don't think it's ridiculous at all. I think it's worth reporting. It's probably them just being dicks but make sure you are covered. Honestly better safe than sorry and at least it will be on record somewhere
Take care @Debbiep11

Yes I would report to 101
While I wouldn’t expect the police to do anything if they have tried their luck at multiple houses they can only build a picture of folk report

I was broken into by the local teens once. They saw me leaving with my holiday bags and broke in while I was away.

Do you really think I need to report this to the police? Scared they will laugh at me for being ridiculous because of some kids

Tell me, if those same kids further emboldened by what they just managed, go and do similar to 92yr old Mrs Bloggs round the corner, would you be scared at being laughed at by the police if you reported it?

If not, why is it different if it's your son? What message are you giving him?

Check your thinking on this stuff. (mum to a DS with ASD who didn't act hard enough, early enough.)

I would
a) call 101 and tell them this, just in case something else happens
b) I know you said you aren't friendly with neighbours but you could just 'warn' them that this happened, might make them keep an eye out for themselves and then hopefully for you as an aside

Do you have a neighbourhood FB group? If so I would post on there, I imagine they tried this with more than one house.

I'm really sorry, I'm not intending to spook you further, but I'm willing to bet they know it's 'just' his mum at home. (ours did)

Do you think they'd have behaved the same if a reasonable sized bloke had opened the door? or even knocked tbh?

That sounds horrible! How upsetting for you both. Why the he'll did they want to use the shower?! Just ridiculous. It does sound like they were either trying to transporting it get to your son. Poor boy. Would you update if you hear from school or spot them again?

Transporting? *steal from you or get to your son

Do you not know who was at primary school with your child? I'd certainly recognise kids, even if I didn't know their names.

You don’t need a full CCTV system. Just get a ring doorbell (or equivalent) off Amazon. This will allow you to at least see who’s at the door before you answer it and record any people at the front of your house.

They were trying everything to get in, weren't they? Can I have a shower? Are you Bl joking? I think they were up to all kinds of no-good, probably wanting to lift what they could while they were in the house. Report to the police (remember, it's possible you weren't the only person they targeted) and yes, I realise we all answer evening knocks at the door (9pm isn't all that late) but as someone suggested - take your phone and record them. Very weird.

My first thought too but this will probably be deleted.