Rock through our front door window

[ISaySteadyOn]

I'm feeling really shaky at the moment. A bunch of neighbourhood kids have been harassing us for months. They bang loudly on our front door, broke the glass in the back door, knock branches off our fruit tree and throw rocks at our back fence and front windows.

Today I told them to leave us alone. The result was a rock through the window of our front door and a brick at the bottom.

I have called the police but I don't know what that will do. And I am sitting here worrying that this is my fault somehow for acknowledging the people doing this.

I don't know how you've not thrown eggs or tipped water over them yet. You have alot more patience than me.

AFAIK if involving the Police results in harassment being ramped up The Police should ramp up their response as well

My cousin had problems with anti social youths. Smashing windows etc. Police knew who they were but did nothing. Ring leader was about 17 and egged on the younger ones who were 13/14.
One night the 17 year old had reason to call an ambulance as he had been attacked and had sustained 2 broken legs.
They never found any perpetrators of this crime but the cousin and her neighbours were never bothered by antisocial behaviour again 😅😅

I agree with getting a hardwired cctv system as well as Ring cameras.
We paid £1000 for four high quality, night vision cameras with no ongoing costs. They were £250 each, installed. Worth their weight in gold. I am sure you can find a similar company local to you.

Yes, I think we will be getting cameras now. The police came but there isn't much they can do unfortunately.

This is exactly what the police told my friends - so frustrating that you end up needing to have one to not be a target for terrible behaviour

Agreed. We are out in the sticks but after several Amazon drivers getting into our back garden and leaving parcels in weird places (clearly just using it as an excuse for a nose around) we ended up getting a hardwired system. My partner did it himself, think it cost about £250 altogether. It records to a hard drive. We have one on the front and one at the back of our house.

The ring doorbells seem really good if you’re happy to pay the subscription fee - very easy to install.

They are targeted and can take specific action. Please do contact them.

OK. Thank you.

Are any of your neighbours suffering from this too?

Strength in numbers.

Not that I am aware. I think they just chose us for some reason. I will probably post on the neighbourhood WhatsApp group and ask. Maybe for CCTV camera recommendations 🙂.

It's stupid but right now, I am trying to get up the courage to leave the house. I feel anxious and scared and unsafe, but if I don't leave the house, they win. I cannot let them win.

That’s not stupid, that’s a totally normal response. My friend felt exactly the same when it happened to her - she was so worried she wouldn’t be able to protect her daughter if it happened when her partner wasn’t home, it really shook her. It had a big impact. And she’s not a wallflower!

And speaking as a teacher, teenagers can be very intimidating, especially when acting like a law unto themselves. Mostly lovely, sometimes awful.

Look after yourself. Is there anyone who can be with you at yours?

I managed it. Went to the shops. Kids home with me today and we are just having a quiet time.

But I am still scared of reprisals for having called the police and still worried I did something wrong somehow that they could then use against us. I'm scared of these kids' parents, that they will take something out on us again for having called the police.

I keep thinking about things I said and worrying that I triggered it. I don't think there's anything that justifies a rock through the door but I can't stop going over it.

Genuinely I cannot see how you are likely to have said anything that warrrants a brick, it is criminal damage!

I would feel the same. I hope that feeling goes after a sleep tonight, it sounds a little like you might be fixated on worse case scenario? But you’re fine. I think you need someone with you though, you sound like you need some support. Well done for going out :)

Well, I will have DH later. I picked a good one. He always makes me laugh and feel better. And most importantly for this situation, he makes me feel safe.

The exact same thing happened to me OP & I’m sorry to tell you after trying cameras ( the little shits got to know where the camera was pointing so they covered their faces) Parents didn’t believe it was their child anyway. I ended up moving house as my MH couldn’t take much more and couldn’t be happier now but I’m definitely much more jumpy now if I hear a noise.
Hugs for you OP it’s utter utter shit

Actually, this has all turned out ok. I spoke to a parent I knew. Turns out it wasn't completely personal, these kids have been doing this around the neighbourhood. And today three of them were brought round by their parents to apologise. The parents themselves were also very apologetic and horrified by the behaviour.

And that makes me feel a lot better.

Great outcome.

As pp said camera camera and don't give in, say to police what pp said re getting images and going to school.