to have reported two boys for throwing a stone at my while pushing pram today?

[overthehillsandfaraway]

Genuine question. I was walking home from the local shopping centre, pushing the double buggy with dc's. I walked past two boys (I'm guessing about 10/12 years) at a bus stop and heard one of the same something. I was gone past when I realised it was probably aimed in my direction but didn't catch the whole sentance just heard him say something about two kids.

I paid no attention at all, and a few seconds later one of them threw a stone at my back really quite hard! I turned around on impulse and shouted Oi or something to that effect and they just said "what? what?" smirking away to each other.

I turned back and walked off. Once I had rounded the corner I rang dh and realised I was really mad, how can kids think its okay to do this sort of thing? I had the number advertised locally to stop anti-social behaviour in my phone so I rang and reported it. Now they are coming to see me tomorrow as it is classed as assult.

I feel a bit like I've made a mountain out of a molehill. So, have I just wasted precious police time? Or is it right to report this kind of behaviour? Really curious as to what people think

YANBU. I'd be mad too.... you were pushing your kids. They could have hurt your children!

YANBU at all, what a horrible experience, hope you weren't too shaken up.

Definitely old enough to know this is wrong, and much better they get dealt with now before they do it again with possibly tragic consequences.

Of course you were right. Throwing stones at people is a. illegal and b. dangerous and the sooner they are stopped the better.

Suspect the problem will be tracking the little brats down.

YANBU - There is a big playing field 5 minutes from our house and although the kids usually play nicely, often their is anti-social behaviour.

Us locals campaigned and now we get police (OK, special constables) walking through the area 2 or 3 times a day during the school holidays. There is also a number for us to ring to report anti-social behaviour.

If one persons name is heard too many times, the police pay their parents a visit, and this always seems to work well.

What i'm trying to say is, you must report it otherwise things won't improve.

Also, could have hit your baby.

Thanks - that's what I thought really. They could have been doing it all day long and maybe no-one else thought to report them. I am must more niave than I thought though as I was so shocked that they would do that to a completely stranger for absolutely no reason at all. Shocking.

another tip, get your mobile phone out and take a picture of the little angels to show the police. Too late now of course, but next time

I'd have been afraid to do that in front of them to be honest. Don't want to invite trouble either.

Your afraid of a couple of 10 year old boys - goodness me you must have led a sheltered life.

YANBU, what if it had hit you in the head or hit one of the children. They are idiots and they need to learn that there are serious consequences for their actions. hopefully you were in an area with CCTV.

SugarMousePink - You can just pretend to be photographing them with your phone and let them see you doing it. I have done so more than once and it does tend to make them stop misbehaving and skedaddle sharpish .

What I mean BAFE is that I don't want them to follow me home (only about 5 mins from where it happened) and break my car windows or rip up my flowers etc.. not afraid for my life or anything

YANB at all U. Well done for reporting it.

YANBU - they are throwing stones at a woman with a pram! disgraceful.

These are 10 year old boys who throw stones at a woman with small children just for walking past. I don't think it's unreasonable or sheltered to be concerned about what they might do if they think they have an actual reason to be hostile.

Fine then you lot go ahead and let 10 year olds throw stones at you and do nothing in case they damage your petunias.

Me, I come from a different time and place to the rest you, obviously.

How disgusting to throw a stone at a mother with children. The fact that they targeted you over, say a six foot four rugby player disturbs me most although I know it is a rotten thing to do to anyone. Good on you for reporting.

Definitely not unreasonable, you did the right thing and I'd have been shaken too. The next time they do it they could hit someone vulnerable (a baby, an older person) - and I bet they wouldn't target, say, a fit man in his 30s...

By the way, BAFE - possibly I've led a 'sheltered life', but I'd assume that two kids who are cocky enough to be throwing stones at strangers might well not hesitate to get more aggressive if challenged/ photographed. So I'd have been intimidated too, particularly if I had children with me as well.

I'm scared of some of the 10 year olds in London Bafe, and I assure you I have not led a sheltered life!

YADNBU.

BAFE - What are you saying? I didn't do nothing - I rang the police and reported it. I don't apologise for not wanting to antagonise them while I had my baby and toddler with me.

I would have shouted the little fuckers down, but then I am like a bull in a china shop where anti-social behaviour is concerned and rarely think before I spout off.

Well done for reporting. No doubt if the police do get hold of them, their mothers will be adamant that their little soldiers would never do such a thing...

No one said she should let 10 year olds throw stones at her . And she hasn't "done nothing" -- she has called the police and has given a statement.

I just objected to your saying that if the OP was scared of 10 year olds she must have lived a sheltered life, when in fact she and her small children had just been assaulted without provocation by two 10 year olds (which seems to me a reasonable justification for being at the very least an eensy bit nervous). Clearly not, in your time and place. Presumably there people who've hit you once don't do it again.