Local kids banging on our door and running away

[jinsei]

We live very near a children's play park. It's a "naice" middle class area and most of the kids will attend the lovely local primary school which is known for having very high standards of behaviour in general.

So the kids have discovered that old game of banging on doors and running away, and it appears that our house is one of their top targets, presumably because of its proximity to the park. They're obviously finding it hilarious because it's happening several times a day, most days. It's harmless, I suppose, but pretty annoying.

So what do we do? Ignore? Go outside and read the riot act, bearing in mind that we may not know for sure which kids are the culprits? Talk to the local school?

Most of the kids are older end of primary age, so they are typically at the park without any parents.

Hide behind the door to catch them and open it just before they knock snarling “bugger off before I call your parents”

Get a Ring doorbell, email the footage to the school.

we had this (seen on local Facebook page, not personally) and it died down eventually… nothing you can really do unless you know who the kids are

This

Have you got a ring doorbell?
Where I live everybody posts footage of antisocial behaviour and car thefts on the Next Door app.

Nothing to do with the school

As first poster said open the door, I’ve always told my kids not to do it as there could be an elderly person who found it difficult to get to the door (people used to do it to my granny, but they’d bang and give her a fright, my dad once hid then ran out and shouted I’m telling your family you’re frightening an old lady!) Never happened again

Be outside and watering the garden around the corner from the front door. If they show up, accidentally soak their feet

Play classical music from a radio/smart speaker near to an open window.

Use a Ring doorbell and send the footage to the school.

Gosh, lots of suggestions, thanks all.

We don't have a ring doorbell, but maybe it's time to invest in one.

Not sure that I have the patience to lie in wait for them and then snarl at them, but DH might!😂

This was our favourite game as children in the 70s 'knock down Ginger' We stopped playing it for a time when a man chased us with an axe....not saying you should do this!

Ignore, the worse thing you can do is give a reaction. It's called knock down ginger and has been around for decades. I used to play it as a kid in the 1970s

Cherry Knocking

Don't agree. Many decades ago I got caught playing Knock Down Ginger and got torn off a strip by the householder. Never did it again.

The key here is ‘many decades ago’. Kids nowadays are a different breed. They aren’t scared of their parents, teachers, neighbours. There’s more chance they’ll argue back than run away!

Get a ring doorbell. Most kids are scared of being caught on camera.

And if it’s outside of school time, why would the school care, it’s down to the parents.

Just ignore the little shits banging on your door. The more you answer, the more they will do it.

Ignore them. They will eventually get bored at the lack of response and go away. Just never respond.

We had this early last summer, but it was 14/15 year old youths doing it as apparently it was a Tim Tok challenge🙄
They actually booted the front door so hard, it cracked it, and it wasn't a cheap flimsy one.
We bought a Dekco outdoor security camera from Amazon (£40) simple to install and the footage goes to your phone with alerts if anyone approaches the property.

We then contacted the anti social behaviour unit, and a police officer was sent round.
The footage was downloaded to his phone, he went to the local comp showed the headmaster the incidents and it turns out most of them were on the school football team.

The police officer then gave them all a bollocking, and said if we wanted to press charges for criminal damage, it would mean a criminal record for them.
They were suspended from school for a week, the parents went ballistic apparently and took away their phones and computers and also grounded them.

Granted, we live in a 'nice' area and these boys were from decent homes,it might have been a different outcome otherwise.

N.B. The police office was so Impressed with the quality of the footage,he ordered one for himself there and then!

Don't do this - they're just kids!
I'd either ignore it or try to give them a fright which is a part of the game.

Bucket of water from an upstairs window?

But yes - another who played knock down ginger with their mates in the 70s until we got a right bollocking from a recipient. Stopped there and then!

Forgot to add, the word got around and we have had no trouble since. Our Close is a shortcut to the playing fields, so there is a lot of footfall, but it's a lot more peaceful now.
We get the occasional lads 'dancing' in front of the camera, but they are just having a laugh, that we can cope with!

I love the idea of the bucket of water from an upstairs window. Don't think I'd be quick enough to pull it off, but it would be great fun if I could!

It takes time but they will give up if you don’t react.

ignore.

Don’t try to beat them at their own game.

its only fun for them if someone opens the door. They’ll find other things to do eventually

You are best off ignoring it, we used to terrorise the houses that reacted as it was part of the fun. If they don’t get a reaction it is not a game.