To be scared after calling the police?

[DownWithYobs]

Had a neighbor knock at our door about an hour ago to tell us that she had just watched from her couch, 3 twats lads come out of their house opposite hers, walk into our garden, onto our driveway, and try every door/boot of our car before walking off.

I know of the lads she is talking about, they're the local layabout wasters who fill their days walking the streets trailing weed fumes wherever they go and robbing houses. Not the greatest of areas.

Went out to check the car after she went home and one of them walked past us, staring right at us, with his hood up and a scarf or something covering his face to under his nose.

These same lads caused a lot of trouble for our next door neighbor a couple of months ago which ended in them putting a paving flag through his windscreen in broad daylight.

Reported them to the police on the non emergency number and they sent out patrols to look for them, couldn't find them, so one came to our house to get more details which I very happily gave and he went off to check on the database who was living at the address I supplied. DH had popped to the shop for milk just before he came, and saw him parked up when coming in and told him that he had just drove past them hanging around in an empty house garden at the end of the road so he went off to inspect.

Now I won't sleep a wink tonight in case they put 2+2 together and come back here to do the same as they did to our neighbor, or worse. Wouldn't put it past them.

AIBU for worrying? DH thinks I am, but I feel sick and am shaking at the thought of having to deal with these nutters at a later date. :(

I can understand why you're bothered about reporting these (not normal) lads behaviour.

But are they really that stupid to shit on their own doorstep??

And I'm interested how you know about the smoke/robbing houses, have they been done for them?

Yeah, he did say he wouldn't go and knock at their address after I pointed out I was worried about even calling them because of next door neighbor situation, I just hope they don't click on, or noticed the patrol car parked outside!

Funnily enough next door had a motion light on the other night which went off when we walked down our path but it hasn't been on since, always the way!

Stranded - they are stupid though, that's my worry, they think they're above all of this law malarkey and I don't think they'd give two hoots if they did something after the police hovering round them.

Make sure the police put a 'flag' on your address so that if it does get as far as them trying something and you dialling 999, they will have an immediate marker to get straight there.

Please try not to worry. The police will NOT let them know you reported them and they'd be extremely foolish to try something.

Agentzigzag - they are that stupid, honestly. They're very well known around here for it, it isn't just hearsay. I've watched some of their little 'gang' break into a house over the road when I was moving into and decorating this one in broad daylight - called the police for that too. It's why I am so worried. I have grown up around here, I know them all (not personally, except one who I grew up with and is now off the rails), I know what they are capable of.

You say that Showof hands but it does not alway happen like that

A few years ago we lived in a small private block of flats. Across the road was the local drug dealers, somebody turned up one night waving gun about looking for them.
So I called the police.
The police came, from my bedroom window, 3rd floor, behind double glazing, I clearly heard my adress being given as where it had been reported from.
Nothing came of it but I was very worried for a few days.

Fucking hell OP, in that case YANBU.

It's horrible to not feel safe in your own home, especially if you have children.

I'm quite reassured by SOH saying they don't let them know you've reported them, because that's your worst fear isn't it?

If the police know them generally, they'll just think it's been a fair cop.

I don't like the idea of typecasting all teenagers as criminals, but I do think all teenagers who make people uncertain of whether they're going to be the next target should be typecast as scrotes.

SOH, the OP can't make sure a marker is put on the address -that is down to the Police to prioritise incidents (otherwise everyone would argue that their calls are to be treated as urgent ).

missnevermind, that should never, ever happen and you should have put in a complaint immediately if it did. The source of the info is only ever given if requested once a case goes to court (but they can deny the info regardless).

They would NEVER tell somebody who reported them. Can you imagine the repercussions?

If it happened to you it was a grievous, unprofessional error and I'm very shocked that it ever happened.

It's a horrible feeling, what is making it worse is that DH has never been a fan of the area and has often commented when we have been coming home from a day out "Wonder if our stuff will still be there when we get back" :( that shouldn't be your first thought when going home. How dare these scumbags make people feel this way. I should not be sat here, on the couch that isn't under the window where I normally sit in case a brick flies through it.

Good point scurry. What I mean is if she believes herself to be in any serious danger to make sure she asks about it. Because it might help her sleep better to know that these facilities are there if they believe there is any chance of repercussions. No harm in asking if she knows that there's a good chance they've retaliated badly before.

I would advise three nines if there is immediate threat of violence, theft in progress or damage to property, etc. If the incident amounts to Anti Social Behaviour it will also be graded accordingly.