Neighbours balls

[Kenthighst]

We don't speak to our neighbours due to a number of incidents. The kids are also very rude. Anyways the past few weeks they have been kicking balls over the wall into our garden. They havn't called to the door to ask for them back either as we do not speak at all.
Aibu not to return the balls?

Apologies posted here instead of aibu.

How old are the children, are they deliberately kicking them over. I wouldn't bother returning them.

Wait until they politely ask

I would just Chuck them back to avoid any further communication about returning the balls.

I knew what this thread was going to be about but the title made me laugh all the same.

10 & 12. We have breakables in our garden & a little dog also who might be outside going toilet.

They won't ask. Before they would have knocked in but after an incident last summer we both avoid each other like the plague.

If you chuck them back they might just kick them over again, if you don't they might accuse you of theft. Wait and see if the come over and say please. Have you got outdoor security cameras and lights,

@TraitorsGate yes we do have both.

I have three boys next door. In summer this is constant.
They will knock and ask, politely, l've told them l don't mind them fetching their ball so long as they make sure they close the gates after them.
Even though they hammer on the front door like it's a 5am drug raid when they come to ask, and often they've woken me up if l'm asleep.
But l came home from work one evening last year and there were five footballs in my back garden. I throw them back if l see them, but quite frankly l get sick of it. They play on the trampoline and throw the balls about, which is how l imagine they're high enough to come over the fence. I don't mind them playing at all, kids are kids, and they're not awful, just a bit noisy sometimes.
But l've found a couple of planters and a vase broken on the garden table.
I can only imagine they were hit by a ball (on separate occasions).
I'm planning on moving when l retire (later this year, or next year). I hope whoever moves in after me is as tolerant as l am. I suspect they may not be.

Life is too short to get into mental games with 10 year olds. They like to play with balls and they very often end up in neighbours gardens. We have it where we live. I appreciate you have issues with their family but my guess is its more stressful to add to it holding onto their balls.

Same as mentioned above, my neighbouring kids tend to knock so i dont have any issues with them and if i am in the garden i will shout 'incoming' and throw the ball back again. I think ive hit the father in the head a few times when he hasnt been concentrating :-)

Its life living with neighbours. I have breakables and i have a couple of dogs. My dogs are more likely to try to catch the ball than be hurt by it. I dont have a moments issue with a few balls going astray tbh.